First ER Injury

Well, it was bound to happen at some point. Monday started out great. Everyone slept in, we spent the first part of the morning as a family before Bill headed off to work and the kids and I headed to playgroup. After playgroup we had a great trip to the BX (the kids were angels!) and post office, and met Daddy at Chili's for lunch. We stopped by ITT and reserved our tickets back to the States and headed home for quiet time. On our way off base I stopped by the gas station to fill up the batmobile and put air in the tires. Kaity needed to use the restroom, so she went to the side of the building and used the one there. On the way out, she slammed her thumb in the hinged side of the metal door. Fortunately (thank the Lord), I was right there and was able to get the door open within a few seconds that felt like minutes. She just started saying ouch, ouch, ouch, but as soon as the door opened and the blood started gushing she started freaking out. I grabbed a bunch of toilet paper, threw it around her finger and compressed it until we got to the car. That was the end of the freak out. I threw her in the front seat and we drove with no seat belts on to the hospital. We sped (at 15 mph it didn't take much) to the hospital, where everything was guarded and taped off since we are currently in the middle of an exercise. The whole ride (maybe 2 minutes, if that) Kaitlyn reminded me that it was dangerous riding in the front seat, especially with no seat belts on. That's my girl! When the poor guy saw all the blood he waved us into the bay where I left Ryan in the car and escorted Kaity inside. I threw my id card at them and, after making such Kaity was okay with me leaving, ran outside to find no less than 8 people swarmed around the car getting Ryan out and getting ready to bring him to me. Ryan and I parked the car and joined Kaitlyn inside in her little hospital bed. She had NO color to her face and it was nearly the color of her off white shirt. Not what a mommy wants to see! After sitting in bed with her (continuing to elevate and compress) for a bit, her cheeks started to get a little color back into them. After about an hour or so, they decided they needed to get her back for some x-rays. We all joined her in the x-ray room and I realized it was probably past just needing some stitches, so I got out the camera and began the photo documentation.

First x-rays

Checking out the x-ray machine

ER self-portrait

We waited a while longer before the docs came in to share the x-ray results with us and recommend treatment. She had a small fracture in the bone, but they were really worried about damage to the nail bed. I was actually pretty calm throughout the whole trip, but have to admit when they said they were going to put my baby girl under I thought of the worst. Fortunately, it was a conscious sedation and there was an anesthesia specialist there to monitor everything. It also didn't hurt that he had a little six year old princess as well, and he cared for her like he would his own.

The doc checking it out. Smart girl knew not to look this time.

After the doc left, I called a friend and had her come get Ryan. He was amazing. Our busy little boy was so great and stayed in the bed with us the whole time. I had no toys or means for entertainment and God truly blessed me because we were on our way home for nap when this happened. So, our sweet boy missed nap and was an awesome little guy while everyone was making a fuss over his sister. I didn't even think to call anyone because I was thinking that, at worst, she would just need a few stitches. No big deal. Always the optimist! Two and a half hours later, Ryan joined his buddy Sophie for a little play date, we got a hold of Bill, and the surgical team prepped for the operation.

Such a good boy!

While we were waiting for Daddy and the surgical team.

The orthopedic surgeon was AWESOME! She was so kind and reassuring. She explained to us exactly what was going to happen and that she was going to make Kaitlyn as good as new. She was a natural with Kaitlyn and our brave little girl had no fear, despite all the pain she was in. Well, a little of the needle, but ended up saying it tickled. Many thanks to Major Good for that one!

The orthopedic surgeon and her patient just before the drugs were administered. She was distracting Kaity with her funny glasses!

While Kaity was in la-la land (Maj. Good kept saying it was the best legal high you could ever have), Major McMichael removed Kaity's nail (didn't have too much work to do as Kaity did a doosie on it), repaired her nail bed, reattached her nail, and stitched up the underside of her thumb. The surgery took about an hour and she should be as good as new. The only concern she had was of a small numb spot where she may have lost feeling due to the fact that she cut it so deep and so close to the nerve, but only time will tell on that one.

She doesn't remember a thing!

Two hours later, we were released. While we were waiting for the meds to wear off a bit more, Kaity was telling us about her time "asleep". She said she was all over the place. On the walls, on the ceiling, dancing around the room. She knew it was just a dream though. She smiled a drugged little smile several times that just made us giggle. When I asked her to say thank you to the doc, she smiled and winked at her. I think the wink wasn't quite intended (maybe it was, we wink at each other a lot at home), but it sure was adorable. The surgical team all told her she was the very best patient they had ever had. She was so incredibly brave. I had to admire her bravery at such a young age in such a painful time, uncertain of all that was happening around her. She was wearing a shirt with FABULOUS across it and it was very fitting for the afternoon. The surgical team ate it up too! I cannot stress how incredibly AWESOME this team was. They worked so wonderfully together and were amazing with our angel. A true gift from God.

Waving good-bye to the surgical team...just after coming to.

We wrapped up the night with takeout from Thai 2, our favorite restaurant in Osan, and cotton candy ice cream for our brave patient! And a 7:30 bedtime for a very drained Mommy!

Kaitlyn hasn't missed a beat since the incident and goes back in a few hours for a post-op follow up appointment. We are confident she is healing well, and are thankful that generics weren't affected by the children's medicine recall!