Yesterday was surely an eventful day for the family. It was supposed to be just another Saturday filled with to-dos with the family but it turned out way out of our expectations.
We had breakfast with my parents and Mark (who was in town), went off to livingjoyfully’s to pick up some winter clothes and then to the pool at a relative’s.
The weather was superb.
The kids had a blast: Rou took to jumping into the water (and kept saying “more jump” after each one), and Gabe took a lesson on submerging (he missed a step, went under, and it took me more than a few seconds to get to him from the middle of the pool).
And the adults? Our ear drums endured its fair share of trauma (Gabe’s recovery from his “lesson”). We were also tested on the subjects of crisis-management, composure, trust, just to name a few.
Mei, all cleaned up after the swim, sat on a step near the pool. She stood up, slipped, fell backwards and her head banged against the edge of the step. She howled, we picked her up, I put my hand over the area of impact hoping that the touch would ease the pain a little but when I removed it, my palm was covered with blood. I caught a glimpse of a really nasty split in her scalp. Then amazingly, a list of to-dos filled my head.
1. Get some tissue. Put pressure on the wound.
2. Yell (past the closed toilet door) to the hubby not to bathe cos Mei has to go to hospital now.
3. Request for our teenage cousin to call a cab for my mum (who was with us) and Gabe. Give instructions to mum on the change of plans till evening (we were due at another aunt’s house for a family gathering).
4. Change, pack up, clean up whatever mess we created as best as I could.
5. Get in the car, get Rou to KKH.
The bleeding had stopped by then, and so did her wailing. She slept en route to the hospital, and woke when I walked her into the A&E. She was fine with all the temperature and blood pressure checks but wouldn’t hear of the bandage the nurse tried to wrap around her head. We were managing her active, usual self while waiting for our turn at consultation, so we figured the “inside” must be quite ok.
When we finally saw the doctor, she said they’ll try to glue the wound up but if stitching is necessary, Mei will have to be conscious, wrapped up and forced down, but she’ll be given some numbing gel to ease the pain. This is because one sign of internal bleeding is lethargy we wouldn’t be able to tell if it was the effect of the GA or the other.
The nurses gave her a toy, which she began fiddling with busily. Derod figured it wasn’t going to hold her for long and whipped out his iphone and played her favourite hi5 show on it. Mei’s butt didn’t even shift throughout the entire treatment; she gave nary a whimper. The only protest was in the form of some wriggling in discomfort. If her brother was in her place, I think both derod and I would have gone half deaf by the time we arrived at the hospital, and permanently hard of hearing by the time treatment was over.
Back to the wound. They cleaned her up and when derod saw the damage, he thought “seow liao, confirm have to go for stitches”, but apparently, the glue will do. I have to say it was very clever, the way they closed up the wound. They took hair (what little of it) from the top and botton of the gap, twisted it tightly together like a braid and sealed the gap with glue. And the action was repeated along the entire tear. So her hair became a natural agent! We were given instructions on care giving (which includes not shampooing her for a week!) and signs that point to a return visit, and we packed up and had a MacDonald’s lunch one level up.
It’s been four days, and I’m still managing my active toddler who seems to be able to find new ways of getting herself into danger everyday. So I thank God that she is well. Oh, and she LOVES her medicines. Begs for “more” when the syringe is emptied. Can you believe it?
