her BROKEN arm

Wendesday before Christmas Mallory broke her arm. We were planning to drive 800+ miles Thursday so I decided a "play day" was in order. We headed to our favorite local bounce house-an indoor play area with lots of inflatable bounce castles and slides. She played happily with several other new friends while Mark and I watched. Just before we headed out the door for lunch, the little girl Mallory has spent the bulk of her time with, came running up and said, "she's crying. You need to come."

Yes, she was definately crying. She told me through the screams that her arm hurt but wouldn't let me touch her. When she would let me touch her sleeve, I gently raised it and saw a ping pong ball size welt behind her elbow that isn't normally there. At that moment I knew we were in for a cast. I didn't know we would be meeting a pediatric orthapedist and scheduling surgery later in the afternoon.

After a phone call to the peditrition asking where to take her (the office or ER) we arrived at our doctor's office for an x-ray. After the pain of breaking her arm, moving it to the technion's specifications was HARD. At one point through her tears, she excalimed, "NO THANK YOU."

After the serveraity of the injury was determined, and phone calls to several specialists completed, we were on our way to Vanderbielt Children's hospital to meet a new doctor. I had no idea how thankful I would be to have that hospital 25 minutes away. I am still thankful that Ben was intown that day (not gauranteed) and able to meet us at the doctor's office. I am also thankful that my sweet friend Rachael was able to meet us and take Mark home to nap and eat and play until we got home at 11pm.

Upon arrival at Vandy, we were re x-rayed (not any more fun the second time,) and almost immeadately saw Dr. Keith (Douglas,) the resident, who asked several questions, did some tests (moving her hand) and Dr. Lovejoy who explained more about the surgery. There were a few tense moments when we thought the surgery might have to be delayed overnight (no eating or drinking before general anesthisia.) 

Then we met my very FAVORITE person at the hospital. The child-life specialist. Sadly, neither Mallory nor I can remember her "real" name, I've come to think of her as our angel. She talked to Mallory about the surgery in words that communicated on her level. She had a great box with a new stuffed bear for Mallory to keep, oxygen masks to hold and try on both the bear and Mallory (you will remember my girl is TERRIFIED of masks.) Also in the wonderful box, flavored lip gloss. Mallory got to smell them all and choose which flavor to put inside the mask. And finally some SUPER COOL flashcards. They had pictures of the waiting rooms, and the beds on wheels, the doctors and nurses with funny hats and masks. Everything Mallory might see or wonder about was covered. I think I learned as much as she did and it was SO helpful to both of us.

Our "angel" took us to the cast room where Mallory got a splint. This is the only other time she cried-when I choose to cut her new purple shirt off rather than try to take it off! The splint helped stabalize her arm while we waited for surgery. Then our child-life specialist/angel walked us to the surgical waiting room and showed us the fish tank. I'm not sure what happened to her after that, I vaguely remember saying thanks you and goodbye. I wish I could tell her what a blessing she is and how much easier and less scary she made the whole process for Mallory (and me.) 

The surgery was, thankfully, shorter than forcast. The eons that passed between when they took Mallory away and when we got to see her afterwards were made easier by our sweet friend Ms. Sara. Ms Sara is Mallory's Sunday school teacher. All I can say is that she is a HUGE blessing to us and Mallory and everyone who is blessed to know her. I thank God for her weekly and Mallory prays for her by name almost as often. She arrived just as we were looking for a place to wait.

After it was done and we got to see her, the reality began to sink in a bit more. Mallory's arm was put back  together by three 4 inch pins, and covered in a purple (what other color??) cast. It was still all sureal, but we got to sit with her and hold her fingers as she came out of the ansethia. We were able to see that we could take her home that night. And after a bit we did. As we drove away from the hospital, she said, "I like that place, nothing hurts there."

The next day was hard. Mallory was SORE and scared and tired. The enormity of it all begin to hit her. The cast was heavy and it scared her. Her memories of the doctors, and nurses and anthesiologists began to surface and her version of the tale began to come out. Some sweet friends dropped by to say hi and hug on her and play (thank you Cook family!) We began navigating the whole winter cast warderobe as well as discovering the joys of narcotic pain meds. We said countless prayers of thanksgiving for friends who came to help and for the family that dropped holiday plans and flew here to bring Christmas. Did you remember that we were to drive to TX for Christmas? Santa was planning to see us there! Nonnie and Pape arrived in time to hold us and play and deliver the children's gifts.

I am still amazed two weeks later how brave and strong Mallory was and is. Several people have asked me how did I do. All I can say is that when your 4 year old is braver than you are, you can't break down. We are so fortunate to live in a place where virtually instant medical attention is avaliable. I just can't get past this fact. Some HUGE percentage of the world's population doesn't have Tylenol, much less x-ray machines, Loratab or pediatric orthopedists. I will never take it for granted again.