Kids and accidents

I'm still coming to terms with this even as a hit my keyboard.

On Sunday the 2nd of March I decided to visit a former colleague and friend as we hadn't linked up in quite a while. I had had an uneventful morning, decided to go shopping early afternoon, had lunch at Ronalo, then headed home.

When I got home I remembered I was to meet her. My son was downstairs playing and there was no way I was going to leave without him seeing me. So I called him and we headed to visit my gal. This was at around 5pm. We sat, finished watching a movie, made some coffee and decided to relax.

The boy had poured water on his jeans so I had to remove and dry the trouser. I stood up, headed to get the iron box and heard a thud. My son had walked out of the house, climbed the grills which are half way and fell one floor down. The sight of him down there, made me feel something I have never felt before. Was he dead, was he hurt, was he, was he? So many question ran through my mind and no answer was forthcoming. We both rushed down and just by the look of things, I knew all was not well.

The boy was bleeding from the mouth, and he had no upper teeth! I helped him cry. I hate to imagine the kind of pain he must have been going through at that moment. I picked him up, ran back upstair to clean his mouth but it was not helping. I cried some more as I gathered guts to call dad as we had parted less than an hour earlier. I think I was crying so hard my friend had to talk on my behalf. First getting him to a hospital. I knew I was to go but I didn't know which one, Nairobi Hosp was too far, I cant take him to Aga Khan, he settled for Gertrude's and said we meet there. Being in Kariokor, it wasn't far. I entered the car, I couldn't drive, my buddy decided to drive us to the hospital. When we reached the hosp. one look and we were ushered into the emergency section.

I was carrying him and by now, I was all blood. I didn't really care. I wanted all to be well. He was in so much pain and he was not being given painkillers. I hated those nurses then. They explained that giving him any painkillers would prevent them from noticing any weird behaviours if any, so they had to monitor his vitals first. The doctor came and asked that we put him down for them to observe him too. Off he went. He does not like anyone in a long white coat, he has a thing about doctors. When they saw him walking, they said he had no broken bones, the legs were ok.

Test number 2. Injecting him with the painkillers on his thigh. It was not easy. He fought on doctor, two nurses, myself and the dad who had by now arrived. This the doctor said was a good sign as it looked like most of his vitals were not affected by the fall. He put up a good fight. This was also one of the signs looked for from falls. If the baby cannot move, or is quite, not crying, the doctors worry. Well, what about the head? I needed to find out if they skull was cracked (God forbid) or he had any head injuries. Off we were again to the casualty department. But wait a minute. We had been booked for x-rays but we could not go until we got an invoice. We are standing at the reception, waiting for some slow accountant to raise an invoice, he doesnt know some codes and keeps calling the x-ray department to clarify, and I have a bleeding screaming baby with me. No the dad is carrying him and I've been given a mouthful, how I'm such a bad mother, etc etc. Ok.

The dad asks them if they will still send the invoice if the baby dies when they are still raising the invoice. I guess this caught them off guard as they all looked at him in shock but they anyway continued raising the invoice. I didn't know it took so long to raise one. We are on our way after about 20 minutes, place the boy onto the x-ray table. He is so strong, it takes 5 of us to hold him down for him to be x-rayed. After about half an hour we are done and the waiting begins.

The nurse comes and gives us the films, but will not explain as it is the doctor's job!!! Damn!! Ok, relax. We head back to the doctor's office, he comes and explains the films in detail. No broken bones anywhere. The headscan is fine, chest is fine, spine is fine, he's basically fine except for the upper gum where the teeth are missing. He has to be observed overnight. We get a ward at the Felicity number 28. The last time I got to stay overnight at the hospital was when I had delivered. I myself do not like hospitals and here I am, in a ward. The boy is now a bit relaxed having been given the painkillers. He goes to sleep. He's out completely. And I have to monitor him. He needs another jab at midnight and a drip too from that time as he is scheduled to have surgery early morning. Come midnight, I have to interrupt his sweet sleep. I feel so bad knowing what he's been through. He needs sugar as he hasnt eaten anything the from 1pm the previous day. Since he is going into surgery, no meals from midnight. 'NIL BY MOUTH', is what's at his door.

At around 1am, the boy wakes up, as hungry as can be. His stomach is empty. He wants to breastfeed and I cant. His lip still had the deep cut as its yet to be satured. And I cannot give him anything because it could jeorpadize the surgery. What to do. I don't like not giving a kid food and that touched a nerve. I felt bad that I could not feed him and I knew he was very hungry. His last meal had been at 1pm. I gave him water, he took it like his life depended on it. He must have been suffering. Well, he cried himself to sleep. Woke up again at 3am, still no food. This went on till 6am when he just had enough of his mean mum and pulled off the needle connected to the drip. Had to call the night nurse to redo it. He got injected on the right hand now and I had to keep watch lest he removes it again. Morning came (the night has never been this long as I watch the drip).

Come morning, I'm called for breakfast, but how can I eat when my son's been longing to have something to eat. I declined their offer. At 0930hrs he is wheeled out of his ward and to the x-ray theatre. He didn't want to go alone. I couldn't wait outside the theatre. His dad decided to wait there. It was the longest wait though. I went and took a shower, and since I was told it would be over in 45mins top, I was there just in time to see the anaesthetist leave the room. I asked how it had gone and she said great. These are the people who mess people by either overdosing or underdosing patients on the operating table. Behind her walked the dental surgeon. He told us the boy had woken up and was doing great. Nothing to worry about. They had removed three of his teeth!!!! Apparently the teeth had sunk into his gum during the fall and they had to remove them. Being milk teeth, they would still grow and all we needed to do was monitor and make sure his gums did not get infected. Then he also said that we could go home!!

I headed to clear the bills before leaving for home. I'd missed home and couldn't wait to get home and sleep. We are done at the hospital by 3pm and are headed home. The boy is also happy to be out of the hospital surrounding. As soon as we reach home, he's out. When we left the operating theatre and I was clearing, he fell asleep. Guess the anaesthesia was still wearing off little by little.

Feeding time is the problem. His food has to be mashed as he cannot bite anything as he is missing his teeth. Then he sees the famous bottle that brought about all this. He takes it, tries to pull up the nozzle but alas! no teeth to aid him. He starts crying and I feel his pain. He feels so helpless without his teeth. Should I get him temporary ones till he grown his permanent teeth? Dad says no, he will have to get used to staying without teeth for some time now. Well, at least he is learning to accept his condition.

He forgets that he is yet to recover and starts his games again. The next I know, he has rolled down the stairs! This shocks him and he just cries abit and is back on the same stairway again. Kids! He forgets so soon what he has been through. I need to get a dog leash to keep him in check. I don't want any more accidents with him.

I just keep praying that he walked out of his fall without any long term symptoms that I'm yet to notice. I believe my prayers will be answered and he will be fine, the boy I cherish!