(Prattsburgh, N.Y.) -- A 10-year-old girl died at Strong Memorial Hospital after slipping and falling into her family pool Thursday afternoon.
State Police said that Katie Fields, of Prattsburgh, was walking from a raised deck to the pool, when she slipped along a narrow edge, struck her stomach, and fell into four feet of water.
Her 8-year-old brother witnessed the accident and called their mother, who got the girl out of the pool and administered CPR.
The girl was initially taken to Davenport Hospital in Bath, then transferred to Strong via Mercy Flight.
She died later of her injuries.
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7d702f7c-da06-4476-ad48-6aba08d8dc50
Bee has baby sat Katie and both of Katie's siblings for a while now. So this news has been heart wrenching to us. I am going to be a little more personal than the news though.
Katie was 10 years old, almost 11. She was born November 1st, 1997. Katie has two siblings. One older sister (13) and one younger brother (8). Katie's parents are divorced so that doesn't make the situation on the kids any easier. Katie is one of those girls that can make you laugh no matter what. You can be really mad at her but she'll just make you laugh and then you will love her again. She was filled with joy!
I've known Katie since October 2005. We went on a group hiking trip to Rock City Park in O-City. She hugged me the minute she met me. She hung on Bee and I the whole day. She held both our hands. So that was my first encounter with the amazing Katie.
A while later I called Bee while she was babysitting the kids and Bee told me that Katie wanted to say hi to me. So we talked for a little while and I asked how old she was. She told me 8 or 9 and I was like wow you are growing up to be a big girl. She said "No I'm not, I want to stay a little girl forever"! I laughed, then she told me she was mad at me and I told her I was sorry. She quickly forgave me.
This past winter I went ice skating and Katie was there. She kept taking my cap and skating around the rink with it. I would chase her and take it back and "scold" her. We were laughing and playing. Finally the last time she took my hat I skated up to her, shes giggling away, and I picked her up and I said "Katie Fields, don't take my hat". She just laughed and replied: "Dowe, I love you". I chuckled it off and hugged her and put her back down on the ice.
If Katie was still here I would want to tell her two things.
1: Katie, You got your wish. You will forever be a little girl.
2: Most importantly, I love you too.
Katie Lynn Fields
(Left) Katie Fields
Rikki, Jonathan, Breann, Mark, Bo, (Far Right) Katie Fields