We Interrupt Your Day To Bring You An Ambulance Ride And A Concussed Child.
Today I got up early to tackle a very long to do list. I made it all the way to item nine which was pick Jonas up from school. We went into the school yard and I let Maggie take off running to the playground while I waited closer to the Kindergarten door.
I turned my head for all of twenty seconds to speak with another mother and when I looked up Maggie was on the ground surrounded by the playground monitors and a few of my friends. My initial thought was, “Ok, she fell. She’s fine.” I didn’t even run over, I walked slowly, calmly to her, knelt down and saw her eyes rolling back in to her head and a very strange expression on her face and watched her twitch oddly. Then she let out a huge breath and started to scream.
Apparently, as Maggie was running at full speed on the playground, another boy was running as well and the two collided. Because the other little guy is built like a tank and probably had a more direct path, Maggie flew backward, hitting the back of her head on the concrete as well as her eye where the two kids knocked heads. It wasn’t pretty. In fact it was pretty darn freaky, and one of my good friends (who happens to be Maggie’s nursery teacher) had a front row seat for the whole thing, and in her panic at my daughter’s rolling eye and contorted face just sat there saying, “Not ok! Not ok! Not ok!” I’m glad she did the freaking out so I didn’t have to. Another mother called for an ambulance and while we waited Maggie slowly went from twitchy knocked out weirdness to crying to being very still and quiet.
At this point in the waiting, Jonas teacher came over to me since I had neglected to pick up my son. While my daughter was in a very bad way she proceeded to alternately inform me of my naughty, naughty son’s totally awful behavior in school that day and talk to the 911 operator. Timing, woman, TIMING. There’s an ambulance coming for my daughter; as long as my son didn’t set fire to anyone, I’m really not focusing on him right now.
So the ambulance people arrived and Maggie perked up a bit during the ride. By the time we got to the hospital, she was her normal self with the addition of a huge bruise starting around her eye. The verdict was a concussion.
I’m a little fried now from all the worry and flurry. I’m always very good in the immediate crisis, but after it is dealt with I go a little weak in the knees.
Can you change Jonas to a different class? From the “blue crayon art” to this scenario, she’s giving me a very bad vibe.
Comment by Libby — November 15, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Hugs to Maggie, hope that she begins to feel better soon..
Comment by linda — November 15, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
Sucks when our little ones get hurt! It’s one of those things that can make a mothers heart sink two feet in seconds. Hang in there and hug your babies!
Comment by Kelli — November 15, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Oh Lou, I feel so bad for both you and Maggie. I hope she feels better soon. I know too well those types of accidents as my now 6 year old son went through a lot of them when he was younger. A lot of visits to the ER. I am actually amazed of how calm you were and how you took care of the situation. Usually, I’m the one freaking out in panic.
Well, just rest and I really hope tomorrow will be a better day for both you and Maggie.
Comment by Gilda — November 15, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Wow, what a day you had! I hope Maggie feels better quickly. ((hugs to you both))
Comment by Melissa — November 15, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
Wow. Glad she’s ok.
Comment by Sanisi — November 16, 2007 @ 1:35 am
So glad Maggie is okay. She’s at that age now where kids get knocked around a lot! I’m glad you had the presence of mind to stay calm, despite other people panicking and driving you crazy! I’d nominate you for a Mom award!
Comment by Mome-rath — November 16, 2007 @ 7:30 am
same thing happened to my nephew in Burger King, except he bounced off and also split open the back of his head. They called an ambulance, the whole nine yards. He was OK. Maggie will be too- hope her little head is better soon!
Comment by Lee W — November 16, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Oh my gosh how scary
Glad she is ok and shame on the K-teacher she must not have kids of her own or she would have known better
Comment by Annette — November 16, 2007 @ 11:09 am
I’m glad that Maggie is okay now. You sound so cool under pressure. The K-teacher somehow just doesn’t get it, I hope Jonas gets a better teacher next year.
Comment by Roxanne — November 16, 2007 @ 11:50 am
How completely scary. I am gled that she will be ok.
Comment by shelly — November 16, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Speediest of recoveries to Maggie! What a rotten thing to happen.
Comment by Sarah — November 16, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Oh my whoa. I’m glad it was nothing more serious (though being concussed isn’t too good as far as I have heard) and that she feels all better soon.
What is up with his teacher picking that exact moment to have that discussion? She couldn’t have sent home a note or made a call? Geez.
Comment by nikki — November 16, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
So glad she is ok. Makes me shake my head at the teacher trying to update on your son…I give you credit for not totally flipping out on her b/c I think I would have.
Comment by heather — November 16, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Good grief–did your son’s teacher ever ‘get it’ ?? duh! Such a scary thing to go through, I’m sure!
Comment by Amie — November 16, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
I’m glad Maggie is alright. I’ve been in a similar situation and all you can do when it’s over is take a deep breath and try to relax.
Comment by Angie — November 16, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
You are so amazing to be able to stay calm in a situation like that, I would be freaking out like the other mother did. I also would have quite literally taken off the teachers head if she pulled something like that. You are a good woman not to have. I hope Maggie is fine by now…Kepp us updated!
Comment by Nina D — November 17, 2007 @ 11:35 am