She rests quietly in her father’s arms, asleep. It’s a moment that feels peaceful. But to Paul Lagergren, every second like this is a miracle.
In February of 2020, when Penny was just a couple of months old, she fell into a backyard pond.
"It just happens so fast," Penny's dad, Paul Lagergren, said. "After 70 minutes of full cardiac arrest, she had finally come back."
Now six years old, she’s the center of her family’s world, and the boss of the house, if you ask her parents.
"Her favorite singer is Ozzy Osbourne. Oh. Oh, he's the only thing that comes her down when she's mad," Lagergren said.
Strong-willed, expressive, and curious, even with her own Facebook Account , Penny has beaten odds most children don’t survive.
Penny still lives with the effects of that day, but with therapies ranging from acupuncture to functional movement work, her parents have watched her slowly regain strength, awareness, and personality.
Dr. Robert Murdock, a functional medicine specialist at Natural Family Physicians who treats Penny, says recovery is a slow but real process.
“She came in absolutely rigid. Eyes wide open. In full fight-or-flight,” he said. “Now she can relax. That’s when the body starts to heal.”
But Penny’s recovery is only part of the story. Her family now advocates for drowning prevention, hoping their tragedy can be another family’s warning.
From 2019 to 2021, Florida had the highest drowning death rate in the U.S. for children ages one to four: 6.64 per 100,000.
“Drowning isn’t like it is in the movies,” Paul said. “It’s not loud or dramatic. It’s quick. It’s quiet. And it can happen just like that, and instantaneously your life is changed forever.”
He and Penny’s mom, Megan, hope parents keep in mind 5 layers of protection: supervision, barriers like fences, alarms, swim lessons that teach kids to float without floaties, and CPR.
"Don't get too scared about it. We've connected with a lot of people in this community, and we're all family, and we're all there for you. And don't, and but but don't assume it can't happen to you," Lagergren said.