Jeff was shooting arrows and cross bows with the older kids. And I didn't want to explain in front of everyone how bad it was. So when I announced that we needed to go to the ER, he was a bit surprised. "Karen, calm down, she just fell off the swing set." Um, yeah, we need to go! ;0)
They called in the orthopedic surgeon and he wouldn't touch it with her growth plate and severity of the break, so they stabilized her arm and sent us on to U of M. In a hurry because there was a chance they would do surgery that night, we called the kids and had them pack us a bag we could swing by and pick up, and left for Motts Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.
The ride was pleasant. Her arm was stable, she had some Motrin and we called and talked to Megan. She reminded Lydia of the time she had stitches and we got some grape soda after it was over. So she already had something to look forward to! The kids packed a DVD player and she watched a movie.
Upon arrival there was already 2 other kids with broken elbows from swing sets. They did x-rays and gave her an IV and said it was one of the worst breaks they have seen. She needed surgery and they tried to get her in that night, but would have to wait until morning. All I could think of is that she didn't eat much dinner, so they gave her some apple juice.
They tried to give her stickers, but she politely said "no thank you." And I explained that she just didn't recognize any of the characters because we don't watch TV. So they mentioned that they have dogs and kitties? "Kitties?" ;0) She perked right up! Megan and Elijah got 2 kittens and she loves them terribly. So they piled on the kitties! Stuffed animal, a ceramic bank that she could paint with her good hand, and lots of stickers!
They put her in a hard cast and about 3 a.m. she had enough stronger pain relievers that she was comfortable and could sleep and they moved us to a private room to be for the night. Surgery was scheduled for 11:15, she never did complain about being hungry.
They came in every 30 minutes or less to check her circulation and pulse. Did Doppler tests to confirm circulation. My adrenaline was high so I didn't sleep a bit.
We talked to the kids in the morning and prepped for surgery. And she already got some balloons to play with!
They weren't going to take her from us unless she was asleep, which I was thankful for, but it took 3 doses of versed and she still was wide awake, making sure I was close by. So the anesthesiologist waved his white flag and allowed me to suit up and go in with her. I put it on, walked several minutes to the operating room and she was still wide awake until they put her out.
Jeff and I went to get a bite to eat, which was really hard because at this point I'm just weepy. I run into one of my pediatric heart doctors, weird. And finally, we are talking with the doctor again. Usually they can fix it with 2 pins, but she needed 3. She had a hard cast on that was split for swelling and would soon get a hard permanent one the following week. That was it, she could go home later that afternoon! Eeeesh!
She woke up and had her pop-cycles and seemed somewhat comfortable. From the beginning they would ask what her pain level is and show her the 1-10 chart with all their faces and she always said it was a 4, never higher than a 4.
They made a necklace with her name written real fancy on it and gave her a bead for everything she had done. A glow in the dark bead for an x-ray, a favorite nurse bead, having her birthday just 2 days away bead, IV, staying over night, every bead had a meaning and she got to add them to her necklace.
Just a few hours from surgery and they are preparing to send us home. We had a couple hour drive so we tried to be a bit strategic in when we left (right after her pain medicine) and just gave her a few crackers to eat.
The medicine made her sleep all the way home and of course I joined her. I woke up just a few miles from home. The kids were so happy to see her and had balloons ready. She was a bit hungry and we put her in the big corner chair so to make sure her elbow wouldn't be bumped. She had to keep it propped above her heart so she had lots of pillows.
We didn't want her going up and down stairs from her room, medicated and unable to hold on or balance, so Jeff graciously went to our guest room. And we shared sleepless nights trying to get comfortable. A lot of them, like little to no sleep. Jeff eventually moved the guest bed in our room just to be closer! Love him!!
Psalm 34:20 "He keeps all His bones; not one of them is broken." Interesting how Christ never experienced a broken bone.
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