Last week we got a call saying Erin had fallen from the monkey bars and broken her arm. We rushed over and found our little girl trying to be brave. I gently moved her arm to get an idea of how to splint it for a trip to the hospital. Her arm above the elbow started to dangle and I immediately set it down. Fortunately our neighbor (who is a family doc) arrived to see if he could help. He had a wrist splint that he gently slid over the break which gave it just enough stability to get her to the car. It was a long painful ride to the hospital. When we arrived they left it in the splint and took x-rays. Doc came in and said "It's badly broken, we are consulting with the ortho doc here to see if he feels he can repair it. If not, she is going to Primary Children's". They needed to splint it first though. They quickly decided she would need to be put to sleep. A team of people came in and got ready to put her out. I moved back to give them access but I guess I didn't really know what to expect. They gave her the medicine and in seconds she was out. Two docs got her arm repositioned and started to splint it. I watched as her oxygen levels started to drop. Someone quickly pulled her head back and started to bag her to get oxygen to her lungs. I started to panic a little at that point but by minute 4 she was starting to move and breathe and wake up. Then, they felt for a pulse in her wrist. Not there. Ortho from the other hospital on the phone told them to splint it in whatever position they could maintain blood flow to her hand. So they started to move her arm again. Fortunately she was still fairly out of it. They got a faint pulse and let the splint harden.
The blood flow was a problem and sealed the deal to going to Primary's and on top of that she would be going by ambulance. I was grateful at that point that the doctors recognized their abilities vs her injury. They packed her up and off we went. I think the hour ambulance ride was the hardest part of the whole thing. There is nothing like watching your child in pain. Two more doses of morphine later we were there. Orthopedics had already been called in even though it was late at night. Erin was really hurting and now it was her hand that was in the most pain. There was no longer a pulse and her hand was not getting much blood flow. She could not move her hand at all. The doctors decided to give her another medicine to help relax her. As soon as they injected in her IV she went out again. Her oxygen dropped again and the nurse started to stimulate her chest to get her to take some breaths. "She liked that medicine a little to much" said her nurse. Finally she started to move a bit and wake up some. They got her ready for surgery and just before she went in Dad arrived along with Grandma and Grandpa. She got her second blessing that evening. She was so happy to go to surgery so they would put her to sleep and relieve the pain. They told us anywhere from an hour to five hours pending the need for vascular surgery. Then we waited.
About an hour and a half later we got the call from the OR. She did great. Once the bones were pinned she started having good blood flow. No need for vascular surgery. We were so relieved. When she came out the doctor told us that it could be anywhere from a few days to a few months before she had full movement of her hand. An hour later she was moving all her fingers. The docs were truly amazed at her immediate progress. She was released the next day with full movement in her hand, a soft cast, and lots of pain meds. Days later, she was doing so well, we were able to go on our planned vacation only a day late.
Even though it was just a broken arm, it was scary. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends, family, and neighbors. They took care of Erin, prayed for her, brought her notes and goodies while recovering, and took care of our other children so we could be with her. Thank you so much! We hope we can be that kind of support when others are in need.
Today Erin got her hard cast. She chose lime green. Its so bright that it blinded her in the parking lot. We love our brave girl.
