Maria took a bad fall from her bike yesterday. She was feeling quite weak, so she wasn't able to do much to help herself and she landed on her head. As you can see, she did quite the number on her lip and chin.
She was only about a block away from home. Some bystanders called an ambulance right away. I gather it was quite the spectacular fall and she wasn't responding to those who came to help her. The paramedics had some concern about potential head trauma and there was talk of calling the med helicopter to take her to Sioux Falls, but thankfully they decided to check her out at the hospital here first.
Even while she was strapped to a back board in the ER, waiting for the results of the CT scans to determine whether she could stay in Sioux Center or needed to be transported to Sioux Falls, Maria's biggest concern was that she still wanted to go to school today. Her second biggest concern was that she needed to use the restroom and this whole process was taking entirely too long.
After confirming that nothing was broken in her neck or face (there was some concern about that so extra scans needed to be taken which meant a longer wait on the backboard), she was admitted to the hospital for observation. I don't think she realized that staying over night was in the plan until after she was tucked up in bed, at which point she was too tired to do much by way of protesting.
I didn't realize how often they come in and check on patients under observation during the night. It seemed like I'd just fall asleep and the nurse would be back shining the light in Maria's eyes and trying to get her to coherently answer questions. Somehow, Maria managed to do a pretty good job of ignoring them.
After some follow up concerns this morning about a possible fracture in her neck, Maria was finally released to come home so that she could go to the dentist and have her mouth x-rayed. She chipped her front tooth and it has a crack in the root, but we are hoping it will heal on its own. She managed to knock quite a few other teeth loose as well, so she is on a soft diet so that everything can heal.
I was swimming laps with Jacob when it occurred, but good friends Regina and Jana learned what was happening, called me at the pool, stayed with us at the hospital, and took all my boys home to be fed. Regina came back and sat with me at the hospital again this morning. A couple of Regina's daughters came and cheered up Maria and brought her flowers. That makes two days in a row when I needed someone else to be a neighbor to me. I am so thankful for all the neighbors God puts into my life!
She was only about a block away from home. Some bystanders called an ambulance right away. I gather it was quite the spectacular fall and she wasn't responding to those who came to help her. The paramedics had some concern about potential head trauma and there was talk of calling the med helicopter to take her to Sioux Falls, but thankfully they decided to check her out at the hospital here first.
Even while she was strapped to a back board in the ER, waiting for the results of the CT scans to determine whether she could stay in Sioux Center or needed to be transported to Sioux Falls, Maria's biggest concern was that she still wanted to go to school today. Her second biggest concern was that she needed to use the restroom and this whole process was taking entirely too long.
After confirming that nothing was broken in her neck or face (there was some concern about that so extra scans needed to be taken which meant a longer wait on the backboard), she was admitted to the hospital for observation. I don't think she realized that staying over night was in the plan until after she was tucked up in bed, at which point she was too tired to do much by way of protesting.
I didn't realize how often they come in and check on patients under observation during the night. It seemed like I'd just fall asleep and the nurse would be back shining the light in Maria's eyes and trying to get her to coherently answer questions. Somehow, Maria managed to do a pretty good job of ignoring them.
After some follow up concerns this morning about a possible fracture in her neck, Maria was finally released to come home so that she could go to the dentist and have her mouth x-rayed. She chipped her front tooth and it has a crack in the root, but we are hoping it will heal on its own. She managed to knock quite a few other teeth loose as well, so she is on a soft diet so that everything can heal.
I was swimming laps with Jacob when it occurred, but good friends Regina and Jana learned what was happening, called me at the pool, stayed with us at the hospital, and took all my boys home to be fed. Regina came back and sat with me at the hospital again this morning. A couple of Regina's daughters came and cheered up Maria and brought her flowers. That makes two days in a row when I needed someone else to be a neighbor to me. I am so thankful for all the neighbors God puts into my life!
Maria, we're glad you didn't break any bones. The damage to your lip and teeth was serious enough. Now Grandpa and Grandma both say, "Wear that helmut!!!!!!!" We love you.
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