`Just A Miracle Child' -- Boy Makes Speedy Recovery

Daniel Edelson-Heflin may grow up and do amazing things.

His mother, Lisa Edelson, is convinced he will after the miracles the 4 1/2-year-old has been through the past few days.

On Sunday, Daniel was rescued from the bottom of an 8-foot-deep swimming pool in Redmond. Yesterday, he sat up playing Nintendo, which surprised his doctors at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle.

"He's just a miracle child," Edelson said at a news conference with doctors on hand.

Daniel was playing with cousins and other children Sunday at the Sammamish Forest Manor Condominiums pool. His parents were at a nearby table, celebrating a family reunion with almost 30 other relatives.

Around lunchtime, Edelson called Daniel out of the water and took off his life jacket so he could eat.

When she turned to prepare his food, Daniel went back to the water. But instead of bobbing back up, like he expected to, he sank to the bottom without his jacket.

Daniel remembers it as "falling asleep in the swimming pool," Edelson said.

Doctors say it might have been up to five minutes before a cousin discovered him unconscious at the bottom.

A man also swimming at the pool quickly grabbed the boy and pulled him out. Daniel's father, Michael Heflin, soon realized what had happened. He was helping Edelson look for the boy when he saw the pale body and rushed to Daniel's side.

Christine Albright, a former flight attendant, began performing

cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Penny Drieling, a cousin who came from California for the reunion, also helped to revive the boy.

Minutes later, medics from the Bellevue and Redmond fire departments arrived.

And Daniel took over with the miracles from there.

Dr. Doug Diekema, attending physician who saw Daniel when he entered the emergency room, said he didn't expect such a quick recovery. Children who are trapped under water for up to five minutes often run a risk of permanent brain damage, Diekema said.

He also worried because, although the boy came into the emergency room breathing and with a pulse, he was not responding to the uncomfortable needles and IVs.

But by 2 a.m. Monday, Daniel put everyone at ease when he gave his nurse a high-five.

"It was a rather pleasant surprise," Diekema said.

Daniel's doctors expect the Kirkland boy to be released from the hospital tomorrow. He shouldn't have any long-term effects from the accident, Diekema says.

And Edelson is convinced she knows why.

"He's going to do really important things in this world," she said. "There's a reason why he's here."