Jackson youth continues to improve

Doctors and family members are encouraged by the steady improvement 11-year-old Andrew Tyler is making after a near fatal accident Thursday.

The Jackson boy continues to show small signs of improvement, his grandfather, Jim Tyler, said Sunday evening.

"His eyes are clearing up and that's a sign of improvement,"Jim Tyler said. "It sounds like small things but to us he's making great strides."

Andrew, who isn't fully conscious, is able to move his hands and feet and make some voluntary movements. Nurses at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, where he is being treated, were able to turn him to his side for a while this afternoon, Jim Tyler said after returning from the hospital.

"Some of the things that he can do seem a long way from where we were Thursday morning." Doctors were not originally optimistic about the child's recovery, but say now he's doing better than expected, he said.

Andrew had been practicing with the Barracudas swim team Thursday morning when he nearly drowned. At first, doctors thought he suffered an asthma attack but on Friday doctors diagnosed a heart disorder that causes the heartbeat to increase, and which can lead to cardiac arrest.

Tyler said it seemed like prayer and good luck were helping Andrew make his recovery. He also credited the swim team with a quick response once Andrew lost consciousness.

"The quick help he got from the swim team made a difference for him," Tyler said.

A swimming accident was the least likely accident anyone expected for Andrew, his grandfather said, "because he can swim as good as he walks."

Andrew is the son of Ed and Becky Tyler of Jackson.