We had quite a day last Sunday. Church had just let out and the kids were all headed out to play. One of the kids...mine....got his finger closed in the metal exterior door. Not that a metal door would be any worse than a wood door (which nearly took off the end of my sisters finger when she was 8) or a glass door (which Liam pointed out would have been more "refreshing" ) But it was a big heavy door.
I saw and heard a little commotion and glanced over to see him looking at me frantically. By the time I got to him the door had been opened and the first look at his finger started my panic. It was really bad. I could tell right off it was really bad. One of the ladies said get him to the kitchen. She would get the key, he needed ice. I never saw her after that. I stood out with him near the kitchen door, his blood dripping through my fingers. A teen girl came out the door. I cried at her to get the paramedic who was in attendance that day. It seemed like hours before I saw the youth/assistant pastor. I was crying, begging him to help me somehow. That is when things finally started happening. People showed up, the first aide kit came out, the paramedic was calm and assuring as he said "he will need stitches". They got Liam to the van, I washed my hands and rushed out. I should never have driven the van out of the parking lot. I should not have been behind the wheel of any moving object. But I was and I did.
I drove as fast as I could to the closest Urgent Care.....what urgent care worth anything is closed on a Sunday!!!??? At that point I melted down. I couldn't figure out how to dial out or receive calls on my new cell phone. I was going to call 911 and just hold my baby until they got there. I stood in the parking lot and cried. Liam asked :Mommy, are you crying?" Yes I said. "Mommy, I am going to die, I will miss you but I am going to see God now". I managed to find the contact list in the phone and get my sister. Not much help but she did try to call a friend who I thought might be able to get a number for Craig's work. My brother in law started trying to call me as he found closer and open urgent care clinics. I couldn't answer his calls. I was melting down and just sat sobbing.
Finally I got a grip....barely....and headed toward the hospital. Just to find they had moved the emergency room!!!! I began crying again....Liam started crying again...telling me he was dying. Then telling me he really needed a doctor. I ran a red light but managed to find the new location. When you bring a little boy dripping blood into a building they move pretty fast and I was never so happy to pass him off to able bodied people!
He was so brave. Answering all their questions. "Liam Bradbury, I'm 5 years old, It hurts really bad". The hospital called Craig's work. Craig finally got to the hospital and both Liam and I calmed. They took and x-ray and told us that the end of his finger was fractured. The nail was torn away and the nail bed broken. Have you ever seen a broken nail bed? It is a horrendous sight! He would need a minor operation to repair the damage. They hooked him up to machines since they would be sedating him. The picture above is right after the shot. He was starting to get drowsy.
I saw and heard a little commotion and glanced over to see him looking at me frantically. By the time I got to him the door had been opened and the first look at his finger started my panic. It was really bad. I could tell right off it was really bad. One of the ladies said get him to the kitchen. She would get the key, he needed ice. I never saw her after that. I stood out with him near the kitchen door, his blood dripping through my fingers. A teen girl came out the door. I cried at her to get the paramedic who was in attendance that day. It seemed like hours before I saw the youth/assistant pastor. I was crying, begging him to help me somehow. That is when things finally started happening. People showed up, the first aide kit came out, the paramedic was calm and assuring as he said "he will need stitches". They got Liam to the van, I washed my hands and rushed out. I should never have driven the van out of the parking lot. I should not have been behind the wheel of any moving object. But I was and I did.
I drove as fast as I could to the closest Urgent Care.....what urgent care worth anything is closed on a Sunday!!!??? At that point I melted down. I couldn't figure out how to dial out or receive calls on my new cell phone. I was going to call 911 and just hold my baby until they got there. I stood in the parking lot and cried. Liam asked :Mommy, are you crying?" Yes I said. "Mommy, I am going to die, I will miss you but I am going to see God now". I managed to find the contact list in the phone and get my sister. Not much help but she did try to call a friend who I thought might be able to get a number for Craig's work. My brother in law started trying to call me as he found closer and open urgent care clinics. I couldn't answer his calls. I was melting down and just sat sobbing.
Finally I got a grip....barely....and headed toward the hospital. Just to find they had moved the emergency room!!!! I began crying again....Liam started crying again...telling me he was dying. Then telling me he really needed a doctor. I ran a red light but managed to find the new location. When you bring a little boy dripping blood into a building they move pretty fast and I was never so happy to pass him off to able bodied people!
He was so brave. Answering all their questions. "Liam Bradbury, I'm 5 years old, It hurts really bad". The hospital called Craig's work. Craig finally got to the hospital and both Liam and I calmed. They took and x-ray and told us that the end of his finger was fractured. The nail was torn away and the nail bed broken. Have you ever seen a broken nail bed? It is a horrendous sight! He would need a minor operation to repair the damage. They hooked him up to machines since they would be sedating him. The picture above is right after the shot. He was starting to get drowsy.
The doctor removed the nail, stitched up the nail bed then stitched the nail back in place to protect the nail bed while it healed. Tomorrow the stitch for the nail is coming out. He will loose the nail after that. The doctor was not optimistic that the nail will grow properly. I am praying.
We were warned that as he came out of the sedation he might cry uncontrollably and become anxious and combative. He did none of that. Though it took him much longer to come out than most kids take he was very calm. He looked over at Craig and his first words were "I love you daddy". Next he said he was dizzy. Another 'I love you daddy.' Another 'I'm dizzy.' Then he looked at me and said 'You're never going to leave me, right?' Oh my heart was breaking. My precious little man. I reassured him that I was never going to leave him.
After 6 1/2 hours we were finally released. Liam was such a big boy. He handled it all so much better than I did! He kept as calm as he could with me carrying on like I was. He wanted fries on the way home. We hadn't eaten since 8:30 that morning. Nearly 12 hours. Of course he got fries. One of the miracles of all this is that he has had no pain since the operation. Not a minute of pain! I can't imagine, having seen the damage done, that he is pain free! That is a miracle. Because I tell you, if he was suffering still I would be a basket case.
So I learned a couple things from this. No parent at church alone will ever leave with an injured child. Someone needs to drive so that parent can concentrate on caring for their child. Liam needed me in the back seat with him. Holding his hand. Trying to slow the bleeding. I was nearly T-boned pulling out of the urgent care parking lot because the last thing on my mind was driving safely. I ran a red light because I had to get my baby to the emergency room ASAP. It seemed everyone in town was on the road and they were all driving 20 miles below the speed limit. Looking back it is a miracle I didn't have a stroke!! Or an accident.
Looking back, our church was celebrating public service appreciation day. There were three police officers in uniform with their police cars there. Had I gone to them would things have gotten taken care of quicker? And the last thing I learned is to invest in bubble wrap. If those little fingers and toes and everything else is protected I will never have to go through this again!! No, I am not being unreasonable!
But this has changed Liam a little. Before this I would have to go through great lengths to get a kiss or 'I love you' out of him. He is now much more cuddly, says I love you without being asked or without me saying it first. Oh how I love that little body in my arms!
And, the timing couldn't have been worse...but then when does a bad thing have perfect timing? If this had happened on January 1st we would be out of pocket only $100. This will be a lot more than that I am afraid. Liam still hasn't met his deductible. But it could have been so much worse. For that I am grateful.
Oh...and in case you are wondering what the blown up glove is in the picture...everyone needs a surgical glove balloon with a smiley face on it:) Oh...and the thing taped to your finger that glows in the dark:) There are some perks to all this. Wheelchair rides also come to mind:)
I will leave you with a Liamism: I was at the computer earlier this month while Liam watched Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. An animated offshoot of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Next thing I know he has put away all his train things that were lying around the living room and set his roller skates by the front door. I asked him what he just did. I looked behind me and the entire family room was picked up...legos, cars...everything! I pulled him to me and hugged him and praised him. I asked why he did that without me asking? "I just want to help keep the world clean" he replies. I sort of like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
We were warned that as he came out of the sedation he might cry uncontrollably and become anxious and combative. He did none of that. Though it took him much longer to come out than most kids take he was very calm. He looked over at Craig and his first words were "I love you daddy". Next he said he was dizzy. Another 'I love you daddy.' Another 'I'm dizzy.' Then he looked at me and said 'You're never going to leave me, right?' Oh my heart was breaking. My precious little man. I reassured him that I was never going to leave him.
After 6 1/2 hours we were finally released. Liam was such a big boy. He handled it all so much better than I did! He kept as calm as he could with me carrying on like I was. He wanted fries on the way home. We hadn't eaten since 8:30 that morning. Nearly 12 hours. Of course he got fries. One of the miracles of all this is that he has had no pain since the operation. Not a minute of pain! I can't imagine, having seen the damage done, that he is pain free! That is a miracle. Because I tell you, if he was suffering still I would be a basket case.
So I learned a couple things from this. No parent at church alone will ever leave with an injured child. Someone needs to drive so that parent can concentrate on caring for their child. Liam needed me in the back seat with him. Holding his hand. Trying to slow the bleeding. I was nearly T-boned pulling out of the urgent care parking lot because the last thing on my mind was driving safely. I ran a red light because I had to get my baby to the emergency room ASAP. It seemed everyone in town was on the road and they were all driving 20 miles below the speed limit. Looking back it is a miracle I didn't have a stroke!! Or an accident.
Looking back, our church was celebrating public service appreciation day. There were three police officers in uniform with their police cars there. Had I gone to them would things have gotten taken care of quicker? And the last thing I learned is to invest in bubble wrap. If those little fingers and toes and everything else is protected I will never have to go through this again!! No, I am not being unreasonable!
But this has changed Liam a little. Before this I would have to go through great lengths to get a kiss or 'I love you' out of him. He is now much more cuddly, says I love you without being asked or without me saying it first. Oh how I love that little body in my arms!
And, the timing couldn't have been worse...but then when does a bad thing have perfect timing? If this had happened on January 1st we would be out of pocket only $100. This will be a lot more than that I am afraid. Liam still hasn't met his deductible. But it could have been so much worse. For that I am grateful.
Oh...and in case you are wondering what the blown up glove is in the picture...everyone needs a surgical glove balloon with a smiley face on it:) Oh...and the thing taped to your finger that glows in the dark:) There are some perks to all this. Wheelchair rides also come to mind:)
I will leave you with a Liamism: I was at the computer earlier this month while Liam watched Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. An animated offshoot of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Next thing I know he has put away all his train things that were lying around the living room and set his roller skates by the front door. I asked him what he just did. I looked behind me and the entire family room was picked up...legos, cars...everything! I pulled him to me and hugged him and praised him. I asked why he did that without me asking? "I just want to help keep the world clean" he replies. I sort of like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.