Dreaded Words

No mother wants to hear this:

"Robbie, Josie-Tatum is fine, but...........

Yeah, that's what I heard yesterday at 4:45. And the conversation continued, "There's been an accident at the gym. I've called the ambulance. Now, we need your here."

Do you know how fast I drove those 3 miles with lots of turns and stops? Then, there was a train. As I took the detour, I kept praying, "Jesus, please let me get to my baby. Please let me get to my baby."



My heart sank, just seeing the ambulance when I arrived and the EMT's beside her.

One EMT was back at the ambulance calling the hospital to get permission to give her morphine before they moved her. That's when I knew it wasn't good. Her coach pulled up the shirt that she had used to cover Josie-Tatum's arm so she couldn't see it. I felt sick to my stomach. Her bones were definitely in the wrong position.

After morphine was administerd, the EMT's splinted her arm, loaded her up in the ambulance, and I had the first ever ambulance ride in my 46 years.

When we arrived at the hopstial, I thought we might wait a while.

Not.....

You learn how serious something is by how fast you are treated in an ER.

We went straight to x-ray after some initial information was given.

The doctor wanted Stan and me to come take a look. He said one parent at at time could look while the other waited with Josie-Tatum. Stan went first and came out crying.

When it was my turn, I saw something like this:



Only the upper part of her humerus was further away from her elbow than the one in this photo I found on the internet.

So, as I talked with the ER doctor, who was oh so wonderful, by the way, he let me know that this type of injury required immediate surgery. The orthopedic surgeon was on his way.

We were placed into a room to wait and within 3 hours of the intial phone call, she was in OR. The wait was excruciating just the same. While her pain was alleviated, and they had to give her a little more morphine, she was terrified.

Everything frightened her. What's going to happen next? Why are they taking me to the hospital? What will the doctor do now? What happens in that room? I don't want to go to sleep. I heard them saw they would put me to sleep. Please don't cut off my leotard. She would calm down, something would uspet, and then we couldn't reason with her again.

I prayed the peace that passes understand. I reminded her that God has not given us a spirit of fear.

We were surrounded by family and friends.

Our wonderful pastor came. I tear up again just remembering. He had already prayed with Josie-Tatum while I was out of the room talking with the ortho. He prayed with us again when I entered the room. And, when they gave Josie-Tatum the dose of medicine to help ease her into sleep before taking her away from her mama, he leaned down to her ear, "Jesus loves you. Jesus will be with you. Jesus is taking care of you."

And, after 2 hours, we saw her again.

A peaceful face.

A repaired arm.

The night was not nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. She slept better than I did....right moms? I'm operating on a few hours right now.

And, no we're home. So, for those who've worried, here she is:



She's still not quite herself. Her face seems puffy from all of the fluids in her IV. She complains of pain, only when she moves her arm, praise the LORD!

So, for those who were praying last night, "Thank you!" And, for those who've just read of our ordeal, "Thank you." For I know you will begin to pray.