I think I need to write all this down as right now I am so very mixed up, I'm so upset, angry, shocked and heartbroken, I need to clear my head so I'm hoping doing this will put things in perspective.
Around lunch time I received a call from the kindi teacher saying Charlie had 'cut' his lip playing in the garden and could I go and pick him up as he was very upset. Well the drive to kindi is around 17 miles and it certainly seemed twice that distance driving there, my heart and head full of worry. I had no idea just what had happened or how bad things were.
I arrived at kindergarten and the children were playing in the garden and as the teacher greeted me quite concerned but not overly worried I went in the classroom to pick charlie up feeling not to worried. My heart skipped a beat and total panic set in when I saw my boy....his mouth was covered in blood and there was an enormous gaping rip through his top lip and into his face!! I ran and picked him up manically asking him how this has happened, he managed to tell me through sobs that a boy had thrown a stick at him...'a stick' my god I thought how big was this stick??
No one seemed to think that his injury was that bad and suggested I popped to the local doctors surgery and ask if they might stitch it! I had other plans..I quickly strapped charlie in the car seat and drove back home to our nearest hospital where we were seen really quickly, to be told by the doctors that our boy need facial surgery to repair his injury and we were transferred to Manchester general. Charlie was wonderful throughout all this, so brave, letting doctors examine him and just every now and then his big blue eyes would fill up with tears and fear. Well to cut a very long wait and story short Charlie was admitted to hospital and operated on by a specialist facial team. They have done a wonderful job and we are hoping he wont be left with too much of a scar.
I have probably missed lots out of my thoughts and we are still dealing with the shock of it all, so I suppose things will get clearer.
We are back home and Charlie is recovering well and to be honest is more upset about taking essential medication and his very sore leg where he had an injection.
I'm really mixed up with regards kindergarten, oh the staff have been lovely and said they have spoken to the little boy who threw the stick and his parents are very upset about it all but this very protective mama is so uncertain of letting my boy go back where, no one noticed what had happened and yes I know little children do thing on impulse and throw but Charlie is such a very sensitive and gentle child (oh and wants to go back to play with his friends) and this isn't the first time he has had things thrown at him, but OK, I know I cant wrap him up in cotton wool and yes I want him to play freely in the garden with his friends..but..arghhh!!!
11 comments:
Oh mama, what a horrible thing to have happened. Morgan had a similar injury a year or so ago, she had broken a ceramic candle holder in the garden and cut her top lip open as she was bringing it to me. I felt so dreadfully guilty, but for it to have happened when someone else was caring for him must be so traumatic. (hugs)
Thing is, why wasn't it noticed? If things have been thrown in the past then measures should have been in place to ensure the children were better supervised. As a parent and as a childminder, I know accidents do happen and sometimes no matter how eagled eyed you can't prevent all accidents. However, an injury that leads to surgery, that really needs investigating and the staff should be explaining why the children were left unsupervised long enough for such an accident to occur. It really isn't the fault of the little boy that threw the stick.. it truly is the fault of the staff that should have been watching.
Hope Charlie recovers very quickly and is back to his old self, very soon...and your heart stops hammering!
Oh dear, your poor Charlie! Wishing him a full recovery as quickly as possible. It is concerning that an accident that was serious enough to require surgery was treated casually. Thinking of you all.
Oh honey, sending hugs - albeit belatedly.
I think it is their duty to make sur echildren are not being dangerous - especially where sticks are being played with ... in fact why were the children being allowed to play with sticks anyway? Most places I know won't tolerate that. Yes I let my boy play with sticks in the woods and sometimes we are with other families too - but we grown ups are all too aware of what they are doing and the danger it holds we are watching them like hawks.
I don't think you are being over protective at all, surgery is serious and I would take this up with the kindergarten as soon as you are feeling more clarity on it all.
Sending healing vibes and love to you and your beautiful boy.
Blessings x
Hi Sarah, yes I think the fact that this happened to charlie whilst he wasnt with me is a major reason for us being so traumatised by it all.Oh poor Morgan, isn't it heartbreaking when our littles get hurt x
Jaqui, we have demanded that kindergarten act enormously on this accident and we need lots of reasurance that staff will be more vigilant at all times.Charlie is recovering really well x
Thank you Kelly for your kind words x
Rose,I think the main problem with the stick issue is that its a steiner kindergarten and the main ethos is free play..but there has to be free play and being safe, I agree.
Anyway, there has been an emergency staff meeting and now, all sticks and objects that could be accidently misused have been removed from the garden and there is now a policy that there must be enough members of staff at all times in the garden. Hopefully something positive may come out of this.Thank you for your healing vibes x
Hi Sarah, yes I think the fact that this happened to charlie whilst he wasnt with me is a major reason for us being so traumatised by it all.Oh poor Morgan, isn't it heartbreaking when our littles get hurt x
Jaqui, we have demanded that kindergarten act enormously on this accident and we need lots of reasurance that staff will be more vigilant at all times.Charlie is recovering really well x
Thank you Kelly for your kind words x
Rose,I think the main problem with the stick issue is that its a steiner kindergarten and the main ethos is free play..but there has to be free play and being safe, I agree.
Anyway, there has been an emergency staff meeting and now, all sticks and objects that could be accidently misused have been removed from the garden and there is now a policy that there must be enough members of staff at all times in the garden. Hopefully something positive may come out of this.Thank you for your healing vibes x
Our steiner kindergarten forbid stick play which suprised me greatly when we first started getting involved, I thouhgt if anywhere was going to allow it steiner would but there you have it, it's all open for interpretation and discretion I guess - but if kids are playing with sticks I would still demand that staff pay attention and oversee said play. I do hope he heals well soon and that your hurts heal too.
X
So sorry to hear about Charlie's accident Sue. How's he doing now? Hope he is healing well poor loves. Hope you're all doing well, I'm having a FB break and missing catching up with you all xx S
So sorry to hear about this Sue. Ezra had an almost identical injury just before he was two. He tripped and landed on the door frame of pastio doors. Cut his bottom lip right through and down into his face. Needed seventeen stitches and over an hour in surgery by maxillo-facial team. I can really relate to how horrid this must have been for you. Hope Charlie's lip is healing well xxx
Hi Sue, So sorry to hear about charlie's accident. Hope he is nicely on the mend now. What shock for you all :-(
Sending you love from cumbria anyway - having a little fb break at the moment and missing hearing from you all xxx
I hope Charlie recovers quickly. I would be having the same dilemma about sending him back. Listen to your heart, mama.
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