This was horrible. Every parent's nightmare.

I was at a school function, got a call from the school secretary that my son's teacher needs me to call her. Gave me her cell number and proceeded to let me know that he had an emergency at the Skate park, and to call her.

My stomache began to turn... I dialed the number frantically.

Background:

I am very involved in my children's elementary school. I am on a first name basis with the principal, the teachers and most the staff. Next year, I will be the Vice President of the Parent Club as well as the editor of the School Calendar and Newsletter.

My son had a stellar year in his first grade class. He was informed that there was to be a primary grade celebration of the end of the school year. He was very excited and constantly brought the party up... saying how he wanted to go.

My son is not the most cautious child. He's broken his arm twice, has had stitches in his head, a black eye and countless bruises and bumps. All this in only seven years!

We've taken him to the skate park before. He fell and hurt that very arm he broke before... and we are very, very careful with him. We have covered him from head to toe with safety gear since. Given his history - I was reluctant to let him go. I know his teacher, and trust her completely with the kids, but... deep in my heart I knew I should not have let him go.

Back to the story at hand

I was at a luncheon given by the Parent Club for all our contributions to the school and the children... I had just sat down and was enjoying my iced tea, when I got the call. It was the school secretary.

I called my son's teacher's cell phone. She said quite "matter of factly" that I need to get down to the skate park, my son has fallen and hit his teeth. I need to come get him and take him to the dentist... I should come quickly!

I excused myself from the table, and proceeded out the door.

On my way to the Skate Park, I called the teacher again, letting her know I was on my way... she suggested I contact our dentist so that they will not leave for lunch, as he needs to be seen. I was nervous. She wouldn't tell me what exactly was wrong... but I knew it was bad.

When I got there, a teacher was waiting outside to guide me to my child. Inside, I had to manuever myself around all these kids having a great time and eating pizza... there in the distance I saw my son, held by his teacher, laying across her legs, cradled in her arms.

I saw his face... he was pale. He saw me and began to whimper.

That's when I saw... his two front teeth were pushed back at a 45 degree angle into his mouth... he fell and landed on his teeth. There was an appearance of blood "clean up" everywhere... he was in great pain and careful not to move. I was in my protective mode, and carried him to the car and off to the dentist.

We have a children's dentist, with cartoons on the walls and movies overhead... he's fantastic and I was so lucky to get him in on such short notice.

They took x-rays... his teeth were barely hanging in there and needed to be extracted. They stuck a needle in his already sore gums and ever so gently were able to extract them. My son was a trooper... sure, he cried - but only briefly and was so brave.

Luckily, the teeth that were pulled were his 'baby' teeth. He's a late developer and his permanent teeth are already in place to devolop.

I took him home, filled a prescription for pain relief, and babied him all night and the next day. It was quite the day... and I was glad it was over.

His accident at the school was the talk of the community. It turns out that in the 15 year history of the school attending this function, his was the worst accident on record.

Later that day, his teacher came over to the house and brought him a balloon bouquet and some "sour" worms, and home made cards from his fellow students.

I'm still getting over this - my wife says I took this harder than my son.

I think most parents will agree that when you see your child in pain, or in an accident, you wish with all your might that it was you in his/her position... it's devastating to watch your son in pain. It's worse when you feel so unable to help.

BTW - he's okay... he's doing great. We're keeping our eye out for him...

I know exactly what you mean. My daughter fell over, at pre-school, and busted her lip.

I was a mess for a week afterwards.

My kitten fell out of the window

does that count?

gooeythehamster said:

How is Natsume, anyway???

June7 said:

Common
Cats are the same as children for single people.

Jeez.

gooeythehamster said:

Don't get cocky! That's what my other thread is for.

June7 said:

June7 said:

what other thread?

I was freaking out until I saw that it was his baby teeth, not his permanent teeth.

That's not so bad!

gooeythehamster said:

This one... http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=52519

June7 said:

OOO
that is a horrid thread.

But hey, I was kidding a bit. I understand the fears you have considering children.
BIG HUG for the both of ya

gooeythehamster said:

Natsume said:

It's bad. Trust me... yes, it would have been worse had it been his permanent teeth... but, it does not make the pain any less because the teeth were gonna come out in 3-6 months... pain is pain. And for a seven year old... it's bad.

June7 said:

I have had extensive, extensive dental work from the age of 8 to 18. I know what bad is.

Poor guy, though. Give him lots of ice cream and take him out to see a movie.

Natsume said:

I think I mean the whole incident. The not knowing initially... the phone call... the fact that it seemed like it took me forever to get there... then the dental work on an already sore mouth...

Judging by your smile in past photos... your years of dental work paid off.

June7 said:

Oh yeah, yeah, definitely that whole part was bad. I love it how nobody really told you what happened from the get-go, so of course you assume the worst. OHMYGOD MY KID LOST AN EYE, AN ARM, A HEAD and so on and so forth.



I've never posted a photo on the org that shows my teeth. I just don't smile with them.



( June)

Natsume said:

i was gonna suggest a carmel covered apple, but i suppose ice cream would be more feasible...

suomynona said:

Good one!

Natsume said:

Really? I coulda sworn I saw a pic of you with glasses on in what appears to be a kitchen, smiling... nicely.

I'm kinda glad they didn't tell me straight out, I probably would have been more nervous driving... but, I knew it was bad. It's such a horrible feeling...

June7 said:

I just can't handle the waiting. When people call me up to come over to talk to me about 'something important,' I absolutely flip. I want to know now.

Ahh, the plight of the MTV generation...

Natsume said:

Hey... I'm the MTV generation!!!

Me n' MTV grew up together...

June7 said:

Damnit, then what the hell am I??

Identity crisis!

Natsume said:

I think you're the Generation X-ers... Gen-X... I dunno... I hate labels.

June7 said:

How's your son doing now? Glad to hear he's doing better.

awww...my eyes are all teary after reading this...poor little guy
But, he's really brave
Give him this and here's one for daddy too
Hope he's feeling better soon.

How's this for a label???

injury-prone



Dude, i've got a 7 yr old son too, and
the worst he's gone thru is getting his
tonsils out.

Dammit, let me go find some wood so's I
can knock on it...

Hope he feels like himself soon.

Revolution said:

Thank you all for your kind words... my son is well.

Oh, btw - The next day, when my son returned to school, he was struck in the face by a soccer ball!!!

He went to the school secretary...but, did not want to come home because it was ice cream day...