Somehow, he apparently got his hand caught under the treadmill belt--as one of his brothers was jogging. He began to scream at one incredible decibel level as his other brother started yelling to the first brother, "TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OFF!" to the response, "I'm trying." Realizing what had happened, I opted for "pulling" Ben's hands out, rather than trying to help the first brother figure out how to stop the machine. Despite the gruesome potential, there was nearly no blood due to what we later discovered was second and third degree burns to 7 or his 8 fingers. Luckily, the worse burns were on his right hand--he tends to favor his left.
(Warning: picture below)
We immediately called our ER doctor--who for some un-explainable reason had taking off from Maryland in an apparent attempt to deliver his second son on the New Jersey Turnpike. He told us that if we were to take the boy to the ER, they would likely just wrap up his hands and tell us to take him to his pediatrician after the weekend. So we (my wife) scavenged the car safety kit, found some anti-bacterial ointment with lidocaine, gauze wrap and bandaged him up as the big boys and I went to CVS to buy some children's Tylenol and more lidocaine ointment. We later returned looking for something to splint the fingers, but could only find actual Popsicles on the stick--turns out Ben preferred those anyway.
As sad and painful as this experience sounds, you need not feel too much pity for the poor child, who only needed "pain medicine" immediately following the accident. He is QUITE proud of his little mitts! He likes to show them off to everyone and anyone that will "listen" to him proudly "chirp" about them.
After visiting our ER doctor (new cousin/nephew) in New Jersey, we took his advice and returned home with Ben on Sunday evening and took Ben into the pediatrician first thing Mon. morning. Their response was that there didn't look like there was any infection, but that they would like him to see a hand specialist at UVA hospital in Charlottesville (about 45 minutes away), which they were able to set up for that afternoon. NOTE TO DOCTORS: When visiting with a parent and/or child after a traumatic experience, it is best to say more than; "Oh dear!" and walk out of the room! Yes, after taking off the bandages at the hand specialist office, that is exactly what happened. He did then return with I believe at least a resident and a few students (teaching hospital). Again, not comforting. The diagnosis; skin grafts on up to 8 fingers--to be taken from his feet--but the surgery couldn't be done in the next week, so we'd have to come back a week from Tue. So, they re-wrapped his hands (which he had undone in less then 15 minutes) and sent him home.
Have I mentioned that these two weeks were to be spent with his aunt, uncle & cousin on "furlough" from Africa and new cousin on "furlough" from New Jersey?
After VBS was completed on Thur. we all returned to Maryland for the weekend before we had to pack Ben up and head back down to check Ben into the hospital at 6AM for his surgery on Tue morning--which was made much easier by PopPop and GiGi "big-boy-sitting."
Within 5 minutes of checking in, they had a volunteer escort us all up to a room where Ben would get ready for his surgery. We meet 2 different nurses (both very pleasant), an attending doctor (though very competent, seemed a little lost), the resident anesthesiologist (talked kind of fast, but was very good), along with at least one intern/student for each before the chief plastic surgeon and head pediatric anesthesiologist stopped by (one with their car keys still in their hand). After some Verset, Ben was taken off to what we were told would probably be a 1.5 hr. surgery. We were able to track the progress of the surgery on a digital board in the waiting room and he was out in less then 61 minutes. The second nurse called down to let us know the good and bad news. Good: they only had to graft on 2 fingers. Bad: it was one finger on each hand. So, in the doctors words Ben would be "Houdini-ed" (ie. arms tied across his chest), he would at least have one foot "free" (was able to get both grafts from one foot, which then had to be splinted to keep the stitches from popping).
Recovery was not quite as quick. Apparently they had felt he was having some difficulty breathing and so they intubated him (put a breathing tube down his throat, but removed before he woke up) which upon waking up appeared to be slightly less disturbing for Ben than discovering he no longer had use of his arms. Although visibly annoying, he has begun to figure out how to use his one free foot to; point, pet his new cousin's head, pick up and even nearly put things in his mouth. So again, you don't need to feel too sorry for him.
We are ALL looking forward to having the cast/splints & stitches removed on Tue. morning!
No comments:
Post a Comment