i got a call last night, around 6:30. the ex's girlfriend has the worst communication skills, she started off, "shoe, i didn't want to be the one to tell you this but alex broke his arm."
me, "oh my god, where is he? how is he?"
her, "oh, he's fine. they are on their way to jackson to check on him. no one will set his arm until they can be sure that he doesn't have any more severe injuries."
me, "does he?"
her, "well, it's just the distance that he fell. i'm guessing over eight feet since he fell from the second story balcony at the exes house. they are sending him to get a cat scan"
me, "when did it happen"
her, "about 4:30."
helpless as i was from two states away, it only compounded my worries having to go through the family of imbeciles for information. poor alex. he should have never been there. in the end, he had a buckle fracture in his right arm very close to the wrist. good news? he's a south paw, shouldn't slow down his writing a bit. however, with his birthday this sunday and soccer in two weeks, i'm thinking this is going to be the nastiest cast you've ever seen, come summer.
parents, help me. how do you survive this? for hours last night, my stomach was churning. i couldn't do anything but worry. finally got some sleep but woke up feeling just as bad. it's terrible to be unable by distance to love on your child. ugh.
then again, i would have probably killed the entire family had i been on site, so i guess all is well. the alley cat returns on saturday, super hero with a fractured arm. the moonwalk is out.
side bet: i'll bet you that the ex didn't have any insurance info for the kids and that the financial bitchslapping of this "event" only begins to hit ME after the arm is healed. the man doesn't pay child support, regularly at least, so i doubt even though this event occured on his watch he'll pony up his half on the cat scan. just a guess. course i'm a cynic, but i'm also a blodger. time will tell.
Posted by shoe at March 16, 2006 07:19 AM | TrackBack.. ouch... get well soon, Alex...
Posted by: Eric at March 16, 2006 07:32 AMMy oldest son broke his collarbone last summer while skateboarding. While at the hospital we learned my wife's brother had just suffered a massive heart attack. Her mother was going into surgery for colon cancer the next day.
You say a prayer, hope for the best and survive.
On a lighter side, I have broken 11 bones, most as a kid. I turned out (for the most part) OK.
Posted by: hoosierboy at March 16, 2006 08:01 AMFirst you unload the weapons before Alleycat returns -- I recommend unloading them into a photo of Señor Asshole.
Posted by: Bob at March 16, 2006 10:29 AMOh, honey.
First you pick your heart and your stomach up off the floor, that shouldn't be too far to reach because you were probably on your knees anyway thanking God he was not more seriously injured.
Holy crap.
Poor baby.
Poor Mommy!
I'm glad to see they got him immediate treatment. It's probably a good thing they waited a little while to call you, that way they had more information to give you.
{BIG HUGS}
Is there anything I can do for you?
Posted by: Christina at March 16, 2006 10:55 AMOW! Crap!
Which state is he in? Anywhere near me? Can I do anything? Please call and let me know if I can be of ANY sort of assistance.
Posted by: Kelley at March 16, 2006 11:04 AMSorry to hear about that, but glad to hear it wasn't worse. He'll be out of the cast before summer gets here, though. Those young 'uns heal faster than us old guys. Good thing he's a lefty, too. Let us know if we can help.
Posted by: Dash at March 16, 2006 11:11 AMOuch! I hope all turns out well. My thoughts are with you.
Posted by: Denny at March 16, 2006 12:58 PMOh, Shoe..bless your heart, honey. Yeah, there would have been some ass kicken going on if it was my kid, so you're right to count your blessings there. And unfortunately, though I don't know your ex, I certainly wouldn't want to bet on a sure thing, eh?
Posted by: Kelly at March 17, 2006 04:17 AMWell, first, I'm glad the boy is alright.
Second, tell the boy he ain't a bird, and can't fly.
Then, ask him if he got the inspiration for that jump from the Chris Cagle song(The chicks dig it). Just so you'll know...
Now, pat him on the head, give him an aspirin, or whatever sawbones told him to take, and then go kick ass.
For what it's worth, Dash is right. He'll be back to fit 'fore you know it. I've broken both trigger fingers, right hand thrice, twice wasn't good 'nough. Left arm twice, first time 1 bone(fell out of a tree), second time, uneven parallel bars... Yeah, Olympic aspirations are bitch. ;) Right leg twice. Collar bone once(playin' Evil Kanevil).
It don't make me a bad person, just makes me a brittle person...