There is nothing worse than seeing or hearing you baby in pain. Jim and I were in the kitchen getting lunch ready when I heard the most horrifying sound I’ve ever heard. There was this horrendous crunching sound and then a cry that came out of Christopher’s mouth that I will never forget. I ran into the Living Room to find him holding his poor, twisted little arm. His eyes were so big and the pain on that little face broke my heart into a million pieces.
I gently scooped him into my arms and tried to comfort him but called out to Jim, “He broke his arm!” Jim got on the phone and called 911. They were here in five minutes and Christopher got his first ambulance ride. The paramedics were so fantastic. They were asking him some questions to distract him while they tried to brace his arm for the ride. When he got into the ambulance he looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, “Can Pooh Bear come with me?” I’ve never seen Jim Brett run as fast as he did to get that boy his bear.
When we got to the hospital, Christopher cried, “Please don’t give me a shot.” He was more worried about that than anything. When they did have to put the IV in, he tried so hard to be brave but he cried and cried and cried. Two seconds after it was in, he stopped crying and looked at me and said, “That wasn’t so bad after all.” He made it through x-rays like a champ. He was so fascinated with all the equipment that he didn’t flinch at all.
When they were getting ready to reset his arm, they told us they would give him enough of a sedative that he would not remember but that he would probably feel some of the pain. They let us stay in the room until the sedative set in. Maybe it’s just me but, watching my little baby falling into that drugged sleep was also sort of horrifying. I’m glad it helped him but watching those little eyes roll back in his head tore me up. But hearing his cries of pain as they reset it was much worse. We were three doors down and they had closed the door but I could still hear him begging them to stop. These are sounds that I am sure will live on in my dreams for a while. Jim and I just sat there praying that our little boy’s arm would heal and that he wouldn’t be in too much pain.
When we were called back into the room, there was a young man holding Christopher’s arm in place while the splint was setting. He was so kind and encouraging while Christopher was coming out of the anesthetic. Christopher looked up at him and said, “Who is this nice boy helping me.” That young man looked up at us and said, “My name is Gabriel.” Seriously? I don’t care what anyone else believes… I know that was God answering a prayer.
I will admit there was some humor watching him come out of the sedative. That wonderful sense of humor he has came out in full force. He was a little upset and confused but he kept saying, “Will one of you tell me if this is a dream or real because I’m seeing two of everything. I see two dads and I know I only have one dad so something funny is going on here.”
The good news is he is home safe now. He is resting comfortably on the couch, watching PAW Patrol. The doctor told us to keep him home from school this week and actually said, “Let him watch lots of movies.” Christopher has already reminded me of that several times.