Sunday, May 01, 2005

No Stitches Required

Jamie has just begun his softball season. My niece, Erykah, just loves going to the ballpark with us. No longer confined to an apartment, Erykah has so much freedom at the ball park to run and jump and play with little friends.

Today was no different in the "jumping" department. In fact, Erykah's jumping created quite a serious commotion. Jumping with head down over a puddle of spilled chocolate milk on the pavement caused poor little Erykah to hit her forehead into the edge on an open car door. OUCH! Time stood still in that moment....I was standing there, transfixed, watching it happen but yet too slow to react. Life is cruel to active 4 year olds who are too invigorated by fresh air to notice such dangerous obstacles. And then the loud tears, the broken skin, blood dripping...and in an instant she was in my arms and hurried to the truck followed quickly by Vanessa (the owner of the "BAD CAR!" and a mom) with first aid kit and gauze in hand. I didn't even want to look at her forehead, thought it was just a scratch but then I had to do it....I pulled back the gauze and saw an inch long gash...not sure if the gasp was mine alone or the spectators whispering "stitches for sure". And then (another moment I don't wish to repeat), the call to Erykah's mom, Tracey...."Hello....don't panic....but Erykah is hurt, she cut her head open....should we meet you at the hospital?" We opted for the walk-in clinic which seemed a faster option that our ever-crowded Brampton emergency room. The clinic was full but pretty quick to see the injured child with the bleeding forehead who kept saying she wanted to "go to sleep". The doctor was very nice....phew!! the skin had not broken all the way through and "no stitches required". It was a very clean cut, he said, and just put on a piece of tape to keep the gash closed. Perhaps later, the headache will come. The doctor said she's okay to rest, hopefully she'll sleep through the throbbing pain. She's had enough for one day.

Erykah was a very strong girl today...didn't even cry after we started en route to the clinic. Believe it or not, after all of this, she didn't want to go home. She wanted to go back to the ballpark....but....

Alas! to add insult to injury, no more ball games this weekend....Jamie's team lost!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, sure Myrna....nice going! You know you could just tell your sister that you don't want to babysit anymore instead of making her FIRE you! hee! hee!...just kidding!

It's amazing how resiliant children are, eh!