News

Toddler makes miraculous recovery after fall into pool

ATLANTA,None — Doctors originally thought she would die, but now, three weeks after nearly drowning in a backyard pool, a Georgia toddler has made an amazing recovery.

The 20-month-old is out of a coma and speaking.

Channel 2's Diana Davis was at the hospital Thursday with her parents when the little girl was able to eat for the first time.

Kinley Lofty has been in the hospital sinceThanksgiving weekend. That Saturday morning she somehow got out the back door was discovered floating in the family pool.

She was underwater for several minutes. Her brain got no oxygen for 15 minutes. The family said they started praying and haven't stopped since.

"We just prayed and prayed and prayed when we got to the hospital. There she was with a heartbeat," Kinley's mother Kristal said.

But the toddler's heart was functioning at only 10 percent.

Whit Lofty, Kinley's father, said the doctors were not optimistic.

"So if her heart was 10 percent they couldn't imagine what the brain would be and they told us she probably wasn't going to make it. I just told them, you know, I said, 'you all worry about getting the heart going, God is going to take care of the rest. We're all praying for her,'"Lofty said.

http://bcove.me/w39g5qcs


Five days later, Lofty said the got news of a miraculous moment.

"It was December 2, 1:20 p.m., never forget that. She woke up and was coming to me and said, 'Mommy' and that was when you knew Kinley was there," Lofty said.

Tremendous hurdles remain though. Kinley had a blood clot in her leg. At first doctors thought they would have to amputate at the hip. She may still lose her toes or a foot but the Loftys said they have been blessed to come this far.

"You read about miracles, but you never think you will ever live to see one," Whit Lofty told Davis.

The Loftys are from Tunnel Hill, Georgia, near Dalton. The walls of Kinleys room are covered with cards and good wishes from the community. They said the outpouring of support and their faith has brought them through this ordeal.

Doctors said it is possible Kinley could have a learning disability or other problems but it's too early to know for sure.

Doctors are anticipating that Kinley should be able to leave the hospital in a few weeks.