I have to say I’m totally floored by the stoic nature of my little three-year old. When I first saw him after the accident, lying semi-comatose in my sister-in-law’s lap, I just about fainted. His eyes were clouded with pain, he could barely stay conscious and his lower jaw was alarmingly askew. We rushed to the hospital where he proceeded to pitch his breakfast into my lap. Watching a child retch with a broken jaw is not something I need to see again. After a 6 hour stint in the ER, complete with a wild ride down the halls of the hospital to the outpatient CAT scan (better equipped for children apparently) and back, we were taken by ambulance to the other hospital in the area because it is a children’s hospital. If I had known I would have chosen that hospital in the first place….eh well, live and learn.
They kept us overnight mainly for safety reasons, nothing to do with the fracture. They just wanted to make sure he stopped throwing up and could keep some water down. Amazing what shock will do to a toddler’s system. Through it all my little guy would patiently raise his shirt every time a doctor came near him with a stethoscope. Everyone was astonished. I’m not taking any credit, from what I’ve heard children are either born to patiently endure or make a big scene, no idea which one until they come out. He stayed in my arms for two solid days though. Thank goodness for my hubby, who took the brunt of all the work, shuffling cars back home, clothes to the hospital, food to the house, you name it.
After we were released from the hospital we were headed right back the next day for the jaw wiring procedure. I was so not looking forward to putting my Jakester through another round of needles and tubes. After the pre-op prep, hooking him up to all the wires and monitors I was a wreck. I’m usually calm under pressure, know the details and am fine but I was dreading it. The surgeon took one look at me and said, “Folks, lets keep this in perspective… he’s going to be just fine.”
The minute our little guy woke up the difference was astounding. He was hungry, he was thirsty, and his clear blue eyes scanned the room with wolf-like focus for what he had been promised… “Where’s my ice cream?!?”
Upon seeing a glass of water and juice propped on the bed, he about launched himself, tubes, wires and all out of my lap. “I want water, I want juice! Here, let me show you what I want!!”
Shawn and I started laughing so hard, all the while trying to slowly give our son what he wanted. He was still coming down from the anesthesia. The last thing we needed was to re-live the retching all over again. But is felt so good to see our son return to his normal outspoken self!
Now, the liquid diet is a whole other story, but life is good. My boy is back.
They kept us overnight mainly for safety reasons, nothing to do with the fracture. They just wanted to make sure he stopped throwing up and could keep some water down. Amazing what shock will do to a toddler’s system. Through it all my little guy would patiently raise his shirt every time a doctor came near him with a stethoscope. Everyone was astonished. I’m not taking any credit, from what I’ve heard children are either born to patiently endure or make a big scene, no idea which one until they come out. He stayed in my arms for two solid days though. Thank goodness for my hubby, who took the brunt of all the work, shuffling cars back home, clothes to the hospital, food to the house, you name it.
After we were released from the hospital we were headed right back the next day for the jaw wiring procedure. I was so not looking forward to putting my Jakester through another round of needles and tubes. After the pre-op prep, hooking him up to all the wires and monitors I was a wreck. I’m usually calm under pressure, know the details and am fine but I was dreading it. The surgeon took one look at me and said, “Folks, lets keep this in perspective… he’s going to be just fine.”
The minute our little guy woke up the difference was astounding. He was hungry, he was thirsty, and his clear blue eyes scanned the room with wolf-like focus for what he had been promised… “Where’s my ice cream?!?”
Upon seeing a glass of water and juice propped on the bed, he about launched himself, tubes, wires and all out of my lap. “I want water, I want juice! Here, let me show you what I want!!”
Shawn and I started laughing so hard, all the while trying to slowly give our son what he wanted. He was still coming down from the anesthesia. The last thing we needed was to re-live the retching all over again. But is felt so good to see our son return to his normal outspoken self!
Now, the liquid diet is a whole other story, but life is good. My boy is back.
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