8 days prior, I had [foolishly] made the comment that thankfully, in our almost four years of parenting, we'd never had to make a trip to the emergency room.
But this past Saturday, that all changed.
The boys were playing in the front yard, as they often do. I was outside but they weren't where I could see them. I suddenly heard Daniel screaming that he was bleeding. I ran around the corner of the house and saw him laying in the yard holding his shoulder. I looked, and saw no blood (he immediately thinks he's bleeding if he gets hurt), but it was obvious he was hurt. I scooped him into my arms, and his screaming immediately got worse. I ran towards the house, telling William to get Zack.
Zack ran out to us and we all sat on the ground. We could tell it was something around his left shoulder, but weren't sure what. He wouldn't (couldn't?) lift his arm, so Zack ripped his shirt off of him, then got some scissors to cut his undershirt off. His shoulder looked red and a bit swollen, but we couldn't see much else. He calmed down a little and was able to lift both arms and move his fingers.
And the tech immediately said "Uh-oh, a broken collarbone!" Even to my untrained eyes, it was pretty clear.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done for that. He was given a brace thing that goes around both shoulders to pull them back so the bone can heal back properly. He has to wear it night & day for 6 weeks. That ought to be fun! But thankfully, it was only the clavical. It could have been much worse.
Please be praying for Daniel - for his pain during these first days after his injury, and that the bone will heal properly and quickly.
But this past Saturday, that all changed.
The boys were playing in the front yard, as they often do. I was outside but they weren't where I could see them. I suddenly heard Daniel screaming that he was bleeding. I ran around the corner of the house and saw him laying in the yard holding his shoulder. I looked, and saw no blood (he immediately thinks he's bleeding if he gets hurt), but it was obvious he was hurt. I scooped him into my arms, and his screaming immediately got worse. I ran towards the house, telling William to get Zack.
Zack ran out to us and we all sat on the ground. We could tell it was something around his left shoulder, but weren't sure what. He wouldn't (couldn't?) lift his arm, so Zack ripped his shirt off of him, then got some scissors to cut his undershirt off. His shoulder looked red and a bit swollen, but we couldn't see much else. He calmed down a little and was able to lift both arms and move his fingers.
We got an ice pack and got him inside to lay down. But after about 10 or 15 minutes, his crying wasn't getting any better. And if any of you know Daniel, you know this kid doesn't cry over anything. So we decided to make a trip to the ER.
Zack dropped us at the door and I ran in with him in my arms. The two guys at check-in immediately gave us a place to sit, asked a couple of questions, and within about 3 minutes, had his arm in a sling. (I also heard one of them telling the nurses to get a room ready fast so his screaming didn't scare everyone in the waiting room!)
Within about 10 minutes, we were called back to a holding area for vitals. And soon after that, they had us in a room. Everyone was extremely nice, and efficient. The nurse came and checked him, asked a lot of questions, then sent the doctor in to do the same.
They gave him some meds to ease his pain before x-rays. About 20 minutes later, we went to radiology. He was very brave, laying on that big cold table. We stood in the next room with the tech, and watched as the first image came up.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done for that. He was given a brace thing that goes around both shoulders to pull them back so the bone can heal back properly. He has to wear it night & day for 6 weeks. That ought to be fun! But thankfully, it was only the clavical. It could have been much worse.
Our total ER time was no more than 2 hours. I think that is probably some kind of record!
