Couple deals with death of toddler, arrival of newborn
LaRue – May 29 will forever be both a day of mourning and a day of celebration for a Marion County family that lost a child to a drowning accident and welcomed the birth of a son.
Jaylynn Adamson, 22 months, was discovered unconscious in a pond on the property of her great-grandparents' house at 9:22 a.m. Friday on Mount Olive-Green Camp Road.
The child was in the care of her great-grandfather, Earl Price, and Ashley Price when the pair noticed she was missing, said Amanda Price, who is the aunt of Ciera Adamson, Jaylynn's mother. Ashley Price is Ciera Adamson's cousin.
Amanda Price, who said she is speaking for the family, said she lives on the property with her mother and father-in-law and helps with the couple's care. Price was at work when she heard of a 911 call to a Green Camp home with a pond.
"Ciera and her husband, Jason Adamson, were at Marion General Hospital where Ciera was in labor Friday morning after her pregnancy was induced," Price said.
"My father-in-law called Jaylynn's dad at the hospital, then called 911 when they realized the child was missing. Ashley was out searching around the pond when she found her. Ashley jumped into the pond and got her out," she said.
"She brought her into the house, laid her on a blanket and began administering CPR," Price said.
Jaylynn was pronounced dead at 10 a.m. Friday at the hospital.
Price said a neighbor, Connie Allen, came to help search for the missing child after receiving a message from Ciera Adamson at Marion General. Allen arrived and took turns with Ashley Price giving CPR to the child. Jaylynn's father, Jason Adamson, left his wife at the hospital and returned home to LaRue before medical personnel arrived, Price said.
Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies and firefighters from Scioto Valley Fire District attempted to revive the child before she was taken to the emergency room at Marion General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Lt. Jason Dutton, of the sheriff's office, said Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing and that he wouldn't comment further until the county coroner's report is released.
"Jaylynn's mom came down from the maternity room to the emergency room to see her and say goodbye after she was pronounced dead. She was dilated to 6 centimeters, so she had to return to maternity," Price said.
"Ciera was with her grandmother and other family members at the time. It was incredibly sad," Price said.
Zander Eugene Adamson was born at 4:09 p.m. Friday afternoon. Ciera, who had been raised by her grandparents since family said her mother left her at age 1, returned home from the hospital with her new son the following day.
"We think a stray shoe lying in a doorway left the door jammed and kept it from closing. That's how she probably got out," Price said.
The family is struggling to cover the expenses of an expected newborn and unexpected funeral expenses, Price said. A GoFundMe online fundraising account called "Fly High Jaylynn" has been set up seeking donations. People interested in helping the family can visit www.gofundme.com/vxj432a.
On the account website, Ciera Adamson described Jaylynn as "adventurous and on the go."
"One of the happiest days of my life turned into a nightmare," she writes.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Boyd-Born Funeral Home. Officiating the service will be pastors Ed Colegrove and Melvin Bowling. Burial will follow in the Price Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Boyd-Born Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the family in care of the funeral home.
"May 29 will be a day of grieving for Jaylynn and a day of celebrating the arrival of Zander for our family," Price said.
jsmiller@gannett.com
740-375-5148
Twitter: @motionblur56