Well, we made 14 years to the day as parents without having to navigate a major injury situation for one of our children.
Early in the school day on June 5, his birthday, Henri was kicking a soccer ball around in the gym with some friends and was slide tackled at the wrong angle. He sustained breaks to his lower fibula and tibia, as well as a severely sprained ankle.
The Briggs Middle School staff was wonderful – they contacted me immediately and called for paramedics. Nothing can prepare for the feeling of speeding down the street and realizing that the ambulance and fire truck in front of you with their lights and sirens on are for your child. Then you see him surrounded by EMTs and paramedics on the gym floor, the same gym you’ve filed into how many times to enjoy his band concerts and watch him goof off with his friends.
After stabilizing him and getting him into the ambulance (wheeling the stretcher past his classmates in the baseball field who called out “get better Henri!” and “we‘ll miss you Henri!”), the paramedics hustled him to Riverbend’s emergency department.
After a few hours of being imaged, splinted and asked “the same freaking questions over and over and over again Mom!” Henri was discharged and we were referred to Slocum Orthopedics for follow-up.
Long story short, he will need surgery to stabilize his broken bones, there will be some kind of hardware involved though I don’t know if we’re talking screws, pins or plates. No word yet if Slocum has Vibranium or Adamantium available but we’re looking into it. Even with insurance we’re looking at the maximum out of pocket which, per the billing department rep I spoke with on Friday, should be around $6,000 ish. This does not include his ER costs or the scooter, but we have either already paid for those or they’ll be added to my existing payment plan with Peacehealth.
I have never made a fundraiser for myself and I feel a little awkward doing so now. But I have such amazing friends who have offered to help and I know this is the easiest way for them to pass the hat on our family’s behalf. We love and appreciate our village who has been so supportive, and we are grateful for any and everything that is contributed. Thank you
