My Kid Has A Broken Elbow and I’m The One Who Needs Morphine

by Trisha-and-Amy on September 6, 2009

Hey, Amy here. So on Friday my daughter Emily (who’s 5) fell off the monkey bars and broke her elbow in 3 places. Ambulance from school (she was nodding off so we thought she might have a concussion), and a whole day in the gross ER, in “H1″ (Hallway, section 1) since the meth addicts and swine flu victims got priority and snagged the rooms. As the nurse came to administer the morphine shot to Emily, she explained that the x-rays are going to be very painful, since they have to bend and twist her elbow around. (At this point I should’ve taken the drugs, my nerves were shot.) My daughter promptly freaked out, thrashing her body in every direction, and absolutely refused the shot, and just toughed out the x-rays. I watched her turn white as they manipulated her swollen broken arm around. She said not a word during this. Afterwards I ran to her side and asked if she was ok and she said “Mom, see, I told you. I’m stronger than the drugs.” Wow. Okaaay. I guess I now see what my future is going to be like with this little person. Can’t wait to see how her future boyfriends/husband handles her! As much as we try to protect our kids from pain, they are still going to make choices that they think are right. And sometimes, I guess we just have to let them.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Monica September 6, 2009 at 10:01 am

I know JUST how you felt!! Last Halloween, my 2yr. old daughter broke her elbow in 2 places and had to go through the x-rays, the splint for a week and then a hard cast for 4 weeks – I think it was more painful for me than for her!!! Thank goodness after 5 weeks total, she was back to new!!

Hope your daughter is doing well and feeling a bit better now!

Lynn Craig September 10, 2009 at 9:00 am

EMily is AMazing!!

I love her – “stronger than drugs!!!”

She is not only brave and strong – but has such self awareness!!!

Tara September 28, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Yes, that kid sure IS amazing!

I’m thinking that I would have forced her to take the pain shot (because she really didn’t know how much pain the bone manipulations would be). It would not have occured to me to let my 5 year old refuse the drug (One of my children almost 5). However, I’m quite impressed that you allowed her to choose. She seems like a strong girl, and I’ll bet that THAT MEMORY will be one that she looks back on for strength. Oprah might call it a ‘defining moment’ .
:)

Erika October 2, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Good for you for letting her make the decision!

yokohamamama February 3, 2010 at 5:29 pm

Hoyly Cow! I tripped over air molecules one time and cracked my elbow like that–I know *exactly* how bad that x-ray hurts (if you’re a grown-up, though, as soon as you get to the hospital, they say “sign this, please”, even though you broke the elbow on your writing hand.). That’s one tough cookie you’ve got:))

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