Well, quite the day here in OH...(OT)

[michelleric]

Ya never know what life throws at you sometimes. My son who is 8, was playing in a football game this weekend.  He got tackled and hit his head VERY hard. (The helmet was dented).  We have kept an eye on him this weekend, seemed to be the busy boy he is, but started to complain of a headache yesterday. Got worse last night, and he woke up this morning with a really bad headache.

Took him to the pediatrician, she said he has a concussion and wanted him to get neck x-rays, just in case.  She  said to keep him still for at least a week, not even video games or homework! I thought she was joking, not.

Anyway, she called me shortly after, and said the Radiologist called, and said there was lots of swelling and a fracture in his cervical spine (#6and 7), and a fracture in his second wedge of his Thoracic spine.  She was shocked (he seems "normal") and sent the xrays to an Orthopedic surgeon who looked at them, and called her.  He needs a Cat-scan and to be seen this week. They were talking about immobilizing him, but decided I need to keep him inactive and that might be for 3 months!!!  Oh my...that is going to be a big challenge.

So that is the news here, always something, huh?!

(At least I have learned lots about the Cervical and Thoracic spine here...)

Michelle

[Erin0313]

  Oh my!!! Well don't we wish that we could seem fine and want to carry chairs and play with energy with something like that wrong. I miss being young and healthy!

I am so sorry for your little one and for you. This stress has got to be huge. I know that it sounds impossible but please take some quiet time for yourself so that you don't burn out. Put someone in charge of keeping him safe & quiet for 30 minutes and just turn the lights out and close your eyes.

Maybe it would be a good idea to take him to the movie store and let him rent all of his favorites. Stock up on his favorite foods too not as a bribe just as positive reinforcement for good behavior, lol.

You might want to explain to him that you understand he wants to be active but if he doesn't take it easy they will immobilize him and explain what that would be like.

We're here for you - keep us posted
Hugs,
Erin :)

[Sarahsmom46]

Oh Michelle, it does seem like it's always something, doesn't it.  The poor guy, this has got to be hard on him staying quiet and still. I'm glad you guys trusted your instincts to get him in to the ped.

I sure hope this all truns out ok.  Let us know how the CT goes tomorrow and what they eventually plan to do for him.  

Hugs to all of you.  

Julie

[supermum_ms]

Oh my gosh, what a horrible thing to happen, how are YOU feeling, I just can't come close to imagining what your dealing with. HUGS!!!

I dont know how you can keep a young boy imobile, my boy seems to have a 15 minute window of still, then he has to move, I just dont know how your going to do it. The only thing i can think of is books and movies, but if he's a really interactive kind of kid thats not going to keep him still for long.

Let us know what happens!!

Take care.........JJ

[JemmAus]

Cr*p....I posted the bit about the Jon Stewart/Colbert trip before I read this......hoep the little tacker is ok...

Best wishes from Aus.

Jemm

[rendean]

Dear Michelle,

And I thought I was having a bad day, guess not. I am so sorry to hear about Gabe. Keeping that boy down is going to be hard! He's ALWAYS on the move. I'm not sure who to feel the sorriest for , your or him, on trying to stay still.

Please keep us updated on how things go!

Sending big hugs for the both of you!!!!

Ren

[Audrey_M]

Michelle:

OMG. You are a lot cooler and collected than I would be under the same circumstances. I'd be one heck of a pushy mother demanding tests that would let me know there is no compromise to his spinal cord or brain and I'm sure that you are on top of this.

How to keep an 8 year old boy inactive? That is going to be a major league job and you are going to need all of the help you can get on this one. Based on his fractures, it sounds like there's no way around limited activity and your boy sounds like a typical boy of his age. You might want to lay it out right for the doctors and tell them what you posted today about how he dragged a chair down the drive. You're the mother of more than one child and in my opinion, it is unrealistic for doctors to expect you to be able to keep a boy of your age inactive for a prolonged period of time.

I hope Quix chimes in on this one. My thought is the doctors should take the responsibility for ensuring he does not do further damage through activity (i.e., provide some sort of immobilization device) as opposed to putting it on you and your son. An 8 year old cannot possibly begin to understand the consequences of physical activity and you cannot watch over him 24/7.

My boy, now grown up, was/is hyperactive. Cannot begin to imagine what you are facing.

Like you said, if its not one thing, its another. Hope that your doctors' visits this week clear up some stuff and make it easier for all of you.

Sending my wishes to you and your family for the best possible treatment for your son and fairy dust to you to help you get through all of this intact!

Audrey