UpLift Media

 We all need help from someone. More often than not the people we rely on are specially qualified for the task. It could be due to education, experience, special skills, maturity, credentials & certifications, or just earned trust over a period of time. A combination of these factors come into play with Austen MacMillan and his therapist Jason Piquette as their three year relationship continues to grow strong. The two were in a session together using the family pool as part of that day's therapy exercise when the unthinkable happened. Jason went under water and did not come back up. Suddenly a twelve year old boy who relies heavily on the help of this grown man is faced with a role reversal requiring quick thinking and action for survival to be an option. Jason & Austen sharing their story Austen, though panicking, managed to dive under and pull Jason to the surface and move him over to the sunbathing shallows making sure the man's head stayed above water. He then exite...

 As parents we do our best to teach our kids how to handle situations that could, but hopefully won't, happen. Instructions include everything from how to call 911 to making them memorize their address as well as mom & dad's phone numbers. We all hope that these lessons will never have to be put into action and that they recall the instructions clearly in the heat and stress of the moment if something does occur. Reacting well in an emergency is difficult for grown people, let alone kids as that "fight or flight" response often has people running away or panicking, unable to think clearly.  Learning how to call 911 If it can be that challenging for grown-ups imagine how challenging it might be for a teen or even a kid. Now imagine a very young kid that is just four years old. At this age you haven't even been to Kindergarten yet, likely cannot write your own name, let alone drink from a cup that doesn't have a sippy lid to prevent spillage. So when mommy p...