The quick thinking and caring of students and staff at Crowther Memorial Junior High School last week may have made a difference in the life of a student at the school.
Last week, Casey Heidinger’s son Aiden Sakata suffered an accident outside of the school, which required EMS, and eventually treatment in the Alberta Children's Hospital.
Heidinger explains, “My son Aiden Sakada had an accident at Crowther on Wednesday and the ambulance had to be called. It was very scary actually.”
His mom explained he was taking a class outside at the time of the incident and he didn’t hear the bell ring. A group of students were running in to get in the front doors of the school and Aiden jumped over a concrete area in front of the school not realizing there was garden fencing on the other side. Sakada’s foot got caught in the garden fence, and he fell hitting his head on the ground.
“He had a seizure. He stopped breathing. He hit the ground and was out cold,” said his mom.
“Two kids came running around the corner to come into the school as well,” said Heidinger. The first teacher to arrive was Ms. McKinnon.
“She was amazing,” said his mom.
Sakada suffered a broken collar bone and a head injury. His mom reports he is doing well and has returned to school after the incident.
“The first day was really bad. It's the head injury that we want to be careful about,” said his mom.
“I'm amazed that with how serious of a fall that he took, that he's progressing so well and didn't hurt himself any worse,” she said.
This event was one of the most traumatic events she has experienced, and Heidinger thanks the small-town environment in this situation saying that her son's teachers and others knew him and have watched him grow up.
“I've got this whole army of people that have helped me raise my son and it's just been a lifesaver, especially in a time of crisis. I don't know how I could have done it,” she said.
“I would love to just be able to say thank you because my kid might not have been here if they wouldn't have, especially the ones that were first on the scene, looked after him.” She expressed her heartfelt gratitude. “Thank you for looking after my kid. I feel very blessed to live in a town that cares so much,” she said.
She also wanted to say thank you to the first responders who provided comfort, and a lot of community members who have also reached out to check in and see how her son is doing.
Heidinger wants to acknowledge how well the accident was handled by the staff at Crowther Memorial.
“This was an emergency upon all emergencies. You never want that call and they were all wonderful,” she said. “I want everybody to know that he is OK,” she said. “He’s going to make a full recovery.”
Heidinger thanked everyone who helped out during the emergency, students, and staff, with special thanks to the school’s associate principal Ryan Hunter and teacher Heather McKinnon, who jumped into action, McKinnon prepared to complete CPR, and Hunter who traveled with her son in the ambulance to the hospital.
Fri, May 3, 10:00 AM
