Xiaoniu 小妞

Last Tuesday night I hit one of my worst and most feared moments of my life. That was the night that Emelia got hurt and I feel responsible even though it is an accident.

Just before bed I went into the computer room to print out some coupons for Sue. All four of us were in the room and Emelia was wild as usual and running around like crazy. At one point she dropped to the floor and crawled under the chair. I yelled repeatedly at Emelia to get out and for Sue to grab her, but she was just too quick. I instinctively moved a bit to get her out and that was when we heard a crunch and the inward gasp of air before she started screaming.

We dropped everything and tried to figure out what was wrong with her finger. It was immediately clear that she had a very bad laceration, but having heard that crunch I was sure that he finger was shattered. We quickly wrapped her finger in gauze, packed up everything and headed out for the ER. During the whole event I feel guilty since I was so upset I couldn’t even think straight. I haven’t been more angry at myself in my life. All I kept thinking was that Emelia’s finger was destroyed for life.

By 10pm we arrived safely at the ER and Emelia was no longer bleeding. She was actually in very good spirits. It was very difficult to talk with her in the car. She was not upset and was talking about going to see the doctor and then about going home afterwards. There were a few others waiting to be admitted, so it took about 45 minutes before we got a room.

Another “family” was there with their two year old daughter. They were quite the crew too. Their daughter fell down and got a bump on her head so they were there to get her checked out. The way that she was running around and playing it was clear she was not hurt. To give you perspective of how good of parents they were we got to over hear them talk (not willingly) the entire time. Their daughter asked to sleep, but they kept her up the entire time they were there. Three adults talked very loudly and played until 1:45am when they left. Their daughter was still up. They were loud enough to make me wonder how they did not disturb anybody else there.

Caitlin was a good sport. She cried when we left the house, but quieted immediately when we got in the car. She stayed awake with us for a while, but Sue was able to put her to sleep without any effort. She slept through the whole event at the hospital. Emelia went to sleep very quickly in the ER while we waited our turn. She ended up sleeping through being moved through the ER to get and x-ray, the x-ray process itself and through most of the prep work. The nurse was even able to wash her wound and get all prepared before she woke up. What stirred her awake was being put into an odd position so that the doctor could work on her hand.

In the end Emelia was very, very lucky. She did not have any breaks and her ligaments were not damaged. The doctor told me to calm down since I had the next thirty years to make it up to her. I told Emelia I would buy her a car after this. A nice red one. She replied that she already had a red crayon (holding it up to show me). She’s too innocent.

The doctor put in some stitches, which she was awake for, but did not see or feel. Once that was done they bandaged her up and we went home relieved knowing that Emelia is not damaged for life. Since that night we’ve had her in to see her doctor for a wound check-up and she said that Emelia is doing well. Her circulation and nerves are very good. Next week we get to go back to get her stitches out.

Emelia hasn’t complained much about her boo-boo. The first day she said it hurt, but we gave her Motrin and she was feeling better. The first time we took off her bandage she freaked out. It was unexpected and surprised both of us, but by the next day she was okay with seeing it. She knows how to work around with only one hand and does a good job keeping that one away from water and danger. We change her bandage twice a day and she gets to have nice new kids bandages.

It was an accident, but I still blame myself partially since I was on the chair. I do my best to protect her and I’m the one that is involved with her getting hurt. I hope to never experience anything like this again.