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SPANISH FORK -- A boy who collapsed on the playground a few weeks ago got to say thank you Thursday to the people who helped save his life.
Logan Powell, 6, is happy he's home and no longer at Primary Children's Medical Center where he had open heart surgery. At home, he had some new friends waiting to greet him. When Powell and the police officers met a couple of weeks ago on the school playground, it was a lot different.
"Getting there and seeing this lifeless child is pretty upsetting," said Lt. Brandon Anderson of the Spanish Fork Police Department.
Lt. Anderson responded early, but it was classmate Hallie Witt who got to Powell first.
"I saw Logan flat down on the ground," Witt described. "I went to check on him and I saw him have purple lips, slobber and a big gasp."
But because of the help from first responders and a defibrillator, Logan Powell is alive today.
"He looks totally different," Lt. Anderson said. "It's awesome to see him and how well he's doing."
I saw Logan flat down on the ground. I went to check on him and I saw him have purple lips, slobber and a big gasp.
–Hallie Witt
Powell is a bit shy talking about that day, but he showed the scar from his open heart surgery where an internal device keeps his heart beating.
"They had to do that scar because they had to put a machine in me," Powell said.
And now Powell's parents are trying to restore him back to health, but they also want to make sure every school in Utah has a defibrillator.
"It's just incredible to see everyone here and what was done to save Logan's life," said father Todd Powell. "In a situation like this, it saves one life, just one life. It's worth every dollar."
When Logan Powell was hospitalized, doctors learned of a rare birth defect in his heart. Now, doctors can monitor and treat Powell. He isn't back at school yet, but he's excited for Halloween and can't wait to go trick or treating.
Email: corton@ksl.com
