In the past 12 months, I really have not had a lot of injuries. 2 injuries from running (nerve in leg/back & painful feet) & 2 noticeable homebuilding injuries (air nailer into finger & falling/rolling down a ladder ending by landing on my back).
Those hurt, but not in the same way as last night.....
It's different when your child gets hurt.
I was working on the house last evening before our Sacred Marriage group and I suddenly got a hurried phone call from Super Lu asking me to come home as quick as I could. Sparkles had cut her finger. Deep. We needed to get her to a doctor soon. And for some reason, all Sparkles was yelling was 'I want my daddy!!!' (she hasn't really called me daddy for a while!). So I rushed home, got my muddy clothes off and rushed her to an emergency clinic. Usually Super Lu is the point person in these situations since she knows a lot more medical stuff and remembers instructions/details better.
As Sparkles & I head out the door:
Super Lu: Thanks for doing this. She really wanted you to take her.
Me: No problem.
Super Lu: Just keep an eye on her. She may F-A-I-N-T.
Sparkles: I can spell! I just don't know what faint means!
Fast forward to the room of pain....
Sparkles: Daddy, I want you as close as you can be. Can you cover my ears & hide my eyes?
Me: Sure honey - I'll do whatever you need. Don't worry. The doctor isn't even in here yet.
Fast forward a few minutes to the doctor examining the cut....
Me: (internal monologue) man it's hot in here. How can Sparkles be so cold? I need to take off my coat.
Dr: Aw... Shame. This looks like it hurts.
Me: (internal monoluge) hey! I haven't heard 'shame' used like that since spending time in (African country) last spring & meeting some new friends! (I wish you could met these women - we think the world of them)
Fast forward a few minutes to doctor leaving to get forms....
Me: (internal monologue) man it's STILL hot in here. I need to take off my bunnyhug (hoody for all you Saskatchewanites who caved to the pressure years ago). Sparkles is sure trying to hold it together well.
Fast forward a few minutes to doctor cleaning wound & giving Sparkles needles (for freezing)....
Sparkles: OWWWWWWWWWW!
Me: you're doing great honey. This is the worst part. It's gonna be ok. I hate needles too!
Me: (internal monlogue) why am I still sweating? It's going to soak thru my hat soon....
Fast forward a few minutes to doctor giving more needles & beginning stitches....
Sparkles: OWWWWW! Are we almost done? (she was really brave - despite what was happening)
Me: The worst part is over sweetie. Why don't you tell me more about your school day? (trying to distract her)
Me: (internal monologue) echhhh... I need to take my hat off. I can't believe how bad I'm sweating in here.... Why am I feeling so weak? Man.... Just breathe....
Me: Sparkles, you're doing great. Good job...um... Dr?.... Dr.... Umm... Could you just get me... a cold wash... I mean cold paper... you know.... cold.... from over there... comes from out of.... from the tap... a cold papertowel....????
Room starts getting smaller and everything starts going black.....
And just as the room is the size of a nickel I find my way to a chair....
And suddenly I'm super macho dad.... or just the opposite! Sparkles almost starts laughing at me as a nurse gets some oxygen started (yes, for me)....
Dr: Your dad just loves you so much that he doesn't like seeing you in pain.
Me: It's true Sparkles.... but that's a little... too... generous...
Me: (inner monologue) Is this stuff even on? Will they notice if I kick it up a few notches? Why am I still sweating?
Sparkles: Ohhhh.... Is that what faint means?
After we're all finished up & Sparkles is a little flush & exhausted from the experience:
Dr: Nurse, why don't you get a juice box for our patient, it will help her with a little energy. And you better grab one for dad too.
Me: (fist pump) Score! (Sparkles laughs)
And then, as Sparkles sits on a chair & I sit on a little step, we smile & visit & sip our orange juice....
Sparkles: And mommy was worried about me F-A-I-N-T ing! I can't wait to tell her it was you!
Me: (laughing) Almost! Almost fainted Sparkles!
Sparkles: I love you dad. Thanks for taking me.
And as I sit there I'm not embarrassed (although maybe I should be!). I just remember what my wife says on her blog (despite the pain & frustration & things that go wrong): We are blessed. And I thank God for the moment despite what got us to it. It was another one of those great moments where time seems to stand still for a little while.
Those final moments sipping our orange juice boxes & visiting were the highlight of a very long day where very little seemed to go right.
It looks like Sparkles will be okay. There was some concern about the possibility of a tendon being cut, but it looks good right now. We go back tomorrow to get the Dr. to check on everything.
Amazing how time with a loved one and an orange juice box can redeem the day a little.
And now you know how to get a free juice box!
Later,
I.B.
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