Fund-Raisers Planned For Teen

Fund-raisers are already planned for a Wills Point eighth grade athlete who collapsed during a practice session on Monday morning, and remains in intensive care in an induced coma at Children’s Medical Center.

Jason Neil Pool, 13, was involved in a drill when the incident occurred. The workout was being held in t-shirts and shorts without any contact, and occurred at the beginning of practice.

Pool lives with his grandparents, Louis and Geneva Willoughby of Wills Point. Mr. Willoughby reported on Wednesday that his grandson’s condition was much improved, and his vital signs were good. Willoughby went on to say that Pool remained unconscious, unable to speak or move, but could hear people talking.

Pool will remain in that state for two or three more days as doctors gradually bring him out of the induced coma. It is not believed he suffered internal damage.

The trauma began in the earliest part of a second period football practice.

"We’d gone through our stretching and were working on kickoff returns," said Wills Point Athletic Director Kevin Garvin, who was present at the practice.

"The kids ran about 10 yards one time," Garvin explained. As the players were walking back, Pool stumbled, but did not immediately fall to the ground.

"I asked him if he was okay," said Garvin, "And then he collapsed. I kneeled down next to him and he was conscious. He said he was okay, and he wanted to get up, and I said no, we need to check you out. I asked him if he knew who I was, and he did. I asked him if he knew where he was, and he did.

"Then we started to get him up to go inside, and he collapsed again. He gasped and his eyes rolled back in his head, and at that point we called 9-1-1 and started CPR."

Wills Point EMS did not have an ambulance available, but paramedics arrived within a minute.

"We had put our ambulance in the shop at 7 a.m. that morning," said acting EMS Director Chuck Allen. "We’d made arrangements for East Texas (Medical Center ambulance service out of Terrell) to provide transportation for any calls that came in.

"We arrived on the scene and the school district personnel were administering CPR, and we took over and provided care until transportation was available."

Allen further explained that Pool’s heart registered no electrical activity upon arrival of the paramedics. A breathing tube was inserted, IV’s were started, and cardiac rhythm was being monitored. A defibrillator was periodically used until transportation arrived.

"We got a heartbeat back, and he started trying to breathe on his own near Elmo," said Allen who traveled in the ambulance. "At that time we made the determination to transport him to Children’s."

"Patient care was never compromised," Allen said of the lack of transportation. "He got the same care at the scene he would have gotten in the back of an ambulance."

"I’m extremely proud of Coach Garvin and our athletic staff," said Wills Point superintendent Joe Oliver. "I feel very good that our personnel have had the training and were able to act as quickly as they did.

"We’re fortunate that we were able to hire an additional trainer (Mark Hulsey) who was at the practice and able to begin treatments immediately."

Oliver also reported that there was an automatic external defibrillator on the premises, and it was being used when emergency personnel arrived on scene.

Fund-raising efforts have begun on behalf of Pool. A bake sale was scheduled for the junior high football games, as well as cans available to make donations and a drawing. There will also be fund-raising efforts taking place at the varsity football game on Friday night.

An account has been set up at the American National Bank for anyone that would like to contribute there, or interested persons may call Tammy Daniels at 903-413-1499.