When I got a call from Ruby's school on Friday, March 11th,
I wasn't worried. The secretary said that Ruby had fallen at
recess and hurt her back, but I still wasn't worried.
Ruby (or the someone from the school) calls me anywhere
from 1-15 times a week with health/social/homework/forgetting things.
I was at Target when this call came, and had a very short time to
buy everything that I needed for Jonah's birthday the next day.
I told the secretary that I would come to the school as soon
as I could, but that I had a few things that I absolutely
had to pick up right then. She said, "Okay," only to call back
a few minutes later to tell me that a nurse at the school thought
that the paramedics needed to be called. I really didn't
want that to happen, but she said that they would only charge
us if Ruby needed to be transported to the hospital,
and that was unlikely. I agreed to let the school call them,
and Alton and I bought Jonah's school treat and checked out.
We arrived at the school just before the paramedics, and Alton
was excited to see the fire engine and ambulance.
He was also excited to play on the school playground -
something he asks to do every day as we leave the school.
Ruby was being watched over by the school receptionist,,
and our neighbor, Sister D, but our girls was very scared,
and in a lot of pain. She had been trying to do a back flip
on the playground bar and "almost " landed it.
Instead she landed on her back. The paramedics checked her out,
on the playground bar and "almost " landed it.
Instead she landed on her back. The paramedics checked her out,
and said that as far as they could tell she was okay,
but that to be sure we really needed to take her to the hospital.
What a decision! Of course, I opted to be safe, and they loaded
us into the ambulance. I quickly called my friend, Jennifer, to
see if she could come get Alton. He was happy to hang out
with the office ladies while he waited for Jennifer and her son.
He loves it there, and at his friend, G's house.
(He told me just this week that he didn't think I was ever
coming back for him while he played at G's house and Ruby
was at the hospital. Poor guy! I'm glad we have good friends.)
I expected a quick trip to the emergency room for x-rays and
then being sent on our way. That shows my inexperience
with hospitals. Sigh. I was afraid of being stranded at the hospital,
and didn't know when John would check his email (he was
at the office, working in the Sienna without a working cell phone
or computer with him), so I sent Greg a quick text, asking
if he would be around if we needed him. Sweet brother
and Uncle that he is, he skipped his class and came right
over to be with Ruby and me in the ER.
If he hadn't come, Ruby would have stared at the wall for three hours,
because it didn't occur to me to turn on the TV. Greg figured
that out, and Ruby had something of a distraction while
we waited for doctors and tests. She also had a ladybug visitor
who hitched a ride from the school on Ruby's stretcher!
That poor bug had a more difficult time leaving the hospital
than we did! John eventually got my message, and came to Provo
to be with us. He relieved Greg, and just after that we were sent
for a CT scan. They let me stay with Ruby for the scan,
and she was so brave. Soon after we got back to her room,
Brother D. from the ward came to see how Ruby was doing.
His wife had been the one to sit with Ruby while they
waited for me and the paramedics, and she sent him to see how
our girl was doing. Ruby was too miserable to enjoy visitors,
but it was so thoughtful and kind of him to come.
Just after Brother D left, Elizabeth came to see us. Ruby happened
to be in the room Liz had spent all of Saturday in. John
was thrilled to be back in the hospital. Not really.
Liz discovered that poor Ruby still had both shoes on -
partly. One was falling off and I am sure she was uncomfortable.
Elizabeth got Ruby settled with socks, and the doctor came
to give us the results of the CT scan. Ruby had broken some bones
in her spine (we later learned from the pediatric orthopedic doctor
that she had compression fractures), but in someone her
age that was kind of like a bruise. She was instructed to
take it easy - no dance, tumbling, running, etc., and to to home.
(John's initial advice had been to give her an ice pack
and to send her back to class, so he was less than thrilled
with those instructions from the ER doctor after an expensive
ambulance ride, ER stay, and CT scan.)
Ruby was sent home with a soda, some treats, and a toy.
She later got flowers, balloons, and treats from friends,
neighbors, and teachers. I'm so glad and grateful that she is
okay, and that she can (eventually) keep doing all of the
fun things that she loves.
in her spine (we later learned from the pediatric orthopedic doctor
that she had compression fractures), but in someone her
age that was kind of like a bruise. She was instructed to
take it easy - no dance, tumbling, running, etc., and to to home.
(John's initial advice had been to give her an ice pack
and to send her back to class, so he was less than thrilled
with those instructions from the ER doctor after an expensive
ambulance ride, ER stay, and CT scan.)
Ruby was sent home with a soda, some treats, and a toy.
She later got flowers, balloons, and treats from friends,
neighbors, and teachers. I'm so glad and grateful that she is
okay, and that she can (eventually) keep doing all of the
fun things that she loves.
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| The playground bar that she flipped off of. |
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| Ruby brought lots of wood chips with her to the hospital. |
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| Ruby wanted to bring the neck brace home, just in case. |
