About
My Beautiful Family
Hi, Im Jo-ann Morris, a doting mother of 3 beautiful kids and a devoted Wife. Im 40 something but my birthdays these days are going backwards so Im now 37 years old. I have a sense of humour but sometimes a little warped. Our life was headed in the right direction, we were happy and looked forward to a promising future.
On the 9th of April 2006 our youngest child, our only Son had a terrible accident. Samuel had a near drowning and our perfect life was changed forever in a split second.
This blog will follow the story of my Son Samuel and his survival of a drowning and of my family and the struggles of adjustment of daily life. The ups and downs and all the in betweens of something so horrific. Until I have caught up with the past 3 years and 11 months I will go back and forth with the past and the present.
This is my opinion, my experiences and how I see the world. It is not necessarily how other families circumstances are as each child and drowning experience is unique.
I hope this blog helps other families who have lost a child or who are dealing with a child that has survived a drowning. If you are one of those families I would love you to contact me, comment on the posts and in the future as I get better at blogging to share parts of your journey.
Drownings affect a wide range of people including siblings, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, friends, Pre-school Teachers, Teachers, Emergency Services people and the wider Community. If you are in anyway affected by a drowning or a near drowning I invite you to contribute your stories as well.
I will be talking about our experiences in the health system so I welcome Doctors and other Health Proffessionals who may deal with children like Samuel to also join in the discussion and in the future to contribute to my blog by sharing their experiences in dealing with drowning and near drowning in children.
Thankyou for reading my blog
Jo-ann XXXX
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So well written Jo-ann,
This information and your words on your journey are so important to such a huge range of people. I post all your blogs, video’s or warnings and I think I’ve had maybe “one” comment back. I find this truly FRIGHTENING. Either people are reading and watching my posts, can’t be bothered to comment or just sitting at their computers with their heads in the ground saying, “This will never happen to me, so it’s no relevant” or “Why does Deb post such things as it’s so sad and depressing”? You can never have too much information. Yes, it’s sad and depressing, loosing a child is depressing, but it’s also TRUE LIFE EXPERIENCES not some Farmland game I am playing on FB.
I have 6 beautiful grand kids, but sadly I don’t think their parents are taking my attemps to inform them seriously. After all, what would I know!!!!!!
I have seen pool gates propped open, toddlers left within the pool area as parents walk inside to get something, leaving both my partner and I frantic with words of warning. Only to be told to stop being such a WORRY WORT >>>>> our mouths were left gaping as this may be their children, but they are also our beautiful Grand kiddies . Friends with kiddies, tons of distant relatives with kiddies that read my FB each day and yet, still NO comments. We would never take those chances, not even the smallest if they were in our care.
Some people just aren’t prepared to listen or take advice from those like yourself that have first hand experiences of tragic accidents >>>>>> So, So, Sad and frustrating.
I’m sorry if I got on my “Soap Box” but I want your Blogs to be heard as you take the time to reach out desperately to people in an effort to stop even ONE more toddler drowning/near death drowning.
Jo-ann keep up the good work, I am sure there are a lot of people listening to what you are saying, they just don’t happen to be on my FB page unfortunately. If they are reading my posts, please take the time to comment, it may prompt others to read or watch the video’s. Each child’s life is precious.
Jo-ann, I pray that you and your family may find peace as you relive your very sad story in these blogs.
I admire your strength,
luv Debbie Hammond xx
Debbie,
If only there was someone like me talking and educating others about her childs tragedy. If there was such a person I wouldve listened and checked my fences and I wouldve found the fault in my 4 year young fence. You cant force anyone to listen but I will persevere because maybe those that havent taken notice now, something in the future may make them take notice. Some of the things I post are sad, depressing and confronting so its hard to watch or read and even harder to comment on.
Im a careful Mum and I was one of those that thought this would never happen to me so no-one can ever become complacent about their ability of being a careful parent. Accidents can, do and will happen, thats why its called an accident.
Australia is surrounded by water, there are oceans, seas, bays and inlets etc. There are rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and ponds etc. All of which are natural water sources across our country. The man made water sources that Australia has are dams, man made lakes and man made ponds. In the average persons back yards are pools, spas, fish ponds, buckets, water bowls, water tanks garbage bins and water features in the garden. In every household there are toilets, washing machines, nappy buckets, bath tubs, kitchen sinks and fish tanks.
Drowning is such a big deal and so easily preventable. I had no idea how devastating to a person surviving a drowning can be, so trust me, prevention is much better than the cure because there is NO cure. My son became disabled within minutes, I now watch him deform his body, bones dont sit where they used to anymore because of his brain injury. He doesnt even have a long life expectancy. All this from a healthy, happy, normal little boy that had the world at his feet. As his Mother my heart breaks and I will never be the same ever again. Even though my son is alive 4 years later, I actually lost him 4 years ago, I cant even grieve him yet.
Debbie, you get back on you soap box and keep spreading the word of drowning prevention. Your kids or your friends or relatives may thank you for it one day. I thank you for helping me make people aware of my cause.
Jo-ann XXXX