I sit here in the dark of my living room with my feet up, the Deadliest Catch on low volume, and my son uncomfortable as hell on the the couch. He snapped his arm earlier today, fractured his bones in a clean break from a Swing accident at school. It was in a competition for the right of saying, “I swung higher than you”. Unfortunately, when he was at his highest, he lost balance and fell to the ground on his arm. It could have been worse, it could have been his head, but it did deserve the emergency call from the school. His arm was bowed and obviously broken.
I was fortunate a co-worker heard my dilemma and highly recommended an orthopedist close by. The doctor kindly accommodated us with a phone call and despite my son shaking with pain, they got us in pretty quickly.
When the x-ray was taken, the doctor took me aside, showed me the x-ray and told me the plan. The two bones which support the hand in the forearm had snapped. The bones had come to overlap and had to be repositioned to have the arm straightened, essentially putting the hand back on to the bones. If he could get the hand back on the bones, they’d re-grow together and fill in with normal growth. If it didn’t work, it might need surgery in which he’d have to go in and pry them apart to reset it back on. YIKES…… he also told me parents have a much more difficult time dealing with it then their patients….
They hung his arm, gave him Novocain, and let the arm relax over a little bit. My son got talkative as the pain went away. When the doctor returned I had him hold my hand and tried to direct his attention as the doctor worked his arm. My son winced, but when the arm appeared straight moments later, he felt relieved. I guess you could say I did too.
When the x-rayed it again, the doctor did a great job of positioning it back on top of the bones. Granted, it was 100% straight but pretty close. He said the bones will grow together, but we need to have x-rays tomorrow and Friday, to make sure it stays in place, to prevent surgery. I keep my fingers crossed.
In the meantime, I’m having him sleep in the living room and I’ve become the “repositioning servant” who will be at his beckoned call. A job I have no problem with, in fact, I’ve volunteered myself. He’s my son for God sakes.
So Best Bar Wednesday tomorrow- a joint named Marion’s Restaurant & Bar in the Bowery will have to wait. Not sure how I’ll do it yet- I may double it up, provided the time allows for it. I’ll play it by ear.
Thank you for your understanding and support dear friends, and may the light always shine on you.