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Jun
19
Broken
by Leslie
Every time I take one of the girls to our family doctor for any reason other than a regular check up, he waves his hands at me and says, “Bah! You worry too much!” EVERY TIME. Except this time. This time, he pulled out his cell phone and asked, “What’s your cell phone number?” and entered it into this phone. I knew then that I probably hadn’t even begun to worry enough.
“I’m going to send you to the hospital for x-rays. If it’s bad news, they’ll probably have you hang around…but I’ll call you with the results.”
So, we went to the hospital and had the x-rays and they had us hang around. And I thought, It’s bad news. But then, a nurse came out and told us we could leave and the doctor would call us. And I thought, The news can’t be that bad! But then the doctor called and said he was referring us to a specialist that was going to fit us in that afternoon. And I thought, This news could be really, really bad. Then, the specialist was called into emergency surgery and we were given an appointment for the next day. And I had a complete emotional breakdown.
It had all started with a thud. It was a thud like any other. If anything, it was less of a thud than the usual thud that comes from one of Lucy’s tumbles. It wasn’t even really a tumble. Just a little misstep. One moment she was toddling behind her sister toot tooting like a train and the next, she was on her back.
She lay there for a moment.
“You okay, Lucy Bear?” I asked from across the room, expecting my words to stir her to get up.
That’s when the tears started. I walked over, picked her up and cuddled her while feeling her head for a bump. (You gotta worry about the head since that’s where the brain is and all.) But her head was fine. It was her leg that was broken. Of course, we didn’t know that right away. We didn’t even know it the next day after spending it at our family doctor’s office and the hospital. We learned it this morning when we finally landed in the orthopedic specialist’s office and he said, “Well, it’s broken.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Really,” he said firmly. “See the tibia and fibula?” He pointed to the fracture on the x-ray.
I started to cry. I’m not sure why. The worst was over. The injury had happened. From this point on, Lucy was only going to feel better. Still, I cried.
They put a hot pink cast on her leg. (Julia picked the color.) The doctor said she won’t be able to walk in it because of the way he positioned her foot. He says she’ll revert to crawling and likely have to start all over on the walking front when the cast comes off in a month or so. As upsetting as that is, today I don’t mind that she can’t walk. All I want to do is hold her anyway.
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Ooooooh. Aaaaah.
Oh, Leslie. I am so, so sorry for you and your sweet girl!! I really hope she’s all better soon!
Me, too. Four weeks can’t be up soon enough.
Well that sucks! I am so glad she is okay and Lucy picked a lovely color!!!!! Hang in there - extra cuddles for all!!
It really sucks. We can’t get the cast wet, so no baths or swimming for Lucy. It’s going to be hard. She loves the water!
I think I would cry too. How does a little one break her leg so easily? I’d probably be irritating the hell out of my doctor, asking a million questions. You’re being much tougher than I could be.
I hope she heals up fully and gets back to cruising really fast. Big hugs for you, mama. Your little girl probably loves a pretty pink for her leg.
I wondered the same thing! The doctor called it a toddler fracture and said they’re pretty common.
The hardest part for me was going from our family doctor to the hospital to the orthopedic doctor and not getting any answers all day yesterday. We knew she must have had more than a sprain, but couldn’t believe they sent her home with a broken leg without any treatment or instructions.
I just feel so bad for Lucy. She’s been a great sport through it all, even though she’s obviously hurting. She still all smiles, just a little tired and subdued. And frustrated with her cast. She doesn’t like it at all.
oh no!! i’m so sorry! she’ll be better in no time!!! big hugs to lucy and you!
The doctor said if an adult had this injury, they’d be wearing a cast for 3 or 4 months. But kids heal much quicker, so it’ll only be 3 or 4 weeks for her. Thank Goodness!
Poor little pet!
I know! I wish it were my leg instead of hers. I feel so helpless.
I hope for you guys the next month passes as quickly as possible. Having that happen in the summertime really sucks. Good thing you went to the doctor’s to have it checked out, though!
I still can’t quite believe she broke it. I would have expected a fall that could break your leg to be a loud, hard one. But this wasn’t. I just hope it heals fast so she can get back on her feet again.
Oh god Leslie, that’s awful! Poor Lucy! I would be holding her all day too if I were you. I’m sure she’ll pick up the walking thing right away once the cast comes off.
x
I don’t think it will take her long to get back to walking. She’s still trying to do it with the cast! She’s discovered that she can stand if she holds onto something, and if that something moves - like a riding toy - she can scoot along, dragging the leg with the cast behind her. She’s one determined kid.
God bless all of you. I broke my leg when I was 3 years old. Don’t let your kids jump in the bed. That’s all I’m sayin’.
I’m curious to know how your mom dealt with your broken leg. Lucy has had a cast less than 48 hours and I’ve been in tears for about 40 of them. Everywhere we go, strangers comment on Lucy’s leg, then look at me like I just kicked their puppy. As if I don’t feel bad enough about it!
I know it seems terrible but she’ll be okay and you’ll be okay too. Sister broke her arm around that age (slipped off the bed reaching for something on the nightstand) and it made me feel like the worst mother ever but in the end she really taught me some things about determination and the two of us were stronger for it.
One note of caution - Sister had a growth spurt while in her cast and as a result it was a bit harder to take off that it should have been. Just something to keep an eye on.
You sound like my mom! She told me, “Lucy is probably going to learn something from this that’s going to help her later in life. You, too.”
I’ve been having a rough time handling the judgment that comes with carting a kid with a broken leg around in public. That’s what I get for saying, “I wish I didn’t care what other people think.” I think that’s as dangerous as asking God for patience.
Aww, I’m so sorry. Hope she’s feeling better soon. BTW, the pink cast is so cute.
She’s doing really well. Teething seems to be bugging her more than her leg.
Oh, Leslie. That makes my heart hurt for you. She looks absolutely fragile and so very precious. That little smile.
This is the most heartache and guilt I’ve ever experienced. I’ll be so glad when she’s all healed up.
She looks cute in the cast!
I’m pretty outspoken when it comes to strangers and even tougher when it comes to Lauren. She has Autism and does weird things sometimes. The looks I get but I say things like this (with a smile).
“She has Autism but she can hear and see just fine. And so can her Mom”
Usually, they walk aways saying “well, I never”
Maybe that’s the way I should handle it - just let them know I can hear them and it’s hurtful. People don’t expect you to respond to comments like that.
Awwwww… poor baby! And poor mommy! Hope she’s as good as new as soon as possible!!
Me, too. I’ll be so glad when she’s out of that cast and her leg is all better.
OOOO KKKKK , see what happens when I don’t read blogs for a couple of days!!! Poor baby!
My heart just breaks for her!
Oh no! Poor little Lucy! That picture of her in the cast makes me want to cry and then smother her in kisses. If it makes you feel any better, she’s really rockin’ the cast. She’s adorable with it! But, man, that sucks! Poor kid!
I feel so bad for her. I’m not sure it’s possible to feel worse.
Hang in there, Leslie! Accidents are accidents!
I know that and you know that. Why don’t other people seem to know that?
I’m bad enough with the Mommy Guilt thing on a regular day. This is just off the charts!
The important thing is, Lucy is doing well. She’s alright. I know she’ll be alright. I just need to work on caring less about what other people think of me.
Oh no, I hope Lucy isn’t in any pain. I felt awful too when my son broke his collar bone before he even turned two.
She had pain for the first day or so, until they put her cast on, but she’s much better now.
So sad… she looks chipper now, though. Must be the bright pink cast…
That and the fact that she could get away with anything right now. Except dangerous stuff. No more broken legs in this house! It’s a rule now.