Theodore - Thank you so, so much for that story. I can not begin to tell you that even though it doesn't lessen the pain I feel or the overwhelming guilt that haunts me during every waking moment - it does, however, make me feel better to know that Spike's sad story may save a life and that his death wasn't completely in vain. Please tell your family that I personally watched Spike get himself out of the pool after swiming the 32' length to the other end WITH our supporting voices coaching him to victory every stroke of the way on many, many occasions before we felt assured he would do alright on his own. When my wife picked his limp body out of the water as I was crying hysterically from having discovered him... He was above the top step in 4-5" of water... ?? What happened... God! I wish I knew. And the most haunting thing is that I am so sure I was awake in bed ten feet away when he died. Drowning happens so quickly but I'm sure it FEELS like an eternity if it's you that is drowning. I wish I could destroy the footage of Spike's last moments that plays over and over and over in my mind... Maybe in time that replay will fade, but it is so vivid and so frequent that I feel like I'm going insane over this tragedy... Please, please... Learn from our mistake... You can't turn back the clock! Thank you for your message - it really does help! Tom |