Not today. The trip was not today.
I playing along with Mama Kat at MamasLosinIt.com and Writers’ Workshop.
Today’s prompt is to tell about a trip to the ER.
Where to begin –
Last summer, Parker (aka Tiny Baby) played summer lacrosse with the high school team.
Last year, he was 13, 4’10”, 80 lbs and starting his Freshman year.
(As opposed to this summer – 14, 4’11 ¾”, 95 pounds and starting his Sophomore year)
Anyway, Parker usually played Junior Varsity.
The chances for death are so much slimmer there.
He plays “attack.”
His job is to score.
The opposing team uses their biggest guys as defenders.
Their job is to keep Tiny Baby from scoring.
Some games, Parker played Varsity.
You know what seniors look like.
Do you know what senior defenseman look like?
They are slightly bigger than 4’10” and they usually weigh more than 80 lbs.
Undeterred, Parker could usually be counted on for a couple of points.
We could also count on Parker taking a beating.
He usually got laid out at least once in a game.
One game, he got hit so hard that he flew into the air like a rag doll.
He landed.
He didn’t get up.
He didn’t cry.
Since I like blood, gore and death, I didn’t panic.
Everyone else did though.
A nurse ran onto the field.
Parker was in tremendous pain.
The nurse could tell that his ribs weren’t broken but couldn’t tell if there was any type of internal injury.
He recommended that we go to the ER and get checked out but then mistakenly mentioned that IF there was an internal injury, there would be an increase in symptoms.
As we got Parker situated in the car, he said,
I just want to go home. I’m fine. I don’t want to waste 2 hours at the ER for them to tell me I’ll be fine.”
Every time we approached a hospital, I asked him about the pain and if he thought wwe should stop. He insisted we drive past.
It’s good parenting to let 13 year olds determine their course of treatment.
Five hospitals later, I finally pulled into the one closest to our house.
“Mom……I’ll be fine. Do you really want to waste the money on this? This will be the biggest waste of time.”
We paced around the car.
“On a scale of 1-10, how much pain are you in?” I asked?
“Mom, really, lets go home.”
So we did.
We went TO the ER
And then we went home.
That was last year.
He’s still alive.
7 comments:
parker is my favorite! what a champ! (at mallory's six year checkup, she was a smudge under 4'2" and a full 58 pounds!)
Whether or not to go to the ER is always such a hard decision. Love your writing. so fun.
The first year my son played football I watched his little body fly and I think it hurt me worse then it did him!! Love your story!
Oh the days of ER trips with boys yet to come in my future. Glad he is okay of course, I can just imagine his annoyed look when you made him go.
Ugh. Trenton is starting his first year of football. No meat on his bones. I'm trying not to think how big some of those 6th graders are!
I feel SO much better about my 80 pounder now! He went to the ER last year in a helicopter. Don't worry, he's still alive too!
P.S. Found your blog on Mama's Losin' It.
I can't believe that you didn't do the 10 things you'd love to say to people. Peach pits!!!!!!
Do remind Parker that I'm always here for him if he needs to go to the ER! LOL
Name for blog?????
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