Thursday, July 01, 1999
Prayers, not blame, in near drowning
County suspends boy's sitter
BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Bond Hill man said the family forgives the sitter who was caring for an 11-year-old boy Tuesday when he nearly drowned.
As the family kept vigil Wednesday at the bedside of Justin Brown, they offered prayers, not blame. The boy was in a coma at Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Justin was under water for at least five minutes while his sitter watched helplessly from the poolside at Glen Meadows Apartments in Roselawn. Neighborhood children ran for help, and two parents called 911 at about 5:55 p.m.
The Hamilton County Department of Human Services has suspended Mary McDonald's day-care certification while it investigates. Cincinnati police also are investigating.
“I'm not going to put it all on her,” said Tony Harding, 36, the boy's stepfather. “She was a good day-care provider.”
The woman, known to the children as “Miss Mary,” has apologized to the family and told them she didn't know how to swim, Mr. Harding said.
The children had been under her care for about two weeks, since they got out of school in Detroit, where their father has partial custody. The county is helping the family find other day care.
“She was a blessing for us,” Mr. Harding said. “But, honestly, I think she could have done more — got help, made noise, scream, holler. Things happen for a reason. The Lord will help us through it.”
Ms. McDonald has been one of Hamilton County's 1,100 day-care providers on and off since 1990 and has an unblemished record, spokeswoman Mindy Good said.
She was certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in February.
The accident has left neighbors wondering why she didn't immediately seek help or try to use the safety hook pole at the pool to try to get the boy out.
“It worries me,” said Marjorie Stuckey, 59, who can see the pool from her apartment window. The pool was closed Wednesday. “If the parents are working, someone should be looking out for these kids. They should have a lifeguard. That would be nice.”
If the family had known there was no lifeguard and that Ms. McDonald couldn't swim, Mr. Harding said he would not have let Justin and his 7-year-old sister, Shabri, go swimming.
It was the first time the children had been swimming at the Roselawn pool. They were excited to get up that morning. Justin had finally gotten the cast off his arm from a track injury. Shabri had a new swimsuit.
The girl told her family they were seeing who could hold their breath the longest when the accident happened.
Justin's toys sit inside his apartment, and his stepdad hopes he'll be able to come home and play the way he used to.
“He's a fighter,” Mr. Harding said. “He's going to make it back. Justin will be all right.”
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