What an adventure!

Oh, my boy Christian. What was supposed to be an uneventful, fun but lazy vacation in Washington for the holiday with my sister and her fam turned into a crazy, fast ambulance ride to the local Children’s Hospital. Ok, so now I have your curiosity sparked and I cannot just leave it there, right? I will try to tell it all, but keep it short (I think!) Here it goes:

Playing on a bouncy house slide that he has gone down many times before, Christian slid down, did a flip at the bottom and landed wrong. I was called to come back because he couldn’t feels his legs. I walked in to find my boy being bear-hugged by the manager on the bottom of that bouncy house slide. I carefully climbed on to sit next to my boy and find out in more detail what had happened. I watched as the manager pinched (HARD) Christian’s legs and feet, getting no reaction what-so-ever from him. I called my nurse-sister, needing another opinion of what should happen. After not-so-long, the conclusion was made that I needed to call 911 and get him to a hospital. Ambulance came; lots of info said and written down; a precarious transfer into a C-collar and onto a backboard; I ran to get my wallet and insurance cards from the van; Chris was strapped on to a gurney and put into the waiting ambulance, I sat in the front seat. Off we drove.

Just a few minutes into the ride, I hear on the radio, “Re-route to Mary Bridge, St. Pete’s ER Doc can’t handle”.I call my nurse-sister again and tell her so that she can meet us there when she can. The ambulance flips a U-ey and goes the other way, meeting up with Medic 1 and we get transferred into that vehicle for the remaining ride to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. During the transfer, one of the Medics talks to me a little and says that Chris is moving his toes a little and that is a VERY good sign. The Medics were WONDERFUL! The guy driving (Dan) was talkative in a good way, explaining all that was going on, why they re-routed to Mary Bridge and even telling me that there was a moment where they wanted Chris to be transported via helicopter! We drove up 1-5, going 75mph, full lights and sirens, trying to get past the traffic, all the way to the ER doors.

We arrived at the ER and I remember seeing 10-15 people surrounding one room. I thought, “Wow, something is going on in that room!” And then they wheeled MY BOY into that room! OH MY.

         

2 hours worth of MRI’s on Christian’s back, an IV with lots of fluids, watching “Kronk's New Groove”, Jenn and I playing Phase 10, LOTS of waiting and 6 hours later: Chris has full movement and sensation back, MRI was clear and we are discharged with no real clear explanation of what happened.Basically, it was a pinched nerve in his back. A funny-bone reaction. Whew!

Headed home with instructions to take it easy for a while. Don’t they remember who they are saying this to? A 9 year old BOY? Well, it was a nice thought at least. He stayed “down” when he slept and when he hurt, which wasn’t for long – There was PLAYING to do MOM!!!

 

That all happened on December 30th. What a way to end 2010. To top it off, that was his 10th (yes I wrote that right – tenth!) ER trip. His first in an ambulance, and lets all pray his LAST!!!

 

Here’s praying for a better and healthier 2011!