TODDLER GIVES THE GIFT OF LIFE

When a Chauvin toddler fell into a family swimming pool last week, local heroes did all they could to save him, including relatives, neighbors, BMT’s and firefighters.

Now the child himself, 2-year-old Carter Anthony Lirette, is hailed as a hero, far the precious gifts he is giving to other children, allowing them the potential of new leases on life.

And a flag was flown to prove it.

“All across the country if you or I walked into a building and saved five people they would say we are heroes,” said Kelly Ranum, CEO of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Association, the non-profit entity that coordinates efforts between families, doctors and hospitals to match the gifts of organ donors to patients who require them. Likewise, she explained, donors like Carter are heroes too. “It is the truth Even if it is one person that benefits, as we strive to make people understand how important this is and how special donors are, and their families are, that they can see through their grief and look to the future and not want anyone else to have to experience what they have experienced They don’t want anyone else to lose their child.”

It all began last Saturday morning on La. SB in Chauvin, where throngs were gathering for the Krewe of Tee-Caillou Parade, getting ready to roll. One-and-one-half miles north of there, in the bade of Jeff and Sheri Loyd’s ochre-brick home, a group of family and friends were gathered for the shear joy of each other’s company, with no parade needed to pass a good time. Children scam-

pered and grown-ups grinned. Soft drinks were the order of the day. Accounts of what happened are consistent with interviews given Terrebonne deputies and from person to person.

Among the children were Jeff and Sheri’s grandsons, Carter and Cayson, as much handfuls as two little rambunctious boys could be. In the back yard there was plenty to keep them entertained, including a swing set that had Carter’s attention. Then 3-year-old Cayson jumped on a Razor electric go-cart, speeding toward the front lawn. T-Bob Lirette scrambled after the child, and other relatives joined, trying to head Cayson off. What nobody realized was that Carter left the swing set and toddled toward the fence surrounding the pool. Nobody saw him scale the fence.

“It was that split second when everybody’s eyes were on the other boy and the Razor scooter,” said Sheri.

His grandfather, Jeff Loyd found him.

Life-saving attempts were begun immediately.

Kayla Lirette, a neighbor and cousin, had CPR training as part of her daycare work; she later told relatives she never expected to actually use it on a child, and certainly not this one. Kayla then handed the task over to a nurse living nearby who rushed to the yard, Gretchen Peltier.

Less than a mile to the north Little Caillou Volunteer Fire Department EMS chief Mona Blanchard left her home and headed for the scene. A mile to the south — where parade floats were lining up and children from local school bands shuffled their feet like anxious horses before a race — helpers left the start point and raced up the bayou.

Toby Henry, chef of the Montegut Fire Department, brought some of his people, and Terrebonne Sheriff’s Office units sped to the house as well.

A child was in need and the village turned out to help.

“This neighborhood came together,” said Little Caillou Fire Chief Marty Thibodaux.

Mona Blanchard recalls concentrating on each movement as she performed CPR.

“You have to be focused,” she said. “I could hear crying in the background but then at one point it got real quiet.”

Mona thought the baby’s loved ones had gone inside. She was too involved in her life saving task to realize that those not engaged directly with working on Carter had gathered in small groups for silent prayer, seeking heavenly backup for the crews hard at work.

On the two-way radios deputies and fire officials called for a helicopter, but no helicopter could come because the weather between Chauvin and points north was unsafe for flying.

Carter was placed on board an Acadian Ambulance ground unit, which rushed to Terrebonne General Medical Center.

At the time the child was transported, first responders knew that his heart was beating.

“I knew deep down in my heart, without knowing how long he wasn’t breathing, that knowing of a heartbeat was an awesome thing,” Mona said.

She recalled wondering — if things did not go well — if Carter’s family was considering donations for life.

Sheri said the doctors, after Carter was examined, wanted him sent to Ochsner Medical Center in Jefferson Parish for advanced care, with no way for anyone to know if, ultimately, he would live, or if so, what state he might be in. An airlift was preferred, Sheri said, but the weather was still an enemy.

Carter got to the New Orleans-area hospital Saturday, but the prognosis was not good, although his heart remained beating through the transportation ordeal.

T-Bob and Carter’s mom, Alexis, were told that their youngest son would not make it.

Heartbreak was enhanced because such great pains had been taken, loved ones said, to keep a special eye on Carter. Only a week before the accident doctors said he was a high-functioning child on the autistic spectrum, which explained his headstrong behavior and a lack of verbal cues.

“It was a split second,” lamented Sheri, who provided video that her home’s cameras had caught of Carter’s last moments to detectives. The Sheriff’s Office determined that there was no negligence.

“This investigation revealed that this is an accidental drowning,” said Chief Deputy Terry Daigre.

The family has garnered great sympathy and many prayers if social media posts are any indication. But the pain is compounded by idle gossip shared by people with conjecture and no facts. The gathering, family members said — and others confirmed — was not a parade party. There was no drinking. There was a moment of distraction with irreversible consequences.

At his hospital bed Carter was surrounded by loved ones who continually prayed, asking the angels to guide and help him into heaven. They recalled a bright and curious boy full of love and potential.

And then T-Bob had a thought. Nobody had prompted him, relatives said. He discussed the matter wit Alexis. The decision was unanimous.

“They were losing a child and they didn’t want someone else to go through the same thing if they could help,” Sheri said.

The medical people contacted the Louisiana Organ Procurement Association and an immediate hunt began to determine who could benefit from Carter’s gift.

Tests were done — three of them — to make certain that the toddler’s time had come.

Grief was assuaged to some degree by the knowledge of what the gifts would do. The family was most comforted by the knowledge that Carter’s heart would help another child’s life-pulse.

That specific gift, LOPA’s Kelly Ranum said, can be difficult to attain. While the numbers of very small children needing hearts is low, so is the number of those available. So, when Carter’s life was ending, the work of professionals was just beginning.

T-Bob said he and Alexis will be meeting the families who benefit and though whom Carter will live.

At Vision Christian Church preparations were made for a Monday viewing, with burial to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chauvin, where Carter’s ancestors rest.

Back at Ochsner, T-Bob had hoisted a flag specially made to celebrate the gifts of donors, as family members watched in silent awe.

“It was still flying for Carter until he left the hospital,” Sheri said. “T-Bob and Alexis were thinking of other people, not what they were going through. They were not selfish. Carter is a hero and I find his daddy and mom are too for allowing parts of their child to belong to another, to give life.”

TODDLER GIVES THE GIFT OF LIFE