Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Students at Northridge Elementary support Jason Thorpe after his near-drowning incident.
- Educators and classmates signed cards, showing love and support for Jason's recovery.
- A GoFundMe for Jason's medical expenses raised over $11,000 of the $20,000 goal.
OREM — Students returned to Northridge Elementary School on Tuesday to complete an important assignment: showing a classmate their support and love after he nearly drowned over the holiday weekend at a summer party.
According to his mother, Anne Thorpe, 12-year-old Jason Thorpe was celebrating his last day in sixth grade at the home next door on Friday and was believed to have been taking part in a challenge to hold his breath in a hot tub when he passed out.
An off-duty nurse who was present inside the home performed CPR, and the boy remained in the ICU as of Tuesday afternoon, according to stepmother Beth Thorpe.
On Tuesday morning, educators joined students and their parents outside the school to sign cards and posters for Jason.
"One of our PTA moms asked if they could host just a card-signing party, just so the kids could come send him well-wishes," Northridge Elementary Principal Kim Plank told KSL-TV. "I think that helps them feel like they're doing something to help."
Those who know Jason said he was well-liked.
"Jason is the best kid ever," said his teacher, Karen Jensen. "He's just polite and the sweetest kid. Everybody loves him."
His classmates took the news hard.
"I just kind of felt sick because, like, it was unexpected," said sixth grader Max Thorup. "He's just always been a good friend to me."
Hudson Papke, a fellow sixth grader, said students quickly got behind the effort to do something for Jason.
"For the past few days, we just wanted to give love notes to him — tell him that he's loved and everybody is hoping for him," Papke said.
Jensen said it was heartening to see the support from students and their parents.
It's actually kind of been good for my heart to be here this morning and to see them show up and support their classmate because that's what it's about. Be kind. Be there for each other.
–Karen Jensen, teacher
"It's actually kind of been good for my heart to be here this morning and to see them show up and support their classmate because that's what it's about," Jensen said as she turned emotional. "Be kind. Be there for each other."
Jensen said now is an important time for all families to talk to their children about possible summer accidents and safety surrounding a host of different possibilities, including those involving water.
Related:
Off-duty nurse performs CPR on 12-year-old who nearly drowned at party
The mother of a sixth-grade boy said her son is recovering but is in the ICU after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub Friday night.Beth Thorpe told KSL-TV that while Jason's condition had fluctuated, he had shown some positive signs recently, including smiling at a nurse.
Hospital staff also removed him from a ventilator, she said. The stepmom said doctors still needed to do a more thorough examination of the boy as his condition improved.
A GoFundMe* set up on Jason's behalf had already raised more than $11,000 toward a $20,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon. Jensen said the family expressed their gratitude for all the community support, something that impressed her as well.
"It just shows how much these kids love each other," Jensen said. "They're good kids."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
