When i got there 10 min later, i gasped at the sight of ps lip, now swollen and covered in a bandaid. The left upper lip was gashed open, with a thinner gash spreading out from the crease and onto his left cheek. He was no longer crying, instead playing video games with pawpaw to distract him. His left cheek was red and so swollen, also. I messaged a few coworkers to confirm what i suspected, but didnt want to accept: he needed stitches.
I took p home and let ben see it. Then we got dressed and off to Vanderbilt Childrens we went. The last time wed traveled this route was to HAVE p! We arrived around 920 and checked in. Now already 2 hours past ps bedtime, he was quiet and cooperative. Mom was at home, distraught and sad over what had happened, feeling guilty- which she wasnt!
Phe said he was going up the stairs to beat pawpaw, they were about to go play videos games together. It sounds like he missed the last top step and his mouth caught the fall.
We waited in the lobby about an hour or more and then were called back to triage. There p had his first blood pressure and vitals taken- which he loved. Then we went straight back to an ER bay where p layed down and watched cartoons. We turned off the lights and tried to rest while we could. It was about 1030pm. Later the ER resident came in to examine p and decided, as wed requested, that a plastic surgeon would need to do the sutures bc the cut crossed the vernillion border, which is the lip line. If this wasnt sewn back perfectly his lip would heal uneven and diformed. She manipulated his lip and tugged and he never complained. Once she left he said it had hurt very much but he was so so tough for her. I was the most proud mama ever.
P dozed off about 1130 and slept soundly until 1am. When another ER resident came by to explain that theyd have to start an iv and sedate him completely for the procedure bc of the location. Intially wed hoped they could nasally sedate him with versed, which wouldve just made him drowsy. The resident said wed have to leave for the procedure and that theyd have to intibate him as well due to the medication and sedation. They would be using ketamine, which is also a horse tranquilizer, so that tells you how potent it is! I signed consent forms and asked any questions before he left until the plastic surgeon was present.
Around 1am our nurse came by to start the IV. unfortunately p was sound asleep and i hadnt had a chance to explain to p what the new plan was. Hed known about the possibility of the nose spray medicine but not the iv. And this is a kid who loves explainations and answers so i was horrified that he wouldnt know what was happening. It took about 5 min to wake him up and i was able to tell him what was about to happen, but he was so drowsy i knew hewasn't understanding. The nurse put the tourniquet on and looked so panicked but then two other nurses held him from fighting and moving and he was really panicked. I was right there in his face talking and comforting him but he didnt understand what was happeneing. And this broke my heart completely. When the iv went in his left hand he lost it and i felt horrible. He was being restrained and crying for help- the worst thing a mama could imagine. Once it was done he cried for a while bc it hurt in his hand and he hated the iv cover they put on. So i took the cover off and he was able to calm and eventually almost go back to sleep.
About 20 min later we met the plastic surgeon and he explained his plans and answered questions. He grabbed his supplies and the respiratory therapist came in also, with his supplies. The nurse and resident came in as well and everyone began hooking p up to the heart monitor, with leads on his chest, blood pressure on his arm and pulse ox on his finger- they explained everything and p enjoyed seeing his monitor turned on and all of the numbers. They gave him iv zofran for nausea prevention and then began pushing the ketamine through his iv. They asked him what hed dream about and he told them about his favorite dream- the washing machine dream. He said there are light bulbs that go round and round and break! He was cracking up and sowere they. While talking his eyes got huge and tried to sit up in a confused panic, he was beginning to get dizzy. We told him it was ok and that was normal bc the medicine would fix his booboo. As he got dizzier he got a bit more panicked and tried to fight it saying "im getting dizzy no no!" I continued to kiss him and comfort him. He was cooperative but definietly concerned, and rightfully so! Hes never felt any of these feelings before. The look on his face broke my heart again bc i couldnt stop it or make it go away and i couldnt explain it to him at that moment. He began to fall asleep and they went to put the nasal cannula on his face, and even half asleep he slung his face to throw the cannula off- he was tough! A second later he was asleep and i gave my last kisses before being sent to the waiting area. Id said my prayers at the bedside but now i had to wait.
About 20 min later they came and got us, said that he did great and all was well! He was already awake when we went in and so deliriously drunk and funny. He said "oh wow! Oh wow! Theres double of everything! Ask me how many fingers!" He saw the oxygen mask and said "wait why is that here. Mikey has that! " i laughed bc he was remembering mikeys cpap machine for sleeping. He was tearful and angry at times bc he didnt like being dizzy he was beging for the dizziness to go away. They brought him an apple juice and he went to pee and they said that theyd begin getting his paperwork ready to go home!
We left around 330am and got home by 4. He fell asleep on the ride home and again as soon as he hit the bed. He slept in my bed with me and we didnt wake until 830am. We fell asleep again from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon. Today hes done great! His lip looks wonderful and hes learning to eat around it. He hasnt complained of any pain and has been taking an antibiotic that they gave him. They let him go home with his blood pressure cuff, his oxygen mask and his iv cover, they also gave him a stuffed polar bear to take home, which he named "polar berry, because hes a polar BEAR who likes BERRIES!" He got a huge kick out of himself! First thing this morning he woke up and wanted to play hospital, where he checked me in, took my vitals, started my iv, discussed how theyd "dumb" my lip up where i wouldnt feel anything and explained all the numbers on the heart monitor to me, just as his nurse had done in the hospital :) he was listening to every word they said!
In all he left with 4 stitches, 3 in the large gash and 1 in the thinner gash. He follows up in one week and the stitches will also dissolve in about a week. His teeth appear unharmed although under his lip has anout 4 teeth marks from the fall, thank goodness they didnt bite through. Hes such a strong boy and i am beyond proud of him for being so brave and tough through such a horrible ordeal, especially one that goes all through the middle of the night. He is my hero!
