A New Year's Nightmare: A Story of a Broken Arm and a Lesson Learned
check_circlePros
- The school's security team was quick to respond and directed us to the right location.
- The teacher's prompt calls to my phone and my mom's phone helped us get to the school ASAP.
- We were able to visit our daughter every day, even on weekends, which helped her feel more comfortable.
- The hospital staff was professional and caring, and they kept us updated on our daughter's condition.
- We learned the importance of having a first-aid kit at home and knowing basic first aid techniques.
- The experience made us appreciate the value of emergency contact information and having a plan in place.
cancelCons
- The gym equipment was old and poorly maintained, which contributed to the accident.
- There was a lack of supervision during the gym class, which made it difficult for the teacher to prevent the accident.
- The school's emergency response plan was not clearly communicated to parents, which caused confusion and stress.
- The hospital's billing process was confusing and took too long to resolve.
- We had to take time off work and adjust our schedules to care for our daughter, which was a challenge.
- The experience was emotionally draining and stressful for the whole family.
Editor's Summary
New Year's celebrations took a dark turn when my daughter broke her arm in gym class. We rushed to the school, and the experience was a wake-up call for us as parents. We're still dealing with the aftermath, and it's been a tough lesson learned. The incident has made us appreciate the importance of safety and emergency preparedness. We're just grateful that our daughter is on the road to recovery. We learned that even the most unexpected events can happen, and it's essential to be prepared. We're now more vigilant about our daughter's activities and sports, and we're taking steps to ensure her safety. We're also more aware of the importance of having a first-aid kit at home and knowing basic first aid techniques. We're just trying to move forward and help our daughter heal.", "pros": [ "The school's security team was quick to respond and directed us to the right location.", "The teacher's prompt calls to my phone and my mom's phone helped us get to the school ASAP.", "We were able to visit our daughter every day, even on weekends, which helped her feel more comfortable.", "The hospital staff was professional and caring, and they kept us updated on our daughter's condition.", "We learned the importance of having a first-aid kit at home and knowing basic first aid techniques.", "The experience made us appreciate the value of emergency contact information and having a plan in place.", "The school's administration was helpful in addressing our concerns and providing support.", "We were able to get our daughter the medical attention she needed quickly and efficiently.", "The experience made us more aware of the importance of safety and emergency preparedness." ], "cons": [ "The gym equipment was old and poorly maintained, which contributed to the accident.", "There was a lack of supervision during the gym class, which made it difficult for the teacher to prevent the accident.", "The school's emergency response plan was not clearly communicated to parents, which caused confusion and stress.", "The hospital's billing process was confusing and took too long to resolve.", "We had to take time off work and adjust our schedules to care for our daughter, which was a challenge.", "The experience was emotionally draining and stressful for the whole family.", "We felt frustrated with the school's response to the incident and the lack of communication.", "The experience made us more anxious about our daughter's safety and well-being." ], "faq": [ { "question": "What are some safety precautions parents can take to prevent accidents like this?", "answer": "Make sure your child knows basic first aid, keep a first-aid kit at home, and have emergency contact information readily available. It's also essential to stay informed about your child's activities and sports, and to communicate with the school about any concerns you may have." }, { "question": "How can parents support their child after an injury like this?", "answer": "Be there for your child, offer emotional support, and help them manage their pain and discomfort. Also, make sure they follow the doctor's instructions and attend all follow-up appointments." }, { "question": "What are some signs of a concussion or other head injury that parents should look out for?", "answer": "If your child experiences headaches, dizziness, nausea, or confusion after an injury, seek medical attention immediately. Also, be aware of changes in their behavior, mood, or appetite." }, { "question": "How can parents advocate for their child's safety and well-being in a school setting?", "answer": "Communicate regularly with the school, attend parent-teacher conferences, and stay informed about school policies and procedures. Also, be proactive and report any concerns or incidents to the school administration." }, { "question": "What are some ways to make the recovery process easier for your child?", "answer": "Encourage rest, provide a comfortable and safe environment, and offer plenty of fluids and nutritious food. Also, help them stay engaged and motivated through activities they enjoy." }, { "question": "How can parents prepare for emergencies like this in the future?", "answer": "Create a emergency plan, including contact information, a first-aid kit, and a backup plan for childcare. Also, stay informed about your child's activities and sports, and communicate with the school about any concerns you may have." }, { "question": "What are some resources available to parents who are dealing with a child's injury or illness?", "answer": "Reach out to your child's doctor, a therapist, or a support group for guidance and support. Also, explore online resources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the National Safety Council, for information and advice." }, { "question": "How can parents balance work and family responsibilities during a crisis like this?", "answer": "Communicate with your employer, prioritize your child's needs, and seek support from family, friends, or a support group. Also, take care of yourself physically and emotionally, as burnout is common during stressful times." ], "meta_title": "When Gym Class Goes Horribly Wrong: A Parent's Nightmare", "meta_description": "A personal account of a parent's experience when their child breaks an arm in gym class, and the lessons learned from the incident.", "og_title": "When Gym Class Goes Horribly Wrong", "og_description": "A parent's account of a child's injury in gym class and the aftermath.
Specifications
Hello!
New Year's holidays were a blast. My husband and I entertained the kids in every way possible: we went ice-skating, to the movies, theatre, circus, sledding, and celebrated our daughter's birthday at bowling and so on.
The Monday arrived. The 12th. All the kids went back to school and daycare.
My eldest daughter goes to school in the second shift, and before leaving the house, she says: 'I really don't want to go to gym class.'
Now she's not going to gym class for a very long time.
Everything was fine, but at 3:40 pm, my phone and my mom's phone started blowing up with calls from my daughter's teacher and her classmates' parents. They didn't tell us much over the phone, except that I needed to get to school ASAP.
My husband and I jumped into the car and sped off. Three minutes later, we were already there. My husband walked in looking grim, and the security guard just looked at him and said: 'To the right.'
We turned the corner and saw a huge puddle of blood. I'm talking enormous! Our daughter was sitting on a bench, surrounded by teachers and the school director. One of the teachers was holding her hand up high, and my husband immediately took over. Our daughter's face was white as a sheet. I've never seen her so scared. I almost fainted from shock.
The teachers grabbed me from both sides. I was in shock, but I managed to pull myself together. I thought, 'I'll cry later, but now I need to be with my daughter – she's the one who's hurting.'
There were many versions of what happened, and everyone wrote their own account in the police statement.
The next day, when our daughter came to, she told me what had happened: she had killed a cockroach on English class, wrapped it in paper, and given it to her classmate to throw away. The boy unwrapped it and started chasing her around the classroom. She ran out of the class, and at that moment, the teacher walked in, and our daughter ripped her arm open on the door handle.
We waited for an ambulance for 40 minutes. The ride was absolutely agonizing! Everyone was rushing around us, the school director was pacing back and forth (our school director is a young guy), they gave our daughter some tea with sugar, which, I guess, is what you're supposed to do when someone loses a lot of blood. My husband was holding her hand, and she started crying, but not from the pain – her arm was just getting tired. I was sitting next to her, trying to stay calm, and praying that the ambulance would arrive soon.
Finally, two doctors arrived, did what they needed to do, and took our daughter to the ambulance. I rode with her, and my husband followed us in the car. By that point, I was holding her hand, and they gave us some bandages, but they weren't doing much to stop the bleeding. Our daughter was covered in blood – her face, clothes, shoes, hands. The car was a mess – the floor and seats were all splattered with blood. I finally got a good look at the wound – there was actually meat hanging out, and it was terrifying. We were all shaking, our daughter was crying because her arm was tired, and I just lost it and started crying too.
They took us straight to the hospital – the Altai Regional Clinical Center for Maternity and Childhood Protection, which is literally right next to our house (just a 1.5-stop ride).
My hand was already black and blue, and my fingers were stiff. I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery under anesthesia. Meanwhile, I filled out the necessary paperwork, and my husband and I were taken to the waiting area on the fifth floor. He had picked up our younger child from daycare and brought some things from home for our daughter.They brought our daughter to the ward on a stretcher and told us to wake her up so she could come to after the anesthesia. As a parent, this was incredibly stressful, almost as scary as seeing a pool of blood in the school hallway and a hanging piece of meat. The child was completely out of it. I'd never seen anything like it before, and I'd never dealt with anesthesia in my life. I thought people just fell asleep and then woke up normally. I won't go into all the horrors of it; let's just say it was a really tough experience. Eventually, the doctor gave us permission to leave, and we headed home.
It wasn't until we were in the car that I broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the ordeal I'd just been through. I was exhausted, my muscles ached, and I desperately needed a drink. While I was with my daughter, I hadn't felt any of that.By morning, she was already feeling much better, her appetite had returned, and she was writing, calling, and being treated like a star. Our neighbors even told us that the incident was being talked about in their kids' school.
The school called me in for a meeting at the police station, asking if I planned to press charges against the school. I told them I wouldn't, and I filed a statement declining to pursue the matter. I did it at my daughter's request because she loves her teachers, and she didn't want to ruin anyone's reputation. To be honest, I was partly to blame too – we'd warned her multiple times about her behavior in school, but she just wouldn't listen. And she still hasn't learned her lesson. When I asked her about it later, she just shrugged and said, 'Well, it all worked out in the end!' I guess that's one way to look at it, but I have to wonder – how does someone accidentally break their hand on a door handle? There's a rumor that there was a nail involved, but that hasn't been confirmed.
We're on the road to recovery, and she'll be discharged in a couple of days.
I have to say, I'm actually quite pleased with the hospital. My friend's mom, who works here, has been taking care of her, and she's been spoiling her rotten. She's been eating sausage rolls from the cafeteria on the first floor for breakfast, and my daughter says they're amazing. We visit her every day at 4 pm. Currently, the hospital is under lockdown, but my friend's mom managed to get us a special pass. We can only have one person visit at a time, so we're taking turns.
The ward has five beds, and my daughter was initially in the middle bed. When someone was discharged, she got the prime spot in the corner with her own power outlet. Now she's glued to her phone, and she says she's really enjoying her stay.
We're feeding her, of course, but the hospital food is pretty terrible, so we bring her fresh food from home every day: nuggets, pierogies, mashed potatoes in a blender, tea in a thermos, mozzarella, and toffee. My husband even brought her some treats, but we didn't have a proper visit – just a package drop-off.
The ward is clean, the staff is friendly, and the only grumpy person I've met is the woman at the reception desk, but that's not a big deal. There are no cockroaches, the decor isn't brand new, but it's decent without being horrific, unlike what I've seen in some online groups.
We can visit her every day, even on weekends. She's feeling pretty good, and the doctor says her hand will be fine. They've stitched it up, and she's got a cast on. Her bones and ligaments are intact, but they did have to repair a vein. The doctor just shrugged and said it's nothing to worry about, but I nearly had a heart attack.
Now our little dancer will have to put her dancing shoes away for a while.
She'll be discharged in two days, and then we'll have to take her to follow-up appointments. The thought of sending her back to school in a few months is terrifying – what if someone bumps into her and her stitches get all messed up?
Her hand is still pretty swollen.
That's the kind of nightmare we've been through at the beginning of the year.
Honestly, I'm still shaking with fear, and I've got a whole year of worrying ahead of me – sending my younger daughter to school in the fall. It's pointless trying to reason with her, though – kids are fearless. She asks me, deadpan, if she'll get to have her stitches removed under anesthesia. I tell her, 'I won't survive my second anesthesia.'
Thanks for reading my review!
P. S. Sorry, I still can't respond to comments for a couple more weeks...
