Bus driver and aide save boy's life

Thanks to the quick thinking of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District bus driver Lee Ames and special education aide Penny Peukert, 6-year-old Samuel Canchola, the son of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps couple Staff Sergeant Danielle Canchola and her husband First Sergeant Martin Canchola (Ret.), survived a life-threatening medical emergency the morning of March 3.

The near-tragedy began at 7:16 a.m. that Thursday morning when Ames was nearing 19th Avenue and Marine on Camp Pendleton, where he was enroute to deliver special needs students who live on the Base to various Fallbrook school sites in his 24-capacity bus. For Samuel, that meant a ride to his first grade class at Live Oak School.

“We were about one-half mile west of the Naval Weapons gate when Penny noticed that Samuel was becoming physically sick,” Ames said. “I pulled the bus over as soon as I was able.” Ames said he and Peukert quickly assessed the situation and, feeling the boy might be in the midst of a seizure, they called immediately for emergency medical support.

Samuel’s mother, SSgt. Canchola, verified her son “had a major seizure on the bus in the morning. He had stopped breathing and was turning blue.” She stated that Samuel has been diagnosed with mild autism.

When Ames alerted his FUESD dispatcher, Darlene Whalen, at 7:18 a.m., Whalen immediately called emergency services on Camp Pendleton, then placed a call to Samuel’s mother at work with the bus’ location. Ames, driving buses for FUESD for 12 years, says seizures are not unusual in special needs students but this was only the second time in his career one required him to place a call for emergency medical personnel.

Meanwhile, Peukert, a former caregiver of a relative who experienced seizures, took action to render aid to Samuel.

“His lips were blue,” Peukert said. “We had clean towels on the bus, so I immediately rolled a towel and carefully wedged it between his teeth to keep his airway open. This was a very strong seizure. I tried to keep him forward so that his airway would stay clear until the paramedics got there.”

Camp Pendleton paramedics arrived within five minutes and Samuel was being transported to the Naval Hospital on Camp Pendleton by 7:28 a.m.

“Samuel was rushed to the emergency room to bring the seizure under control,” S.Sgt. Canchola said. “[He] has never had a seizure before.”

“Thanks to the bus driver aid, Penny Peukert, and the bus driver, Lee Ames, they saved my son’s life,” SSgt. Canchola said. “Penny was quick to respond and opened the airway for Samuel to breathe.” Samuel was admitted to the Naval Hospital for the night for treatment and tests.

While endeavoring to keep Samuel as comfortable as possible before paramedics arrived, Ames and Peukert were also concerned about the impact the alarming incident would have on the eight remaining special needs students on the bus.

“The other kids were very concerned about Samuel,” Ames reported. “The fear factor was high, but their behavior was very good.” FUESD Transportation Manager Doug Parr has attributed the fact that the other students were calm during the incident to Ames and Peukert.

“That says a lot about Lee and Penny and their relationships with the kids,” Parr confirmed. The bus that Ames drives and Peukert is currently assisting with serves Camp Pendleton families with special needs students ranging in age from preschool to junior high.

As far as the Cancholas are concerned, Ames and Peukert are real-life heroes. After finishing their bus route on the following day, March 4, Ames and Peukert visited Samuel at his home.

“Penny took him a stuffed rabbit,” Ames said. “The other kids in his class sent him a gift package. Just to make him feel comfortable with the bus again, we had him sit in it and he was very happy.”

“Samuel has always been a sweet, happy boy with a very jolly personality,” Peukert said. “He gets along very well with others. His mom and dad are wonderful people. He is very well cared for.”

“These drivers do love and care for these kids,” said Darlene Whalen, FUESD transportation dispatcher of 18 years. Care and compassion are just two of the strengths displayed by district bus drivers.

“The strength of this department is the amount of team cooperation we have,” Parr said. “Our priority is the safe transportation of our community students to and from school.”