I think I need to write a book about my life!
The problem is that some of the things that happen to me, are at times, so unbelievable that I am sure people will think it is fiction.
If recent events are anything to go by; I was struggling to believe it so how can anyone else?
All of you who read this blog will know a little about the past traumatic few months that we, as a family, have endured.
I was quietly starting to breathe properly for the first time in as many months as things were starting to go well.
Wednesday started off as a fairly typical day in the Mckenzie household. The kids were having a lie in as it's the Easter holidays. I was taking a bit of time to get going as I was fighting off the dreaded lurgy and was feeling a bit sorry for myself but came to after copious amounts of gargling with paracetamol! (A cure Granny Mac treated me to regularly when Jack was very ill and I was constantly coming down with sore throats).
When I got Jack out of bed, he was quite sleepy for the first half of the morning and then as the afternoon progressed he got a little more active. He hadn't had any seizures that day so far so things were looking bright.
Mid afternoon found him rolling around on the floor, getting into all sorts of mischief much to Holly and I's amusement.
He kept rolling towards a large pine cabinet in the living room and I kept moving him away from it as he often bashes his arms or legs against it, incurring many bruises. In fact, since he has come home and been so active, I have talked about moving this cabinet out of the living room into the dining room but with being so busy, I just never got around to it.
I had just moved Jack away from the cabinet for the 2nd time and was sitting chatting to Holly when she yelled "Jack's legs are caught under the unit!" I looked over to see that the lower half of his legs were trapped under the unit, with his knees bent inwards. He was trying to sit up and twist his body in the opposite direction from the way his legs were.
I knew he didn't have room to turn his legs, so I sprinted across the room, which wasn't far believe me, shouting "no Jack!" but as I reached him I heard a loud POPPING sound and I knew that it was too late, that he'd broken a bone. His reaction confirmed it as he was breathless with pain and his face was contorted in agony. I looked over at Holly who had her hands over her ears in shock!
I was hysterical, sobbing, trying to console both him and Holly who leapt into action, getting dressed (we were having a pyjama day!) whilst I got Jack, who by this time was whimpering, into his sling ready to hoist him into his wheelchair.
It took Holly and I just minutes to get him into his chair, a few more minutes to get him into the car and we were at the hospital within 10 minutes.
The shock was starting to set in and I lurched from sobbing hysterically to being ever so calm. Once at A & E we waited about 15 mins before we were seen. It was another hour before he got any pain relief because they tried to give him paracetamol but he is on that regularly so couldn't be given another dose. It didn't matter anyway cos they had drawn it up in the wrong syringe and it didn't fit his jejunostomy tube. She got another medicine in a different type of syringe but again it didn't fit, so poor Jack ended up with an injection into his stomach.
By this time it was nearly 6pm and Jack was due his epilepsy meds so I asked them to hurry with the x-ray so that he wouldn't be too late in getting them. He had his x-ray at 6.50pm but there was problems there as they had no hoist so Holly and I had to lift him out of his chair, trying not to hurt his leg but not succeeding at all and causing him huge discomfort.
We then had to pin him down so that he would be still for the x-ray which was like trying to hold a slippery salmon!!!!
We spent another half an hour waiting for someone to come and put a back plaster on to stabilise his leg temporarily. Each time, we saw a different person and I had to go through the whole story again and again to the point that I wanted to scream.
Again Holly and I had to pin him down while they put the back plaster on. No mean feat let me tell you and our stress levels were getting higher by the moment. Once that was done, again we had to take a seat to wait for another x ray. This time, the girl got a set of steps so that we didn't have to lift him then afterwards we'd to take another bloody seat and wait to be told if we could go home. By this time it was 8pm and we'd been there for nearly 4 hours.
We were leaving at 8.10pm and had stopped in reception to put Jack's jacket on when my Dad arrived with Jack's medicine. Seconds after that a nurse appeared to tell us that they had changed their mind and they were admitting Jack. She couldn't tell me why but the decision had been made and there was no point in arguing.
I sent Holly and my Dad off to get feed, pyjamas, nappies etc for Jack, telling them I would meet them at the Children's ward shortly. I was stressing about Jack getting his medicine but was assured we would be put up to the ward shortly.
By the time the doctor came to speak to me, an hour had passed and I was slowly losing the plot. Jack had been sitting in his chair for 5 hours, clearly wasn't comfortable and still hadn't gotten his meds. Add to that the fact my mobile phone battery had died so I couldn't text my Dad or Holly to ask them to come back with the medicine so I grabbed a nurse and gave them a piece of my mind. Jack finally got his meds at 9.30pm when Holly brought them down.
The doctor appeared again to say that he needed to check Jack's chest so took me to an examination room. He asked me "so Jack did this by trapping his leg between two filing cabinets?". I knew I was about to blow a gasket at that point cos I had told the story so many times and each time they heard something different. One time it was a desk, another time the cabinet fell on him and I was getting so bloody tired of correcting them. It was like Chinese Whispers! So this poor doctor kinda got it. He got 6 hours of my pent up frustration, stress and worry slamming into him as I spelled out to him exactly what happened through gritted teeth.
Holly, realising that this poor guy was gonna get it, came into the room and asked me if I was all right and I calmed down a bit. Then he asked what meds Jack was on so I started listing them, one after the other, in quick succession til his face registered that maybe he had better start writing them down! I did relent and give him a copy of a list I keep with Jack's meds and as he headed out the door, my Dad came in. It was now nearly 10pm.
As soon as I saw my Dad again, I just fell apart, couldn't stop crying.
Finally at about 10.15pm we were taken up to the Children's ward. Jack was sleeping by now and I was completely exhausted, starving and extremely traumatised. I made sure that Jack was settled, that the nurses knew all about his new peg and then I headed home via the pizza take away but to be honest, I could hardly eat.
The next day there was more hanging around in A & E whilst we waited for the doctor and male nurse Glen to put on the proper plaster cast. Glen turned out to be good company and was a welcome distraction from all the hanging around. Jack had to have a full leg cast in the end, in a lovely shade of purple. He coped beautifully with the pain while they stretched his leg out and was asleep before he even had his x ray after.
I finally got him home at 5pm Thursday night. He slept most of that day and was as bright as a button the next day. So much so that, he even tried to get up on his knees in a full leg cast no less. WTF!
As for me, I am still totally traumatised but now I can laugh about it, just a little.
The problem is that some of the things that happen to me, are at times, so unbelievable that I am sure people will think it is fiction.
If recent events are anything to go by; I was struggling to believe it so how can anyone else?
All of you who read this blog will know a little about the past traumatic few months that we, as a family, have endured.
I was quietly starting to breathe properly for the first time in as many months as things were starting to go well.
Wednesday started off as a fairly typical day in the Mckenzie household. The kids were having a lie in as it's the Easter holidays. I was taking a bit of time to get going as I was fighting off the dreaded lurgy and was feeling a bit sorry for myself but came to after copious amounts of gargling with paracetamol! (A cure Granny Mac treated me to regularly when Jack was very ill and I was constantly coming down with sore throats).
When I got Jack out of bed, he was quite sleepy for the first half of the morning and then as the afternoon progressed he got a little more active. He hadn't had any seizures that day so far so things were looking bright.
Mid afternoon found him rolling around on the floor, getting into all sorts of mischief much to Holly and I's amusement.
He kept rolling towards a large pine cabinet in the living room and I kept moving him away from it as he often bashes his arms or legs against it, incurring many bruises. In fact, since he has come home and been so active, I have talked about moving this cabinet out of the living room into the dining room but with being so busy, I just never got around to it.
I had just moved Jack away from the cabinet for the 2nd time and was sitting chatting to Holly when she yelled "Jack's legs are caught under the unit!" I looked over to see that the lower half of his legs were trapped under the unit, with his knees bent inwards. He was trying to sit up and twist his body in the opposite direction from the way his legs were.
I knew he didn't have room to turn his legs, so I sprinted across the room, which wasn't far believe me, shouting "no Jack!" but as I reached him I heard a loud POPPING sound and I knew that it was too late, that he'd broken a bone. His reaction confirmed it as he was breathless with pain and his face was contorted in agony. I looked over at Holly who had her hands over her ears in shock!
I was hysterical, sobbing, trying to console both him and Holly who leapt into action, getting dressed (we were having a pyjama day!) whilst I got Jack, who by this time was whimpering, into his sling ready to hoist him into his wheelchair.
It took Holly and I just minutes to get him into his chair, a few more minutes to get him into the car and we were at the hospital within 10 minutes.
The shock was starting to set in and I lurched from sobbing hysterically to being ever so calm. Once at A & E we waited about 15 mins before we were seen. It was another hour before he got any pain relief because they tried to give him paracetamol but he is on that regularly so couldn't be given another dose. It didn't matter anyway cos they had drawn it up in the wrong syringe and it didn't fit his jejunostomy tube. She got another medicine in a different type of syringe but again it didn't fit, so poor Jack ended up with an injection into his stomach.
 |
| Jack asleep after his injection. Had to put his soft collar on as he was stopping breathing! |
By this time it was nearly 6pm and Jack was due his epilepsy meds so I asked them to hurry with the x-ray so that he wouldn't be too late in getting them. He had his x-ray at 6.50pm but there was problems there as they had no hoist so Holly and I had to lift him out of his chair, trying not to hurt his leg but not succeeding at all and causing him huge discomfort.
We then had to pin him down so that he would be still for the x-ray which was like trying to hold a slippery salmon!!!!
 |
| Jack's spiral fracture on the right side |
We spent another half an hour waiting for someone to come and put a back plaster on to stabilise his leg temporarily. Each time, we saw a different person and I had to go through the whole story again and again to the point that I wanted to scream.
Again Holly and I had to pin him down while they put the back plaster on. No mean feat let me tell you and our stress levels were getting higher by the moment. Once that was done, again we had to take a seat to wait for another x ray. This time, the girl got a set of steps so that we didn't have to lift him then afterwards we'd to take another bloody seat and wait to be told if we could go home. By this time it was 8pm and we'd been there for nearly 4 hours.
 |
| the half plaster cast - back slabbed only |
We were leaving at 8.10pm and had stopped in reception to put Jack's jacket on when my Dad arrived with Jack's medicine. Seconds after that a nurse appeared to tell us that they had changed their mind and they were admitting Jack. She couldn't tell me why but the decision had been made and there was no point in arguing.
I sent Holly and my Dad off to get feed, pyjamas, nappies etc for Jack, telling them I would meet them at the Children's ward shortly. I was stressing about Jack getting his medicine but was assured we would be put up to the ward shortly.
By the time the doctor came to speak to me, an hour had passed and I was slowly losing the plot. Jack had been sitting in his chair for 5 hours, clearly wasn't comfortable and still hadn't gotten his meds. Add to that the fact my mobile phone battery had died so I couldn't text my Dad or Holly to ask them to come back with the medicine so I grabbed a nurse and gave them a piece of my mind. Jack finally got his meds at 9.30pm when Holly brought them down.
The doctor appeared again to say that he needed to check Jack's chest so took me to an examination room. He asked me "so Jack did this by trapping his leg between two filing cabinets?". I knew I was about to blow a gasket at that point cos I had told the story so many times and each time they heard something different. One time it was a desk, another time the cabinet fell on him and I was getting so bloody tired of correcting them. It was like Chinese Whispers! So this poor doctor kinda got it. He got 6 hours of my pent up frustration, stress and worry slamming into him as I spelled out to him exactly what happened through gritted teeth.
Holly, realising that this poor guy was gonna get it, came into the room and asked me if I was all right and I calmed down a bit. Then he asked what meds Jack was on so I started listing them, one after the other, in quick succession til his face registered that maybe he had better start writing them down! I did relent and give him a copy of a list I keep with Jack's meds and as he headed out the door, my Dad came in. It was now nearly 10pm.
As soon as I saw my Dad again, I just fell apart, couldn't stop crying.
Finally at about 10.15pm we were taken up to the Children's ward. Jack was sleeping by now and I was completely exhausted, starving and extremely traumatised. I made sure that Jack was settled, that the nurses knew all about his new peg and then I headed home via the pizza take away but to be honest, I could hardly eat.
 |
| the full cast in a groovy purple colour |
 |
| fast asleep waiting for his x ray |
The next day there was more hanging around in A & E whilst we waited for the doctor and male nurse Glen to put on the proper plaster cast. Glen turned out to be good company and was a welcome distraction from all the hanging around. Jack had to have a full leg cast in the end, in a lovely shade of purple. He coped beautifully with the pain while they stretched his leg out and was asleep before he even had his x ray after.
I finally got him home at 5pm Thursday night. He slept most of that day and was as bright as a button the next day. So much so that, he even tried to get up on his knees in a full leg cast no less. WTF!
As for me, I am still totally traumatised but now I can laugh about it, just a little.
It really looked like everything was on the up for you and your family, so I'm really sorry to read this. But yes you should write a book and that plaster cast is well cool, but no more than he deserves xx
ReplyDeleteAs I have heard said, "you couldn't make that stuff up". Wow Lynne, I am having those same frustrated feeling I had when you were in hell at that sorry hospital. It is a wonder anyone there ever gets proper treatment. I was so relieved at the end knowing the worst was over and you were all home again. I am so sorry you have to go through all this dealing with incompetent people.
ReplyDeleteHopefully things will calm down a little so you all can regain a sense of normal life as much as you can.
Big Hugs to all 3 of you,
Odie
Hi Lynne. This really was SO unfortunate, especially as things were really starting to look up for your little family. I can imagine just how frustrated you were with all the goings on at the hospital ! Unbelievable. Especially with poor Jack needing his Meds. Chin up my friend. As you say, people wouldn't believe all that you've been through! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry you all had to go through this. You are all strong, resilient people and I greatly admmire how you cope, although I so wish you didn't have to go through things like this.
ReplyDeleteHugs from Texas to you~
so sorry that you've had such a time. you have so much strength and resilience!
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible, no good, very bad day that was for all of you! I'm glad Jack is doing well. Soon he will be all healed up!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, y'all just don't get more than a minute to breathe! The hospitals are like that around here too- they ask the same questions so many times that you feel like smacking them. At the very least.
ReplyDeleteAccidents happen in every family, but I'm so sorry it happened to Jack and you. My daughter used to break her ankle and hand etc. She used to just run around the house like a Banshee. Oh dear, I'm glad he is home now.
ReplyDeleteI really feel for your a trip to A & E is never good but when you have to go over the same story again and again and feeling like they do not seem to get that Jack needs his meds. I really do not know how you cope you are such a strong resilient woman
ReplyDeleteOh you poor love. You have to wonder why they bother writing notes f you have to constantly have to repeat yourself to each new doctor and nurse.
ReplyDeleteTalk about adding to the stress of it all.
Hope he heals quickly and big hugs to you and your champion daughter.
Glad Jack is home.
ReplyDeleteAnd i think we do need to send Nurse Louise up to you - she'll bring supplies of tea bags and Southern Comfort from my Skye Stash!!!
Poor Jack. I'm so sorry for all of you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Damn! that is just terrible. I feel the same at my house too tho, we have the shit happen that no one has ever heard of.. flusterating and unreal shit.
ReplyDeleteHope Jack heals up quick and with no complications!
Big glass of wine and deep breath.
Oh Lynne!! I am so sorry!!
ReplyDeleteHopper broke her femur this summer and had to have surgery for it. Thankfully, they had a portable xray machine that they brought into her room in the ER department, so she didn't have to move at all. It's a shame that they didn't use something like that for poor Jack. :(
Praying for a fast recovery for Jack and some rest for you and Holly.
{{{hugs}}}
This ONE incident could throw any Mom in to a lather, but to combine it with everything that has been going on, for so long, and to finally catch your breath. . .I can only say Lyndy, you are truly the most amazing woman and Mom I know. The fact that you held your calm as long as you did is a testament to your strength and the love you have for your children.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy your precious daughter was there. She is such a gift, as is Jack. A true trouper he is. Now let's see if Mr. Mischevious can behave himself with a full leg cast. Bless you all. I hope you get your pajama day, no wait...I hope you get a WEEK'S worth of pajama days soon. :)
Hugs my friend. I am proud to say I know you.
Looking for Blue Sky - I really need to get my butt in gear and start the book! Yes it was to be purple or blue so let the plaster guy choose. Good choice I think :)
ReplyDeleteOdie - This is the problem with hospitals, you end up seeing so many people who haven't been told the story and it drives you crazy!
Thisisme - I have calmed down now but it was like the nightmare that wasn't going to end!
Shelly - I wish I didn't have to go through this too. Thank you for the hugs, much appreciated.
Teresa - thank you, so do you though X
J.Day - yes they reckon 9 weeks in the cast so am sure it will pass quickly.
EmptyNester - lol smacking them was high on my list of priorities!
Belle - lol your daughter is obviously very accident prone!
Jo-Anne Rambling - By the end I was so not coping. I think I was in danger of being violent at the end.
Mynx - I hope so too but the little monkey is trying to get up on his knees in a full leg cast, no less!
Julie - Nurse Louise sounds ace especially bringing goodies!
Janie Junebug - yes my poor boy but he is much happier now and is high on pain meds.
Kellie - Oh the glass of wine was big alright. I reckon I would be a raging alcoholic if only I had the energy to open the bottle! LOL
Confessions of a Closet Hoarder - Poor Hopper and thank god for the portable x ray machine!
SkippyMom - thank god for Holly and my dad who kept me sane, Now am looking so forward to a pyjama day :)
Oh Lynne, I don't know how you do the thing you do except as a Mom I know you just keep on keepin' on! I'm so happy Jack and all of you are back home and I'm praying you get some rest and relaxation and wonderful healing for all of you.
ReplyDeleteI spent 12 hours last Saturday in the ER with my husband before they admitted him into the hospital which was something they knew had to be done at least nine hours before. The entire time I was thinking of you and all you have to endure in hospitals. Your brave heart helped me get through!
Much love and hugs to all three of you!
Sush - You are so right that all you can do is just keep on going! Glad I helped you through your hospital visit and I hope all is well with your husband now. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteohhh lynne,made me cry, I felt ill for you,my stomach just sank.looks like he is on the mend again now. its a wonder you have a hair on your head thats not grey!!! hugs to you.
ReplyDelete