Two-year-old near drowning victim selected as 2016 Lighting Luminary

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Two-year-old Dominic Larkin of The Woodlands has been selected to light up Market Street and its 70-foot Christmas tree as part of the “Market Street in Lights” holiday spectacular to be held in Market Street’s Central Park on Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m.

With the help of his mother, father, brother and sister along with family and friends, Dominic will flip the switch to officially kick off the holiday season and start Market Street’s three-minute holiday light show, a dazzling display of flashing, multi-colored lights synchronized to holiday songs.

Dominic suffered major medical complications and was in a drug-induced coma for nearly two months following a near drowning incident at his home in February 2016.

Sewell and Texas Children’s Hospital – The Woodlands are the official sponsors for the 2016 Market Street in Lights. Market Street has honored a deserving child to start the holiday season at the shopping and dining destination since 2004.

The “Market Street in Lights” synchronized holiday light performance will continue evenings during the holidays, every hour on the half hour, from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Market Street is located in the heart of The Woodlands Town Center at the corner of Six Pines Drive and Lake Robbins Drive.

Amy LeCrone and Shawn Creswell of The Woodlands nominated Dominic. Dominic’s father, James Larkin recalls, “It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to save one too.”

Dominic was found floating in his family’s pool by his mother, who quickly performed CPR. During CPR, he aspirated a bit of pool water and his lunch, and was sedated and intubated upon arriving at Children’s Memorial Hermann. Dominic fought hard even as his lungs were showing signs of failure. Due to an infection in his lungs, the doctors thought it best that he be put on the ECMO machine, which could act as his lungs.

He faced many more complications while in the hospital including a liver abscess, a blood clot and a very risky surgery to aid a severe case of abdominal compartment syndrome, acute kidney failure and another surgery to aid a plural effusion on his left lung.

“Dominic made it through all these challenges and was able to come off of ECMO March 10 and return home May 6 for three reasons: God was with him, Dominic is a fighter, and his medical teams were precise in all the procedures they performed,” says Larkin. “The only lasting effect of his accident is the closeness and support surrounding him that we have formed here in our community of The Woodlands around him.”

After the debut of “Market Street in Lights,” families can enjoy musical entertainment and holiday carriage rides available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about Dominic’s story, please visit http://blog.memorialhermann.org/back- brink-saving- child-drowning/

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