LINDALE — The Texas Rangers are investigating after an 8-year-old Lindale ISD student died following a medical emergency on an elementary campus last week.
Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt said the district is cooperating with the Rangers as they formally investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Adrian Thompson, who choked at school and later died at a Fort Worth hospital.
“Lindale ISD welcomes this review and we will share the findings with the Thompson family and our community when it is appropriate to do so,” Surratt said in a letter addressed to district families and Lindale community members on Wednesday.
Surratt confirmed the medical emergency that led to Adrian’s tragic death was a choking incident, which she experienced at Velma Penny Elementary School.
“Adrian experienced a choking incident at school that led to lifesaving efforts by the school nurse. These efforts included the Heimlich maneuver, the use of a Life Vac device, and then CPR,” Surratt said in the letter. “A 911 call was placed and first responders arrived quickly to continue emergency care. Adrian was then transported for medical treatment and later transferred to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.”
Adrian died in the early morning hours of April 16. She was in the second grade at Velma Penny.
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“As we continue to process this tremendous loss, Adrian’s family, the teachers, the staff of Velma Penny Elementary, and the entire Lindale ISD community remain in mourning,” Surratt said.
Surratt said the district met with the young girl’s father, Greg Sher, on Wednesday.
“During our meeting, he demonstrated strength, grace, and love that is difficult to adequately express in words,” Surratt said. “The purpose of the meeting was to provide the family with information and details related to this heartbreaking event.”
In an audio file released to our news partners at CBS19, a 911 call details a portion of the emergency response as Adrian suffered the emergency on campus April 15.
With permission from Adrian’s family, the full recording of the 911 call is published to cbs19.tv and tylerpaper.com. Viewer and listener discretion is advised. The content of the call is summarized below.
In the audio, a call-taker answers the phone, asking if the caller needs fire, police or EMS. The caller says “EMS – we have a student choking – a child choking – in the nurses’ station at Velma Penny Elementary School.”
The call-taker immediately asks the caller to stay on the line as she transfers the call to EMS. As three rings go by, the caller speaks to another Lindale ISD employee suggesting a lockdown, as the other employee says to “pray, pray, pray … Dear God.” On the fourth ring, EMS picks up the call.
“EMS?”
“Yes, I have a child who’s choking, hello? Hello? This is Donni Cook,” the caller states.
“I’m here,” the EMS dispatcher says.
“I’m Donni Cook, the principal at Velma Penny, we have a child that’s choking in the nurses’ station that they cannot – the Heimlich – the child’s choking, we need help, fast – fast,” Cook says in the audio recording.
“What’s the address, ma’am?” the EMS dispatcher asks.
“1000 Mt. Sylvan, Lindale,” Cook replies.
The EMS dispatcher can be heard typing on a keyboard. The dispatcher again asks what school, to which Cook responds, “Velma Penny Elementary School.”
The dispatcher asks the number Cook is calling from. Meanwhile, Cook is speaking to a person in the room with her, saying the school should’ve done a “hold, not a lockdown.” The dispatcher again requests the number, and Cook responds with the number she’s calling from.
The dispatcher asks if Cook is in the room with the patient, and she says no, she’s in her office across the hall. “The nurse is with them,” she says.
“What did she choke on, do you know?” the dispatcher asks.
“I have no idea,” Cook answers. “They ran and told me to call 911. We have a child that’s choking and they’re not getting her to breathe with the Heimlich.”
“OK,” the dispatcher says. “OK ma’am, we’ll get them on the way.” The dispatcher asks Cook to have someone ready to meet EMS when first responders arrive on campus to direct them to where the child is. Cook hurriedly confirms, says thank you and hangs up.
Surratt called the staffers’ and first responders’ efforts courageous.
“I want to commend the efforts of our staff members, teacher aides, Nurse Fountain, and first responders who acted swiftly and courageously in their efforts to try to save Adrian,” he said. “Our hearts go out to her parents, Anna and Greg, as they endure a grief no parent should ever have to face. Adrian was a precious daughter, student, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.”
The district said it has life-saving measures in place but will outsource a review of their current procedures.
“I also want to reassure our parents and community that Lindale ISD has lifesaving devices, safety measures, and procedures in place to respond to medical emergencies,” Surratt said. “We pray that no family or our school community ever has to endure a tragedy like this again.”
In addition to the Rangers’ investigation, Lindale ISD will seek an independent outside entity “to review our safety equipment, emergency response measures, and procedures,” Surratt said.
“We welcome this evaluation so that we may identify both our strengths and any possible areas where improvements can be made,” Surratt said. “We are committed to transparency and will share this report with the Thompson family, our staff, parents, and community.”
Lindale ISD also plans to develop a strategic plan to strengthen and expand emergency response training for all staff members.
“Adrian Thompson was a precious Lindale Eagle, and we will honor her memory by doing everything possible to make our schools even safer and stronger,” Surratt said.
The district asks the community to pray for Adrian’s family, as well as the students, teachers and staff of Velma Penny.
“This has been a heartbreaking tragedy for the Thompson family and for the entire Lindale ISD family,” Surratt said.
The district doesn’t plan to provide additional information about the incident, aside from “necessary updates.”
“Out of respect for those most affected, we do not intend to repeatedly revisit this matter publicly beyond necessary updates,” Surratt concluded in the letter.
Tarrant County medical examiners have not released Adrian’s formal cause of death.
Sher earlier this week made a public post on his Facebook page, saying he and the child’s mother, Anna Thompson, “want public dialogue around the circumstances that led to my 8 year old daughter’s death.”
He said their daughter was “loved beyond words,” and said their lives “will never be the same.” He urges parents to hold their children close.
So far, over $86,400 has been raised to support Adrian’s family with funeral expenses as of Thursday afternoon. To donate to the GoFundMe, visit https://tinyurl.com/helpadriansfamily. People can also send funds to her mother Anna’s Venmo, @Anna_EyeGlassPro.
The community is invited to celebrate Adrian’s life during a memorial service scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at Bethel Bible South, 17121 U.S. Highway 69 in Tyler. Attendees are invited to wear bright, sparkly clothes or colors of pink, royal blue or yellow. Child care will be provided for nursery and pre-K children during the service. There will be a reception after the service.