In an instant, a summer family vacation became a fight for a little boy's life.

Nine-year-old Paul-Angelo Warren of Calgary nearly drowned while swimming in the Shuswap River on August 3. After being trapped underwater for more than five minutes, he was rescued thanks to the heroic efforts of nearby strangers.

Today, Paul-Angelo is fighting for recovery in the ICU at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, surrounded by his family. Their son is in a medically induced coma and early testing is coming back positive.

As they focus on their son's recovery away from home, the Warren family is facing overwhelming financial hardship. Paul-Angelo's mother has had to stop working as a home care aide and self-employed residential cleaner to remain by his bedside, while his father has been out of work for several months without any employment benefits. The family is sleeping wherever they can, with Mom and his brother staying at the hospital and Dad sleeping in his truck so they can remain close to Paul-Angelo.

In the weeks ahead, they will also face high costs for travel, accommodations, meals, lost income, and eventually medical transportation back to Calgary when Paul-Angelo is well enough to return home.

We're asking Calgarians and compassionate supporters everywhere to rally around this family during the most difficult time of their lives. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help ease the financial burden so they can focus on helping Paul-Angelo heal.

Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser. Your support will remind the Warren family that they are not facing this journey alone.

Thank you for keeping Paul-Angelo and his family in your thoughts and prayers. ❤️

Learn more about this story: Vancouver Island Free Daily article