Hard Headed

On Wednesday our youngest son gave us quite the scare. We have been reflecting and processing the whole incident nonstop the past three days. So I better get it all written down while emotions are fresh in my mind (although I don't think I will soon forget).

Twice a week our kids carpool with two other families to and from Leinì (10-15 minutes) where they attend chess club and gymnastics simultaneously. This particular day was our day to pick-up the kids. It had been a long day out and about getting things done and I had very little food in the fridge, so my dear husband suggested we just leave early and pick up some pizzas for dinner. As we were just entering Leinì we got a phone call from Luca’s chess instructor. He said, “Can you come get your son?” I said, “Yes, what happened?” He offered very little information through his shaky voice and just said, “He hurt himself.” I reassured him we were minutes away and would be there soon. When we pulled up I saw one of the moms running down the steps of the Guardia Medica* trying to flag us down. I jumped out of the car while it was still moving because surely this was not a good sign.

Top floor: chess club
Bottom Floor: Guardia Medica

*Guardia Medica: Is the place where one can go after regular office hours to see a doctor on call for non-emergent situations. We have had to use their services several times in the past to avoid going to the hospital or waiting until the next day to see a doctor.

When I got up the steps I saw Luca standing with his head wrapped in gauze and ice and blood all over his hands and neck. We locked eyes and that is when he began to cry. He was holding it all in until we saw him. I held him while I listened to the explanation of what happened. Luca was being chased by another kid and slipped while he was running, slamming the back of his head into a cement pillar in the middle of the room. He remained conscious but succeeded in putting a fracture in the pillar where he hit. 

We saw this a week after the accident...um yeah, that is more than a hairline fracture in the wall! All the more grateful for God's protection. No wonder his instructor was SO rattled.

They immediately brought him downstairs to the Guardia Medica and although the office was closed until 8pm, there was someone present to let them in and give them first aid supplies. We were told that he would need to go to the Pronto Soccorso (ER) to get it glued. They offered to call an ambulance but from past experience of being with someone when they had a heart attack and waiting 20 minutes for first responders, we knew it was best and quickest for us to drive ourselves. We made a call back to our friends in Caselle to ask them if they would retrieve the girls.

Thankfully we were very familiar with the quickest route to the hospital in Ciriè from the many trips that we made there while living in Leinì. I rode in the back with Luca and he was crying out in pain with every bump and turn in the road. It was scary to think that he might have a neck injury. He was so scared and kept asking if he was going to die. We prayed with him and told him Jesus was with him, that we would do everything and anything to make sure he got the care he needed, and that he was going to be okay. Then he became worried about his interrogations at school the next day and that he would not have time to study. So many thoughts were racing through all of our minds.

When we got to the ER he was immediately taken for registration and evaluation by a nurse. As we sat down we looked up at the receiving window and saw Luca’s teacher along with her daughter. What are the chances of the timing of that?  She was deeply concerned for Luca and immediately put his worries to rest about school telling him not to worry about his interrogation. It was an encounter for Luca to note that God cares about all the big and even little things in his life.

He got a "Coraggio" sticker (You can do it!)

As the nurse unwrapped his bandages and took a quick glance she noted that he would probably just need some glue. She rewrapped him and put a fresh bag of ice on before we proceeded to the waiting room. We waited about 30 minutes before Luca was called back to receive care. That is great for Italian ER standards! The nurse told me she would need to shave his head to get a better look at the cut. Upon completion of the task she said “la colla non basta” (glue is not enough). I went around to look and that is when my stomach flipped. I restrained my deeply disturbed reaction in front of Luca and immediately called Jonathan back into the room who was making a phone call. I left him with the honors of documenting the injury. The gash was about 6 cm long (3”) and deep.

Luca had stitches once on his foot, so he knew what was coming and reacted with silent tears streaming down his face. I promptly took the seat offered to me on the other side of the room just to ensure that I would not be the next one on the floor. 

Jonathan stood by Luca as he courageously endured the procedure and I cheered him on from a distance. It was heart breaking as parents to hear him whimpering and wincing through the numbing process. The doctors complemented him on his bravery, saying that he was much tougher than boys they have seen that are older than him. We think he received 5 stitches but the doctor forgot to count. I guess it is not necessary for their documentation. I have since tried to count but they are running stitches so not sure how to count those. In any case there are plenty enough!

My precious brave little boy

From there we had to go up to radiology to get x-rays done on his head and neck. The hospital was pretty quiet with all department receptionists gone for the day. We waited in an empty waiting room for someone to get the call and come out to retrieve Luca for testing. It wasn’t too long of a wait and then we were off to the pediatric ward so that Luca could receive the imaging results and final look over by the doctor there. Only one parent was allowed back to the waiting area, so Jonathan accompanied Luca. I waited in a separate waiting room for two hours and just about went mad with boredom and hunger. My phone had almost zero battery and I had nothing else with me to read. There were no magazines on tables, no coffee machines, no snack baskets, no nothin’. I really need to keep an emergency food kit in the car!

Wandering the halls of the hospital we stumbled on this lovely site of mold. Nice, huh?!

We are so thankful that Luca did not incur any fractures. The x-rays did show that his normally curved neck vertebrae had been jolted into a straight line. Therefore, he will need to wear a neck brace for one week. The doctor gave him a full examination to ensure he did not exhibit signs of a concussion and he passed with flying colors. What a relief! On our way out we had to stop by the ER one more time to get a neck brace. They did not have child sizes since the pediatric orthopedic office was closed for the night, but thankfully we had one at home from one of his prior and similar incidents.

Set and ready to go home!

We picked up Emma around 11:15 and when we got home we had to get some dinner for the three of us who were beyond starved by that point. Three times during the night I got up to check on Luca. He awoke the next day quite perky and showing great signs of resiliency in his recovery.

So much to be thankful for!

• It was our night for pick-up and together we had left the house early and arrived just shortly after the accident.
• The Guardia Medica is in the same building as the chess club.
• Our friends were able to pick up Emma and care for her all evening since she did not feel comfortable going home without us.
• Samuel was at home and remained calm. He said: “I now realize that I am not mature enough yet to care for this big house on my own. I am so thankful for everything you do!”
•  Maestra Tania was there at the ER relieving Luca of his school worries. 
•  It was a reasonably good health day for Jonathan, which was such a blessing.

Quotes from Luca:

• “Wherever I’ll go, wherever I’ll be, emergencies will happen to me” (sung in song).
• “It’s a miracle I’m alive!”
• “My life is based on pain.”
• “I am so thankful that you are here for me” to Mamma and Dada.
• “I’m glad I have a hard head.”

We have seen an increased measure of tenderness from Luca these past few days through his prayers, affection towards us, and general joy to be alive. The Lord will certainly continue to use this traumatic experience to help him recall God’s protection, faithfulness and care over him. And even though he sometimes gets embarrassed when we share his story, we remind him how it gives us opportunity to praise God and share Jesus with our friends.