On a recent trip to my four year old daughter Emma's and my favorite hangout, Sam's Club, we play hide-and-seek in the aisle's, eat all the samples and really enjoy the pizza ad ice cream. Em was riding piggy-back when I realized just how far off the ground she really was, I go about six feet seven inches. I told her to get down because I was afraid she would let go of my neck and flip backwards and go head first into the concrete. She must have heard that as let go...and she did. Sure enough she went right over backwards onto the floor but since I let go of her feet as soon as she let go of my neck (or so I thought) I thought she went down on her feet and then fell backwards and hit her head. I was wrong.
A long, long time ago I was a EMT so I know just enough to be dangerous, I did a quick half-assed assessment and determined she was in no immediate danger. Again, I was wrong. Thinking she just had a bad bump on her head I took her home, put ice on it and checked her level of conscienceless every fifteen minutes or so. A few hours later my wife Vicky came home and Em was in pain and somewhat lethargic which I attributed to the fall, fear and crying. Then she started to vomit. After we beat it to the ER, barely slowing down for red lights and passing two police cars and a fire truck (not really, but we did make it in record time). They did a CAT scan and determined that she not only had a skull fracture but a slight amount of inter cranial bleeding. They suggested sending her to Children's Hospital of Orange County ( C.H.O.C.) and of course we agreed. C.H.O.C. sent their own ambulance with their own crew, mom rode in front while Em got to watch a movie in the back and I followed in our car.
When we arrived, Vic went with Em and I parked then had to find my way to the front entrance. A very nice security guard asked me how I was and the first thing that came to my mind is how the hell do you think? My daughter has a fractured skull! But thankfully before I spoke I realized I was doing much better than many of the parents there that night and said so. After that realization I felt strangely calmer. I went up to the I.C.U. and spent the night with my wife and daughter on a pull out bed made for people no larger than about four foot eight inches.
We were allowed to bring her home the next day, Friday. She vomited and complained of a terrible headache thought the night and walked with her shoulders hunched until Sunday but when we saw her pediatrician on Monday she was completely back to normal. He assured us after the first forty eight hours we were pretty much home free. We still have to see the neurosurgeon in two weeks but I feel very confident.
George Carlin once said, "There are no innocent victims, we are all guilty of something." I'm inclined to agree but feel that doesn't apply to kids. Kids are the only true innocents in this world. I can't help but wonder if God was aiming for me and missed. No, God doesn't make mistakes but He does give grace. After the way I have lived my life I deserve a cracked skull, not a daughter as wonderful as Emma.
