Noting the Miracles Amidst the Tumultuous Whitewater that claimed Our Teen Son Kaelan Palmer Paton of CT on June 16th, 2009....

From FB posts and pictures, many people are still learning of a great final act of heroism and amazing thinking on the part of our teen son Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton...I extend deep thanks for remembrances and thoughts. I share more on Remembering Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton about that day and added reflections about challenging times.

On his last day of his freshman year at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, he did leave with a group of his friends to bicycle around the small town of Falls Village CT (where I grew up along with many in my family.

Both his father David and I went to HVRHS as did many family members over the decades.) The Great Falls are about two miles away from the high school and a typical place teens would trek to in nice weather, especially at the end of school.

While I was concerned about such a prospect, I had asked parents to make sure they did not go boating in the river without two skilled adults. They agreed and I had not focused on the idea about swimming in the river, 

Kaelan jumped into the waters near the base of the huge waterfalls twice. Others were game to do the same, even if they hadn't done so before and did not have a clear idea or plan they had gone over with Kaelan or others. The other fellows he saved were from Cornwall and North Canaan..and the one he went in for that resulted in him passing was from Kent CT. I know all of the young men who are all doing well and their families. I wish all well and hope everyone can learn to prevent harm and danger as part of the legacy of the courageous actions of Kaelan and the amazing rope rescuer Skip Kosciusko who did safely secure the friend with a rope and lift him up safely to the shore at least thirty feet or more all with the pounding water closeby.

 Kaelan did save two friends and then went in for the third which Skip helped me understand was an incredible feat to brave...and his friend said he reached him then they both went under..then Skip able to save the friend who resurfaced thankfully.

Maybe Kaelan's push for his friend helped him avoid the worst and bought him the few minutes to be saved. It's mind boggling to consider what went on moment to moment yet also a time full of miracles that no others were lost in addition to Kaelan that day a group of nice kids ventured 'outside of the agreed upon boundaries' but which some adults allowed not realizing the dangers.

Even biking to the high school was something I had concerns about since the area has plenty of challenges with people on substances even though overall it's mostly a wonderful safe area for people.

All the more to consider when making plans to have more folks willing to really follow them even in groups of competent adventuresome people...so rescuers and of course the people themselves are not put in unnecessary danger.