David and Irma with Ong Family: Hannah, Gani, Charles, Leah, Sam

David is an elder of Trinity United Reformed Church (Walnut Creek, California) who was on Christmas vacation with his wife Irma in the Philippines. He sent this email message about a remarkable incident we all witnessed last December 27:

While at a family gathering yesterday (Thursday Philippine time), Sam, one of our nephews, eldest son of Leah (sister of Irma) and Gani (who attended our church for awhile), nearly drowned, yet the Lord spared his life.

Sam is not a very good swimmer, and when he ventured into the deep end of the swimming pool, the ball he was using as a flotation device evidently slipped from his hands. None of the other children paid attention to him, and no adults were supervising the children at the time. Sam apparently struggled until he lost consciousness, and one of the men noticed him floating in the pool, face up, motionless. As it was told to me, the man dived in and brought Sam to the deck of the pool and Gani and Leah [a nurse] ran to help their son. Even though they both performed CPR until they were exhausted, the boy did not respond. Other men gathered around and began to assist.

When I became aware of what was going on, I was far away on the upper level of the building. I was urged to go and help the men. When I got close enough, I tried to check for a pulse and did not detect any, and I noticed that Sam was turning blue.

The men sat Sam up, and I thought I noticed a hint of life in him, yet he was still unconscious. As they were bringing him into a van in order to take him to the hospital, I told them to try to get him to talk, and to try to keep him talking. Then after they left, Nollie led those of us who remained behind in prayer. Later we learned that soon after the van had left, Sam began responding and answering questions. After he was brought to the hospital and examined, the doctor said Sam appeared to be OK, but they would keep him there under observation for a day just to make sure.

Ever in His grace,
Dave

From the account of others who were involved in the rescue, Sam was in the bottom of the pool and had no pulse and no breathing. He was thus in the last of five stages of drowning (surprise, involuntary breath holding, unconsciousness, hypoxic convulsions and clinical death), according to water safety Websites. Since most of the families in the gathering were Christians, many were praying while all of this was happening. Today, Sam doesn’t exhibit any effects of his near-drowning on his mental and motor skills.

We ponder much why God would allow such traumatic events, but this we know: God granted our prayers, thus his name was glorified. Soli Deo Gloria!

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)