Stan the Man

This past Saturday we experienced another first in Japan.  One I hope never to repeat.  I know I have said for as long as Stanley has been my son that it was only a matter of time before he broke a limb.  He has had stitches twice, been hooked with a fishing rod, has had several wounds glued shut, and all manner of bumps and bruises over the years.  So when it happened I sighed, loaded him up to take him to the hospital, and expected a x-ray, cast, and be on our way.  Boy was a wrong.  This was not just any old break it turned out, it was a Type 3 fracture which involved his growth plate so surgery would be needed.

Everyone asked me, did he fall from a tree?  Was he riding his bike?  I think Stanley wishes he had a exciting, dramatic story to tell, but the truth is that he was just out playing with Tommy, and they ran into each other.  That is it.  Freak accident, and he just fell on it in that perfectly awful place which caused it to break.  When he came in the house he immediately told me it was broken, and frankly, I did not believe him.  Until I saw it.  It was obvious something was not in the right place.

My dear friend Jamie lives just a stones throw away and since Andrew was out she watched the other three while I took him to the hospital.  I am so very grateful for her close proximity on a daily basis, and being able to drop and go was so nice.

The ER staff took one look and ordered radiology right away.  After many phone calls, consultations and tears on Stanley's part it was decided a pediatric orthopedic surgeon should look at it and do surgery if needs be that night.

                                                     The wait was horrific

                                                           

                                       I still find it odd that all the medical staff wear military clothes.
                                                     This is with his very kind doctor on base

                                              Being loaded onto the ambulance heading for Tokyo

This was fun until we started moving

We went to Tokyo Childrens hospital where we were treated top notch.  The base sent a translator with us and this was such a tremendous help!  The surgeon decided to put Stanleys arm in traction until he performed surgery the following morning.  At this point it was almost midnight and we were utterly exhausted.  Not much sleep took place by either Stanley or I.  It was a long painful night.

With his amazing doctor

                                                           Finally being able to sneak a few skittles
                                                                 since surgery won't be until morning

                                         Japanese hospital bracelet....that says Stanley Kever

                                                               off for surgery

                                                             The fix

The break

Recovery was tough as he wasn"t able to keep anything down.  The morning after surgery we were served 

miso soup, eggs with tuna fish, pickled radish and green tea for breakfast.  That one piece of bread was devoured by Stanley and the rest sampled.  He does like pickled radish, so at least he got his greens.

                                                      Japanese breakfast

                                      Room with a view...even Mt. Fuji in the background

                                                     Happy to be discharged!!

It was a long weekend, and I am so happy to have my boy home again.  It is going to be a long three months, with weekly trips to the specialist. Just how do you keep a boy like this still?