The things you can see in the emergency room...
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (42717)
March 21, 2025 10:12pm CST
Long story, but yesterday afternoon, I ended up taking my son to the ER as he fell. He cracked two ribs. Then we had to stay for awhile, as they wanted to observe him, etc. I have him home now.
When we first got there, it wasn't wildly crazy like it has been with all the influenzas, Covid, respiratory issues, etc. The hospital requests everyone wear masks, which we gladly did, rather than get sick once again. There was a commotion, and they wheeled in a young man who was pretty much covered with blood--it wasn't pretty. He was in one of the little tiny ER rooms across the hall from where they had my son, and for a time, the doors were both open as the nurses, etc. were going in and out of son's room and the young man's. My son put the story together before I did.
Evidently the young man was playing some type of ''knife chicken'' game with some guys and drinking too much. We are not sure how they played the game, but 2 guys had a butcher knife, and the idea was to try to stab someone in the hand because they didn't move away fast enough. They brought this young man in with a butcher knife imbedded completely through his hand to the other side. They couldn't pull it out until they prepped him for surgery, as they said it was going to cause even more blood loss. They were giving him blood, etc. and prepping him, but he had so much alcohol in his system they were waiting as long as they could to send him to surgery, so he could have adequate anesthesia. Then his mom and dad showed up, in hysterics and not happy with him at all, and the young man was still drunk and crying and bleeding.
What a huge mess, all for a stupid game with a butcher knife. I hope he doesn't ever do that again, he might not be so lucky the next time.
18 people like this
11 responses
@kaylachan (76879)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Mar
I'm glad that your son is alright and back home safe and sound. But, you just can't make this stuff up. Hospitals here don't require masks anymore, but still people do some stupid things. I hope this tought the kid a lesson, but if he was drunk probably not. People do stupid things when they're impiared.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
Son was lucky this time, I am very thankful.
You are correct, a person just can’t make this stuff up!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (76879)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Mar
@MarieCoyle I agree. It's deffently fast-paced. And, you have to have the patience of a saint to put up with the personalities or altered personalities due to substance use.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
23 Mar
@kaylachan
I think working in an ER would be very difficult.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13451)
• Ireland
22 Mar
@mariecoyle I worked in ER years ago and always thought they should have a department marked ‘stupid’ for some folk who showed up.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
When my son in law was in medical school he did an internship in a city ER. He had a fellow come in complaining of rectal bleeding. Eventually it was discovered that he had a rather large rock, an actual rock, shoved up in there. He said he put it in there because he didn’t have time to use the restroom. Umm. Yes, that was stupid!!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
@kareng
Isn't it amazing, the stupid things some people do? I mean...yes, we all have stupid moments, I get that. But to do something like the rock, or play knife chicken? Duh!!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (163068)
• United States
22 Mar
Where do they come up with this nonsense. Too much time on their hands for sure. I am sorry you guys had to see and hear about that.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
Too much time, or bored, or just...dumb!
We will be OK. I really hope those two young men learned a valuable lesson and won't do anything this stupid, ever again.
@FourWalls (73609)
• United States
22 Mar
Oh, the things they see in the ER. 
How is your son doing???? 
How is your son doing???? 2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
His ribs are very sore. I am just glad he didn't hit his head when he fell, that's happened before. As I think you know, he has a blood disorder. He has to get transfusions fairly regularly, for some reason his blood counts took a big nose dive and he ended up having a transfusion last night while we were there. He usually doesn't get off balance or dizzy when that happens, but he certainly did this time. Thanks for asking about him, Karen.
I've seen some dumb accidents in my life, but getting impaled in the hand with a butcher knife playing knife chicken is something I had never heard of before! Good grief!!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73609)
• United States
22 Mar
@MarieCoyle — never watch that scene with Luka Brasi getting his hand stabbed in The Godfather while you’re drunk or high (or both). 
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
@FourWalls
Oh, yes! I forgot about that scene.
I forgot to say, two policemen showed up to try to talk to the kid, but he was just too drunk to make a lot of sense. Evidently since he was technically stabbed by another kid, that kid was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. At 17, all for a stupid game and getting drunk. Sometimes, I don't think people ever think about consequences!
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (108638)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
22 Mar
Playing with butcher knives is a very dangerous way to live.
2 people like this
@sw8sincere (5554)
• Philippines
22 Mar
Oh my goodness, what a scary experience for you and your son! I'm so glad he's home now. That other young man's story is truly shocking – a terrible reminder of the dangers of poor choices. Wishing you both a speedy recovery.
2 people like this
@sw8sincere (5554)
• Philippines
23 Mar
@MarieCoyle Totally! It feels like there's a lot of pressure to say "yes" all the time. It's so empowering to finally hit that "no" button and prioritize yourself. Setting boundaries is a good thing – taking care of your own well-being shouldn't be selfish.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
23 Mar
@sw8sincere
And so, so often, young people say yes, because they want to fit in, a friend wants them to say yes, they are trying too hard to make friends and fit in, etc...I think learning to walk away from things we know aren't right (like playing knife chicken!) might not be easy for some of them, but they do need to learn to set the boundaries, as you say.
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
23 Mar
There seems to be a whole generation of people making poor choices. Sometimes, a person just needs to back off and say no, I'm not doing that!
@snowy22315 (187793)
• United States
22 Mar
I bet at least half of what they see in the ER is fully preventable.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
I have to agree. So many things can be prevented if we are proactive and a bit more careful.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (114512)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Mar
Hope your son is doing better.
I have seen and heard stupid things but that is one of the worst.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
22 Mar
This night of drunken idiocy will be affecting both young men for the rest of their lives. All for a stupid drunken game!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (83909)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Mar
For these reasons I would rather lay down and die than go to an ER, That would up my anxiety so much I would probably have a total collapse, Glad you son got taken care of and I hope he heals well,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (83909)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Mar
@MarieCoyle I can understand for your son and I would as well for my child, Having no children I just have to do best to keep myself together,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
24 Mar
@RasmaSandra
I am sure you would do the same if you were in my position. I just can't give up, I am determined he will be better. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
23 Mar
I am glad not to have any type of anxiety issues other than the regular worries and nerves that a mother has. Son has too many medical problems, I have had to learn that being as strong as possible is the best way I can help him. I can never just lie down and give up...if I have to see stuff I don't want to see, I will do it if it involves any way of him getting or feeling better.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42717)
•
23 Mar
I hope they learned a big lesson from this....I know some people do truly stupid things for, as you say ''fun'' when in fact it's not fun when things end up like this.
1 person likes this
