Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A Hole In Her Head

I heard the thump, followed by the cry.

I didn’t panic because the kids had been running around upstairs for the past hour—even though they both were supposed to be in bed. Naturally they weren’t taking me as seriously since Tom was at work.

“What happened?” I asked as Natalie wailed upstairs.

I figured she fell. She can be extra dramatic about things. Once she bumped her foot and freaked out about it, claiming she needed a band-aid even though you could barely see anything wrong.

I got upstairs and Natalie was on her back, screaming.

That’s when I saw the blood streaming down her face.

“Oh my GOD!” I wailed. As most of my readers know, I can be incredibly dramatic which is no wonder why Natalie wants a band-aid for every tiny bump. I rushed over to Natalie and that’s when I saw it…a HOLE in her head.

I’m not being dramatic either.

There was a HOLE in my daughter’s HEAD.

“Oh my GOD!” I screamed again. I scooped her up and rushed her downstairs. I placed her on the couch. “Stay with me! Don’t pass out STAY WITH ME!”

At this point Natalie stopped crying and was staring at me in confusion. It was probably because I was racing around the room in a panic. I didn’t know quite what to do. The bleeding seemed to stop but there was still A HOLE IN MY KID’S HEAD. I dialed Tom’s number and the second he picked up I went, “TOM! Natalie fell down and there is a HOLE in her HEAD!”

“What?” Tom answered. He’s used to my dramatics. He most likely assumed she simply had a scrape.

“The kids were playing, I heard a thump, and there is a HOLE IN NATALIE’S HEAD! I’m calling 911!”

“Okay—”

I hung up on Tom and dialed 911.

It was my first time ever calling 911.

I think I told the operator that my daughter had a hole in her head. “She’s conscious,” I added because I knew they’d ask since I watch Grey’s Anatomy. I was told an ambulance would be there shortly and had to stay on the line. I kept asking Natalie if she was okay and she kept saying, “Yes.”
I was worried her eyes would roll to the back of her head at any second.

I mean…HOLE IN THE HEAD.

I heard the wail of sirens in the background and a few minutes later I had an ambulance, a fire truck, and a police car in front of my house. I’m sure my neighbors were like, “WTF? Did she finally burn the place down?” because most know I’m not the best cook. (Or they thought, "Look, I know Ricky Gervais wasn't as funny at the Golden Globes this year but complaining to 911 is a bit extreme..")

Anyway, I got off the phone and all these men filtered into my house. Natalie was standing at this point, baffled on what was going on.

“Can you see her brains?” Tommy called out.

“I HOPE NOT!” I yelped and then peered at my daughter’s head. COULD you see her brains? Then I flashed back to a scene in Grey’s Anatomy where they were talking about BRAIN MATTER when they were dealing with a head injury and started panicking all over again.

Natalie was surrounded by the men, who began to ask her different questions. I think this was to make sure that I didn’t hurt her. I imagine they deal with abuse cases so they want to get to the kid and make sure they don’t look suspicious or anything like that. I totally understand.

Tommy did not understand.

When Natalie was asked questions he kept saying, “I’m Tommy. Hello? I’m feeling okay, thank you. I don’t have a hole in my head. My sister kept running around and I told her to stop and she wouldn’t. I’m doing. I’m DOING OKAY!”

Poor kid.

It could have been because of his Aspergers—he doesn’t get social situations and at that moment he probably just saw everyone was focused on Natalie and didn’t comprehend why no one was acknowledging him.

Natalie hit her head on the corner of the wall apparently. She took one of the men upstairs and pointed out where she had knocked it.

It turns out that even though she had a hole in her head that it wasn’t life threatening because she didn’t black out. The ambulance could have taken her but I didn’t want to take their time if a real emergency came up—so I said I’d drive her to the hospital myself. I was told she was definitely going to need stitches or staples.

“Can you see her brains though?” Tommy kept asking.

I was still crying and when Tom came in I started crying harder wailing about how our daughter had a hole in her head and that it was all my fault.

Natalie, it should be pointed out, has been to the ER 2 times prior to this. Once for a cyst in her leg that got a horrible infection so we had to stay in the hospital for a few days. Another for a disgusting cut in her side that needed glue to close. And now this. Tommy has never gone through anything like that so she’s definitely been keeping me on my toes.

So off to the ER we went, and one would think that not many people would be there on a Sunday night.

Wrong.

The waiting room was FULL. Apparently people in Oklahoma get hurt a lot.

I looked terrible as we sat. I had been in my pajamas when Natalie was hurt and was quickly able to throw some jeans on—but I still had my pink pajama top on. No bra. Hair a mess. Snot coming down my nose because I couldn’t stop crying. Red face. Tears dripping all over the place. Natalie’s blood streaked across my cheek.

Basically I looked like Lindsay Lohan on a Friday night.

(Ba-dum-bah!)

At least I didn't look like this:

                                                                          Photo Credit
                                                                       

We were called back to get Natalie’s vitals and I was asked what happened.

“The kids…were playing upstairs…and I heard…I heard…a THUMP,” I sniffled. I couldn’t stop crying for the first hour. I think it was the shock of seeing a hole in my daughter’s head.

“Can you see her brains?” Tommy asked again.

At this point I wanted him to be quiet. I almost, and I hate myself for even thinking this, but I almost wanted to shout at him to knock it off and behave normally for once. Didn’t he realize his sister was HURT? Why did he have to keep asking about her brains? Thank God I didn’t because I work hard on explaining to Tommy that he IS normal; he just learns differently and there’s nothing wrong with that.

It’s hard for a kid with Aspergers to get it. To him, we were interrupting his evening. As we waited he kept saying, “How much longer? I’m bored.” He didn’t ask how Natalie was. Sometimes I want to shake him and scream, “Why don’t you CARE?” And really, he DOES care, I know he does, but he doesn’t grasp a lot of social cues. He could see I was crying, but because he loves the human body, his main focus was, “Since she has a hole in her head, can you see her brain? Or her skull?”

Tom had to go back to work since he had his dog with him. He said he’d be back and as soon as he left I burst into tears all over again. I didn’t want to be alone. There were scary people in the room. I hear horror stories about gangs around Oklahoma and there were several men waiting in there who looked like they could be apart of a gang. Suppose they pulled out a gun and started to shoot up the place?

We were still waiting when Tom returned an hour later.

I think we had to wait about two hours and for an ER, that’s not bad.

We were brought back to a room and someone came to look at her head.




“Is it really bad?” I asked. “There was so much blood.”

“Head injuries always have a lot of blood,” I was told.

I didn’t know this.

I mean, you’d think because I watch a lot of Grey’s Anatomy and ER that I would KNOW this. The episodes have a lot of blood but I assume sometimes it’s for show—you know, have more blood and the audience will appreciate it more? But no. Head injuries=lots of blood. FYI.

Natalie had to get two staples in her head.

“Is it going to hurt?” Natalie asked.

I didn’t want to lie to her so I said yes but if she were brave that she’d get a Rapunzel doll.

“Can you see her brains?” Tommy called out.

“No. It’s not that deep,” the doctor said.

Natalie didn’t cry at all. I almost wanted to cry when I saw the shot they used to numb up the area in
Natalie’s head.

The most Natalie did was say, “Ouch.”

That was it.

She’s braver than I am.




When it was over she said, “Can I get my Rapunzel doll now? I was brave.”

We promised she’d have it back at home.

I am so incredibly grateful that it wasn’t worse than it was.

On the drive home from the hospital Natalie said, “An angel kept me safe.”

“What?” I asked.

“An angel kept me safe,” Natalie repeated. “When I fell.”

I smiled. Her guardian angel, maybe.

Thank goodness she has one.

I have a feeling she’s going to need extra care seeing as she’s been in the ER 3 times and she’s only 4.

Thank you, angel, for keeping my baby safe once again.

48 comments:

  1. I am so sorry that happened to your beautiful daughter. I pray she is okay now.

    We had a terrible thing happen to our 5-yr-old last year (he is fine now), he fell off his grandparent's front porch on his big wheel. He also had a huge gash on his head, way too much extra blood everywhere, and we called 911. He knew if was serious when the ambulance came. The ER doctors stitched him up, but I think Mommy needed drugs more than he did. Sadly, none were offered.

    I tell myself I will laugh about this someday. That day has not come yet.

    Best wishes for Natalie's speedy recovery.

    MOV
    ps-- I also believe in angels

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  2. Wow I'm so glad she is okay! I freak at the sight of blood I could barely look at the pictures ! I'm happy she has an angel watching her sounds like she needs it!

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  3. Kids, if they don't kill you by the time you are 40 count yourself blessed unless of course you have grandkids and then you get to live thru it all again.

    So glad your girl is OK, tell her if she names the angel the same one is required by heaven to return to that person whenever they have trouble.

    I'm Catholic. We know angel stuff

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  4. Oh mama...I feel you. When Lilly had her bout with gastroenteritis I was sobbing and hysterical. Lilly, of course, was such a big girl and handled the situation much better than I did.
    I'm glad that Natalie is doing a-ok, and grateful for that angel watching over her. That's such an amazing thing. Thank God Natalie's got an angel on her team. :)

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  5. She is a resilient little girl! So glad she handled it so well - and you too, Mama. :)

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  6. Yup, that's a hole all right.

    I'm glad she's doing OK. It always takes longer for me to calm down after things like that.

    We had a situation where the baby fell back in her highchair, don't ask, and Alex simply asked, without looking up from his i-touch, "Is she dead?" He was looking for the facts of the situation and nothing else. He did however have several meltdowns later in the week processing all the action and off-routine stuff that came with the baby hitting her head....

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  7. I'm so glad our babies can see their angels, so they don't get as scared about things like we do. It's a comfort in those times to know they are there with them, but then wonder what they must think of us crazy mamas, haha. I'm glad everything is ok. :)

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  8. Scary experience, glad you have a good sense of humor about it now. I think I will react the same way if my daughter ever has a similar accident.

    Thanks for stopping by Two Washingtons.

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  9. I think you should put in a request for a replacement angel, because that one doesn't seem to be doing too good of a job.

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  10. Oh, poor thing! Glad she is on the mend (and you too!).

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  11. That was very scary! You did good taking care of her, and keeping the kids calm even if you weren't feeling it. I don't know if could have done that well!

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  12. Oh lord, what an experience! Poor thing! Poor mama! I did know that head injuries always have a lot of blood, regardless, but that's not exactly comforting! Poor little one - what a brave girl!

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  13. oh my goodness! I know how scary that can be. Thank goodness she was okay and that her angel was keeping her safe. :o)

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  14. So scary! I am so glad she is better now, though. Wow. And seriously, did she SEE an angel? Cuz, umm, creepy.

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  15. Oh my gosh you poor things, your daughter and you both. I am so glad she was able to get to the hospital and get all taken care of, what a nightmare for you.

    I've said this a ton, but it is amazing that they and us, even make it to adulthood. I was a crazy kid with not a lot of supervision and my oldest is a total daredevil. I thank my lucky stars every day we are still around.

    I am thinking of you and hope Natalie feels much,much better very soon.

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  16. OMG, how freaking scary is that?! So glad she was okay (and so brave, too)!

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  17. Holy Crap! I'm glad she's relatively ok! It's probably better that it was on her head and she couldn't see it. haha!

    2 hours isn't that bad at all for an ER but Holy Crap! She's got a HOLE IN HER HEAD! Somebody get her a doctor!!

    Glad it all worked out. Hope the healing goes quickly!!

    (Thank goodness for angels!)

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  18. Aw, how scary. I am glad that everything turned out alright.

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  19. DAMN YOU NARRATOR!!! I'm glad there wasn't an actual hole in her head. BUT YOU MADE ME THINK THERE WAS AND IT WAS FREAKING ME OUT!!

    Yes, head injuries bleed a RIDICULOUS amount.

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  20. She is a handful that is for sure. Do you think this will slow her down and stop the running around upstairs?

    Nahh... I didn't think so either.

    Glad she is on the mend. Getting staples in the head doesn't sound like fun at all!

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  21. Sounds sooo much like my Dracen. He is 8 now, his brother is 12. Dracen has been to the ER or Urgent Care three times. Devin, 0. Seems it's always that second child!

    He's had two cuts in his forehead. The last one, when he was 4, required stitches and we were in the ER forever (until 1 or 2 am) the night before we were to leave for the beach.

    He screamed his head off the entire way to the hospital. I was a wreck by the time we got there. We still made our beach trip the next day. I have a pic of him running down the beach chasing Seaqulls with a SpongBob band-aid on his head!

    Thank God for guardian angels!

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  22. SO scary! What a sweet moment at the end...sounds like she's going to get to know her angel well :-)

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  23. OMG - i would have been right with you, freaking out!! I'm glad to hear she's ok. I'm sure she'll be happy to remember this story when she's older - or at least, Tommy will remind her about the time he didn't get to see her brain. :-)

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  24. Isn't it terrifying when your child gets hurt?

    I'm glad Natalie is doing fine. She is one brave little girl indeed!

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  25. Glad she is okay! I couldn't help but laugh every time Tommy asked the question. What a great way to tell the story and keep your humor. Give your girl a hug and bless her angel.

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  26. You are so blessed to have Tommy- really, what a great thing to have one that keeps it real...
    VERY glad she's alright.
    Hope her trauma is soon forgotten!

    Tracy

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  27. It is so scary when kids get hurt. Glad she was ok.

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  28. Oh my goodness sweetie, I bet you WERE terrified. What a little trooper that Natalie is!!!

    She deserves her Rapunzel.

    Ya know, Tommy did a magnificent job to Hon...he truly could of freaked out with all the commotion. Pat him on the back for me...'K'???

    Sendin' Nat bit old hug and healin' prayers her way.

    I truly believe that children can see things we can't. I'm so glad her angel is on the ball.

    Have a fantastically blessed day my friend. :o)

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  29. Poor Natalie :( I'm glad she's doing fine!

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  30. What an awful night! Kids seem to handle these things remarkably well. When ViMae fell down the stairs and got all banged up, her mom started sobbing. ViMae was comforting mommy instead of the other way around! Glad Tommy finally got an answer from the doctor, too.

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  31. that sounds super scary and i would have freaked out too. glad she is ok... and very interesting about the angel!

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  32. Oh no, how scary. I'm glad everything turned out ok.

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  33. Oh my hell! You kept yourself together far better than I would have. I'm so glad she is okay and that she has a Rapunzel doll...

    OY! These darn kids and the heart attacks they give us!

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  35. I think an angel certainly did keep her safe - lucky little thing! Good on you for having enough calmness to call for help - that was the best thing you could have done.

    I used to volunteer as an ambulance officer and we would always tell people that we would rather "waste" an hour going out to see a minor head injury than get a phone call in the morning for a coma.

    My old partner and I would LOVE calls like yours - knowing that the mother was concerned enough and long-thinking enough to realise that headwounds, no matter how minor, DO require medical attention - even if it's just a staple or two :)

    Better to be safe than sorry!

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  36. My son split his ear open on the coffee table once. His cartiledge came out of the top of his ear. It was gross.

    Aside from the initial scream, he didn't say anything even when the stitches went in.

    Now, if it had been Oldest, it have been a WHOLE different story.

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  37. The ER is never fun! I am so happy that she is ok, and really it what little boy wouldn't want to know if you could see his sisters brains.

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  38. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww Amber... she did good and even though you don't think you did, YOU DID GOOD TOO. I'm glad she has her Angel. She definitely needs it. Lil Stinker! I know how hard it is with Tommy. And the fact that you DID keep your cool with him is amazing. It's a stressful situation and you kept your head about his processing - which is good. {{HUGS}}

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  39. I am so glad she is okay. I believe about angles. My little neighbor girl got run over by her mother coming in the garage and she said an angle came and helped her.

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  40. Thank goodness she is ok. I'm sure you were a nervous wreck, I can only imagine how awful I would be. Praying for a quick recovery! Glad her angel was with her. :)

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  41. Wow! What an ordeal! So happy it wasn't worse than it was. Brave girl!!!

    Now stop running in the house, OK???

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  42. When we had our first child my brother-in-law told me "remember, head wounds bleed a lot" I didn't fully comprehend this until a few years later when my Tom got a hole in his head!! Scary stuff! Glad all is well now and very glad you have an angel looking out for you!!

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  43. I am really glad she is ok now and it wasn't as serious as it first appeared. I have been in the emergency room more times than I care to remember with my kids. Your post made me giggle a lot because I act exactly the same. Last year when my daughter tried to cut her finger off, yip it was hanging off, I couldn't remember our address when I phoned the ambulance! I also went to the hospital dressed like a homeless person LOL. I hope the rest of your year is ER free. xx

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  44. I am glad it was not worse. Our family has had similar experiences. Dislocated fingers, staples in the head for tilting a chair back in school, getting hit in the face with a hockey stick at school and bloody noses that won't stop, the list is tiresome.

    Hope she gets better fast.

    I saw that you have a son with ADHD and Autism. I do to. He is nine and in third grade. Keeps me on my toes. Never a dull moment at our house.

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  45. I can totally relate to your whole story. I felt myself in the moment of panic with you.
    So glad she is ok & that angel was there protecting her.

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  46. I am sure glad everything turned out okay. It IS scary to see so much blood, but the head DOES bleed a lot! Sounds like Natalie is going to be your accident-prone kid!

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  47. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. Oh my goodness, you poor girl. (And I mean you; Natalie sounds like she was a total champ.) I would have been beside myself too. So glad she's OK.

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  48. I’m a single mom named Jackie I have a five-year-old son and a seven year old son or did they both have transitioned they are both male to female trans. They’re doing it through the hospital and it’s going very well. So they’re not girls born in a boys body they are born gay and transsexual. Meaning they want to be completely female and they’re on hormones, but also male and be relationships with males. I learned a lot about it as we went. The doctors are very good. That was actually my oldest we were in going through the process and very early on the doctors noticed and started asking my younger son questions. not long after both of my sons were diagnosed trans women I am very much identified as gay and were born. That way the doctors are very good. They can notice it in many different nuances so they’re both on hormosns and puberty blockers they are both going to get surgeries to feminize their face this summer we’re at a great hospital, and the doctors believe very much and transitioning very early they say, with in the case of girls boarded a boys body is quite rare, but almost every boy that comes in with confusion between wanting to be a girl and liking boys, I said almost 100% or diagnose, gay and trans and they are born that way how many of your moms have had your boys going to wear your high heels and what not you really should bring them in. These doctors are very good and will explain everything but almost all boys who do anything more than six months to a year of Mimicking, their mother, R Gay and trans Girls and they can be much more happy look much more female, and that much for their life transitioning. Then I just wear my oldest son will have to go into grade 2 as a Trans. Girls., which is happy to do my youngest will be entering school as a trans girl

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