My Son Broke His Leg!
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
March 9, 2008 10:59am CST
My son was taking a shortcut home at 2 in the morning this past Friday. This shortcut was taken quite often when he and his brother were younger. He jumped the fence and landed in a hole. He said he saw his leg bend in ways that weren't normal.
He didn't remember much after that. He did recall being put into the ambulance. When he woke in the hospital he asked when they were going to take him to surgery. The surgery had already been performed. His lower right leg was broken in three places, one of which was a compound fracture. He now has a rod in his leg.
My husband went up to visit him earlier in the day on Saturday. When I got out of work we went back up to see him. He was in a great deal of pain. We stayed to for about an hour. He ate some tomato soup with crackers to hold him over until they brought his evening meal. We discussed him staying with us until he can get around better. Before we left, Hubby told him to call if he needed anything.
Well, at 5:30 this morning, the phone rang. By the time I woke I heard the last 3 rings. I decided to stay in bed because I was exhausted. The phone rang again at 6:30 and I didn't get to the phone in time to answer it. There was a voicemail message that Michael left at 5:30, he was crying and clearly needed his Mommy. He was in a great deal of pain, I could tell from the sound of his voice.
Not wanting to call the hospital so early in the morning, and still exhausted from waking earlier than usual, I decided to go back to bed.
When I woke at 9:30, I called my son. His doctor had arrived and they were talking about his course of treatment. I let him go and promised to call back after breakfast.
The doctor said he could be released once he is able to stand and walk safely with crutches. Because of his pain level, that won't be for at least 1-4 weeks according to the doctor. Michael is upset over this because he was supposed to start a job on Friday. I have told him not to worry about it. He said he called the boss and they told him the same. They said to hurry up and mend because they want him back! That made him feel better.
So, today I am off to find my son a decent pair of comfy pajamas and a suduko puzzle book. He is not happy with the hospital gown he is wearing. The puzzle book will keep him busy. Hopefully he will mend quickly so he can get out of the hospital soon. He has youth on his side and is determined to get out of the hospital as soon as he can.
I pray that he mends quickly. The worst place to get MRSA is in the hospital. With an open wound it becomes more of a possibility. I want him out soon!
7 people like this
22 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
He wants me to bring him some wintergreen chew. I hate the stuff. but, rather than seem him suffer more, I will bring it to him.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
9 Mar 08
I understand how that feels. I remember the first time I was in thwe hospital. I went paralized from a shot I was taking from having ms. I was wanting to smoke bad. My dad took me outside after a few days in a wheelchair so I could smoke. So I feel really bad for your son.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
oh i am so sorry, nobody likes to be in a hospital it is a depressing place. I hope he can come home too.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
10 Mar 08
When I went to see him tonight, he was crying. Broke my heart. I cried too.
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Wow, I am so sorry to hear that. That kind of bad break takes time to heal. You can't rush the healing, if you do it will even take longer. I do feel so sorry for him. I had a bad wrist injury and have anchors in my bones. I had to have surgery and had pins for several months. The pain was atrochious (spelling) after surgery and for a long time. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Pain medicine can only do so much. I hope he gets better soon and gets out of the hospital, you are right about getting infections in the hospital.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
I know he suffers so much from the pain. I wish I could do something to help him. He does realize that he will most likely need therapy for a bit to get him up and running. My worry is that he will try to push it and cause setbacks.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Ouch!! I hope he recovers fully and soon and that he learns a lesson about riding his bike safely.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thank you for your comment, but he wasn't riding a bike, he jumped a fence and he leg went in a hole. Funny thing about your comment about the bike though. When he was 11 he was riding his bike and fell. He got a compound fracture of his left arm just above the wrist.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Oh my!!! Well, I am so very sorry to hear this news..I sure hope his pain level goes away..I am sure he is very depressed right now...He is lucky to have you there to be with him and cheer him up...I will put him in my prayers...the sooner he gets up and around the better he will be...hugs
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thank you Feona. I am fretting over so much right now. As his mother I wish I could wave that magic wand and make it all better. Turning the pain over to God for help is better than any magic wand could be.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Mar 08
hi I can sure relate to your sons not being happy with the ubitquitious hospital gown they stick on you. I have been there and done that.Poor boy he has been through a lot and a break such as he had is very painful. It was really good that his boss wanted him back .That probably helped him to feel a little better. I know specially for a youngster that time when you are in the hospital seems to stretch out forever. I can understand your concern about MRSA I used to work as a nurses aide and even back then we had big problems with people getting MRSA as some of the doctors were not that careful about their so called sterile techniques. my best wishes to your son and hope he mends quickly.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thanks Hatley. I deal with a lot of clients who have MRSA. We take precautions so that we are not subject to it. The hospital is the place where so many first got it.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
9 Mar 08
I am so sorry for your son! I bet that gave you a nasty shock too! How old is your lad my friend? It's good to know that work is supportive, I guess that is one big worry off his mind. My thoughts are with you and I am sending you some good karma and I know he's got his wonderful family to support him. He also has the power of positive thinking and he'll be restless, just wanting to be in his natural surrounding. Hospitals are no fun for anyone, especially an active young man. Hugs x
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Hi Wolfie! My son is 24 years old. He really has a lot of vim and vigor and I hope that he will get out of hospital soon. Thank you for the hugs.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
9 Mar 08
I am sorry to hear about your son. It sounds like it will not be a real quick recovery. I hope things go well for him. I don't blame you for wanting him out soon.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thank you for your well wishes for my son. I know that he is strong and will recover quickly, but I still worry. It is a mother's job to do so.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
12 Mar 08
I am so sorry to hear that. My 7 year old son broke his leg 3 weeks ago and he's still in a plast. And I know how much pain he had to undergo....and your son probably is in worse pain than my son!
I hope your son gets home quickly. He'll be comfortable at home with mommy around him when he needs her.
I pray that the leg mends quickly.
God bless!
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
9 Mar 08
Elusive I am so sorry that this has happened to him I really am and his Boss is a good Person to hold the Job for him
I can understand you worrying as well and I hope that he will be out of there soon
My thoughts are with you and your Son
Hugs to you
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Thank you Gabs! He needs all the prayers he can get. It kills me to have him in so much pain. He is allergic to morphine and with so little options for pain, he has to suffer.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161165)
• United States
9 Mar 08
He needs to do what they tell him, and eat well too, to give his body the building blocks to heal. Lots of protein for the skin to mend. I am so sorry that this happened for him. He is young, he may well get out more in the one week end of the spectrum if they get his pain managed.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Hello GG! He was quite hungry yesterday and I know he will get nutritious food when he is at the hospital. When he gets out I hope that he does stay with us so we can take care of him for a while. My hubby is not to certain that this is a great idea. They can at times knock heads, but that can be normal when it comes to having someone stay with you. It will only be for a short time and I keep assuring my hubby that it will be just that. It is something that we need to do.
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
10 Mar 08
Sorry to hear about your son I will keep him in my prayers and will pray for fast recovery,It is nice to know he will have his job waiting on him,It seems no matter how old our children get that when they are hurting they want their moms.Have a great day!
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
9 Mar 08
How terrible! i am sure he will be out soon, my cousin had brain surgery & they kicked her out not even 24 hrs later! i wish i was being over dramatic or exaggerating but i'm not! Sudoku is a great way to stay entertained! Maybe you could bring him some books or magazines or if the hospital allows some movies or video games...Be sure to bring some antibacterial wipes & hand sanitizer to the hospital, maybe even lysol - that will help kill those germs!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Mar 08
I brought him a word find yesterday. He showed little interest in it. The hospital does have hand sanitizer units in each of the rooms. I did notice that the nurses all used the sanitizer upon entering his room, after offing their gloves, and before they left the room. I was impressed.
@cortney09 (1345)
• United States
11 Mar 08
I hope your son feels better very soon. My husband and I have a lot of experience with hospitals. If you read some of my first articles on Gather (screen name is the same) you will know what I am talking about. I will be praying that he heals soon.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
10 Mar 08
Oh sh*t!!! I feel so sorry for him. I can understand how it feels, some road or bylane through the shrubs over which you could just jump when you were a child and now, doing the same old thing you break your leg. I have gone through something similar though not with such disastrous results. Having a rod in the leg will definitely support it better but he’s got to be more careful than otherwise coz the rod may become infectious, its after all a foreign thing inside. Crying for mommy is so natural isn’t it, I sometimes wonder whom would we cry for once our mothers are gone. I just hope he recovers soon, its after all the leg. I always consider fracture in the legs the worse coz your very movement is restricted and you have to depend on others for very personal activities. Do keep us updated.
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
10 Mar 08
Hi Elusive,
I'm sorry to hear about your son. I could imagine the painful ordeal your son went through. At this time, he definitely needs all the support and care you can give him. Its thoughtful of you to bring some puzzle books for your son to stray his mind away from the pain.
I don't think hospital is listed as one of the top ten most exciting places to visit, lol! Seriously, I'm not a huge fan of the hospital thingy too. Everything seems so solemn and somber.
I wish your son a full and fast recovery. You and your family will be on my thoughts and prayers. =)
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
10 Mar 08
Sorry to hear about your son, but don't worry, he should heal fine. My son broke his leg much the same way, and had to get a rod put in. He had been out camping in the Everglades, and had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital in Miami. When he was released, one of his friends brought him here to recuperate. He said that the trip home was very hard, and he was pretty exhausted after the whole ordeal. He had to take off work for a few weeks, and he was in a lot of pain for a while, but he healed pretty fast, and he can walk fine, though sometimes his leg aches a little after a long hike.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
10 Mar 08
I hope he heals quickly, too. Maybe with that motivation, he will be out sooner than later. Take care and I wish him all the best.
1 person likes this
@jiangweichao (34)
• Singapore
10 Mar 08
what a pity thing happened on your child, i hope he can mend it as soon as possible.
now, a lot of unlucky case has happend on the world, today i read a news that a 94 years old women has to sell insole to make live by herself in china. it is so terrible. but, she got much help from society and government.now let me pary all of people who lives in pain and adversity.
1 person likes this