There's a First time for Everything

Wednesday the 9th, Damien went to wrestling practice and was doing a wrestling move with a partner and when he was turning, he put his hand down behind him, and his full weight came down on his hand. He was in pain! I picked him up and the coach informed me of what happened and told me to have him ice it. We iced it, and well, ice is COLD, and no fun. So, I got out some medical tape and popcicle sticks and put a splint on it, and off we went to Scouts. Took him back to his Dad's later that night, got a second opinion, and in the morning they were off to the Urgent Care. That day there was lunch with the Principal that Damien earned from a recent fundraiser. Well, the Principal heared that Damien wasn't at school and he hurt his hand at wrestling practice. Upon hearing this, she immediatly got on the phone and called me. She asked me about what happened, and told me how worried she was about her "favorite student". She said that Damien was the oldest one going of the group and was to be her helper serving Taco Bell lunch to the younger kids like he has in the past. She expressed how much she enjoys Damien, that he is a good kid and she will take him to Taco Bell at a later date. I expressed my concern about the upcoming teen years and she said, "Take each day one at a time, and not to worry, Damien has good judgement." Oh lets hope it stays that way. It felt so good as a Mom to hear the Principal saying so many good things about your child, and then to take the time to call, that was awesome. So, all the while I am talking to her, Damien and his Dad are at the Urgent Care and I have no idea how things are going. When he finally calls me, I was told that he had indeed fractured his hand. His knuckles, particularly the pinky and ring finger of his left hand were very swollen. (He was sad that it wasn't his right hand. He still has to do his school work, no excuses). However, no physical activity. Yeah right! Well, at least at school. They put him in a cast/splint with an ace bandage around it, awaiting him to see a specialist at Children's. Monday we got the call to come, and Damien was advised not to eat or drink, just in case he needed surgery. Well, he was at school so we had to call him and let him know these instructions. While hearing this on the phone in the classroom, Damien's little heart starting pounding and he felt sick. So he went to the office, got a pep talk by the Principal, and called me. I knew he would not be able to focus, so I went in got him. Usually I insist on him being at school, but I knew this time I couldn't. The thought and sight of food was too much for this 12 year old boy. So he stayed in his room and watched a movie til it was time to leave. We dropped off his brothers at Grandma's and we were off. Damien wanted to hurry up and get it over with. I voted no surgery and so did his Dad. Once the Orthopedic Specialist Dr. reviewed his X-ray, he determined that Damien only needed a cast, and it would be on for 3 weeks, just long enough to heal, and so his fingers didn't get too stiff. Since he is an active boy, they suggest a cast, now for someone less active and not prone to reinjuring it, they would but a smaller support on it. He chose black for his cast (he doesn't want anyone to write on it). Once the doctor left the room, he asked for a fruit snack. He was STARVING! We also had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich waiting for him in the car, that he couldn't wait to eat. So the real fun has begun of keeping it dry while in the shower, and how to sleep at night. He has expressed frustration of only having one hand, who wouldn't? I'm thankful for doctors and insurance that can help me take care of my family. All I really know how to take care of is the 24 hour bug, coughs, runny noses, and scraps that need bandaids. To really prove that, I thought he was going to get better, so I still went out and got him wrestling shoes right after the accident. I know, lame! I tortured everyone. Max and Jesse were NOT wanting to be there, needless to say, his wrestling season is over, and I returned the shoes. At least he was able to do basketball. This is his first sports injury and I'm sure not the last, and my first kiddo in a cast, and I am SURE not the last since I have 3 boys. Surprised it took this long for someone to break something. Here are pictures of him with his acebandage/splint and the other is him with his cast.