Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Trauma


 Last Monday, Brielle was playing some make believe game in the living room and I was rounding Emmitt up to take him for his nap, when I heard a smack followed by crying and turned to see her holding her hand to her forehead, with blood dripping down her face.  I scooped her up and ran into the kitchen where I put her down to see a gash in between her eyes that revealed thick layers of flesh on each side and white (come to find out it was indeed her bone) at the bottom.  She had hit her head on the jagged rocks of our fireplace.  I felt like my heart dropped to my stomach.  It was bleeding a lot.  I covered her face in a kitchen towel and frantically put her in the car, then got Emmitt too and rushed to the nearby Emergency Room.  Luckily it was just two minutes away.
Now I dont know a lot about head wounds but looking back I am amazed that by the time we got into a hospital room the bleeding was completely under control- one of Gods tender mercies for sure.  The nurse threw away my soaked kitchen towel and cleaned the wound and it already looked so much better.  Brielle was super brave- she stopped crying as soon as I put her in the car (at which point I started crying  - I am a mess of a mom sometimes.)

Here's the wound all cleaned up: (when Kevin had arrived with his phone for the picture taking :)  I kept the pictures small because they are hard for me to look at :/
 


They wanted to do a CT scan to make sure everything was alright, and other than a "minor nasal fracture," (which would heal on its own) everything was normal.  Sigh of relief


I must say I was not overly happy with the doctor that cared for her in the Emergency room.  He sent his P.A. in to tell us she was going to stitch her up before the doctor even looked at her.  The doctor came in and only after we pressed him and asked about our options did he take a peek under her bandaging and then tell us that if it was his daugher he would probably take her to a plastic surgeon.  Sheesh!  So off to the plastic surgeons we went...


We saw Dr Miller at his clinic.  His staff was awesome.  I was so glad we had taken her there.  No matter how her wound or scar turns out, we will have peace of mind that we got her the best possible care.  Brielle was very brave.  She only cried during the numbing part and that was very very hard to watch.  The doctor did a layer of stitches internally that were the disolvable kind and then did seven on the surface that had to be taken out a week later.









 And after she was all stitched up, they put a bandage over the stitches so she just looked terrific. 

During her numbing, we tried to distract Brielle by asking her to pick whatever special treat she wanted.  She asked for Red Robin.  Obviously we couldnt go until she was feeling better but when she was up to it the next day at lunch- off we went.

Day 3


Brielle was spoiled with cards, cookies and gifts from many loving friends and family.  I sure hope all that didnt motivate her to EVER DO THIS AGAIN!!!


And here she is yesterday- one week after the accident at the doctors office just after having the stitches removed.  Isnt she lovely!  She is supposed to keep that little bandage on for a few months and so its all hardly noticeable.  And isnt the human body an amazing thing. It is a marvel!

1 comment:

Jessica said...

oh my goodness!!!!! i would be FREAKING out. i am HORRIBLE in emergency situations. poor brielle! it really is amazing how the human body heals. i hope she's not in too much pain still. :(