« Crazy Hair Day | Home | Not Slowing Down Much »
Broken Arm
By Margot | April 29, 2009
Sam broke his arm last night at soccer practice.  The ball was kicked at very close range and snapped back his wrist extremely hard managing to break the radius. He came over to me crying and his arm looked crooked, he could move everything fine but after Neil and I looked at it some more we decided a trip to the emergency room was in order. He played really well in practice too, Darn It! Colleen took Andrew home, we called the oncologist on call who called the ER and Sam and Charlie and Neil and I went to Children’s.  We got there and it was slammed packed with people out the door- most of whom were wearing masks. The nurse later told me that everyone in San Diego who had a fever was in the ER because they were afraid of the Swine Flu. None of them had it of course. She said, “Do you know how many kids get fevers? Well they are all here.” Not the picture you want to see when you have a cancer child.  We lucked out and got a wonderful admitting nurse who had us stay in the car and came out to look at Sam’s arm, had us wait there and then come around the ambulance bay when there was a room ready. Sam in a lot of pain but was pretty chipper until we saw the x-ray and he heard it was really broken. Then the tears started to flow and his first questions was, “Will I be able to play four square?” He’s such a trooper. The ER nurses were so amazed at how good he is with getting his port accessed.  We stupidly fed him when we got there and then had to wait until 11pm for them to be able to knock him out so they could push his arm back in place and cast it. He picked a bright green cast. He woke up still nauseous from the knock med and threw up.  He perked up some last night when I told him that everyone would sign his cast and we started signing it this morning.   Luckily, it is his left hand and there is only one more soccer game in the season. The doctor said “no sports’ which stinks for Sam. The orthopedic doctor was a bit alarmed because the break looked like a piece of chalk breaking and most kid breaks look more like a green stick breaking.  After a call to his boss though, they figured out zometa was the culprit.  Zometa is a biophosphinate (sp) IV drug that a lot of NB kids get in conjunction with chemo. We haven’t had it for more than six months but there are lasting effects.  Lovely. Anyway, the ortho. doc, who was wonderful by the way, said he should heal fine with no complications and should have normal range of motion, etc. I left at about 10pm after Sam was accessed to relieve Vicki from watching Charlie and Andy and Neil stayed with Sam while they set it. They got home around 1 or so I think. I did think to myself last night while Sam was watching American Idol with me in the emergency room that usually in the emergency room he looks so frail and sick and last night he was lying there in his soccer outfit with his cleats on, color in his face and meat on his bones and looked the picture of health. I did the mentally unhealthy fantasy of “What if we were just here for a broken arm and that was it?” I try not to do that to myself because it is not reality but my point it that he looked so good that the fantasy was possible. He was great with the doctors and the nurses. He talked soccer and sports with them.
On the Andy and Charlie front: Charlie came with us to the emergency room before Neil took him home and he stayed with Vicki. He played well and Neil and I kept him entertaining by saying, “Paging Dr. Charlie, then he would come and check us out. He and Neil had sword fights with the tongue depressors. He had swimming this morning and Andy came to watch him. He was so happy to have Andy there he kept waving to him and saying “Hi Andy!” from the pool and he even stuck his little hand out of the water and waved while he had his head under and was supposed to be swimming.  Putting him to bed lately, he says the same thing every night. “Mom when the birds go tweet tweet can we wake up again?” I tell him yes and then he says, “And there are no monsters or ghosts in our house, just you and me and Dad and Sam and Andy.” Yes, I say no ghosts or monsters.  Then I say, “I love you Charlie and he says, “Me too.”  It’s the cutest. Since I seem to use this as our baby book I’m trying to document as much of what the kids say as possible.  Andy man is so funny. He’s been pretty moody lately so I need to get to the bottom of that. Maybe not enough sleep? We’ve been trying to give him some extra special attention but it seems he’s either a bright funny ray of sunshine or a dark storm cloud. We are both working on more special time with him. I’ll leave you with a laugh. This made me laugh so hard, I was still laughing when I woke up the next morning. As I was putting the boys to bed the other night, I was giving them the run down of Monday morning. I told Sam about the STAR testing (which he is missing today). He was a little nervous about it so I did my best to reassure him that it didn’t matter how he did, just to do his best. Then I told Andy that I’d already turned in his library book on Friday (I always forget Monday library day so I’ve been trying the book on Friday if we’ve finished it). I told he could check out whatever he wanted so he says nonchalantly -and I’m not making this up- “There’s this book at the library called “Don’t Play With Your Private Parts, Danny.”  “What?!!!” There is no way I’m making it straight faced through this one. Neil jumped up from the computer in the other room saying, “I’ve got to hear this one.”  Sam is laughing by now too. “So what is it about?” His answer:  “Well there’s this kid and his mom doesn’t want him playing with his armpit or his private parts so they make this rule. But he does it anyway, so they get in this big fight.  Yeah, I really wanted to get it but someone else got it.”  That last part killed me. They didn’t have library on Monday due to testing so he didn’t bring that one home. That can’t possibly be the actual title can it?  I’ll let you all know.
If you see Sammy please offer to sign his cast and cheer him up as much as possible. He’s rallying a little now but recess is going to be tough. His VMA/HVA and LDH was relatively stable last week. VMA was down a bit and HVA was up a bit but no big jumps either way. We are still working on different next options and are very glad to have the amazing Dr. Sholler weigh in. Neil’s tenacity on tracking things down is just phenomenal.
More soon.
Margot
Â
Â
Â
Topics: Progress Reports | 9 Comments »
April 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Ok, Marg’s no teasing..all of us want to see a pic of Sam “Pele” Hutchison with his cleats on and his battle scarred cast, ready to do battle.
I completely recommend that Sam be allowed to play soccer with his cast. In our house, we used to call casts, the “great size equalizer”. Sam will rule.
But all of us, out here in flyover country, know that Sam does RULE. Toughest kid, anywhere.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
A green cast? Does he still have his racing stripes on his head from your last entry so that he matches?
Margot, I talked to your mom one day this week. She says it’s pretty crazy around your house, lately. If either you or Neil need a sounding board, give me a call. Really. I’d be glad to listen or help you think through plans.
VB
April 30th, 2009 at 1:34 am
Have they given you your own parking spot at Childrens Hospital yet? Never a dull moment huh? Natalie will be in line to sign Sams cast I’m sure. Take care and see you tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear more about Andys book. Maybe he can convince Ms. Sussman to read it to the class. Funny!
April 30th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Cousin Emily had a green cast on her arm when she was 8 too! Give him our best wishes from Michigan.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Andy just sounds like a middle child to me! Being one I know!
April 30th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Crazy!!! What are the chances that Hans would break his foot in the same week that Sam would break his arm? I can’t believe it. wish i was there to sign it. If you like, go ahead and sign it for Hans. We’re just in a splint, so no signing privledges…
take care,
Lara and fam
April 30th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Well, I can see it can get “more crazy” around Pacific Beach!! Poor Sam, Can’t believe that happened to him! but what indomitable spirit for enduring all he did during the green cast procedure! And to think what hurt the most was that he could not play “4 Square” or Soccer!! Dios Bendiga,Sam! I think Andy’s choice of book is phenominaland & hilarious! “your armpits” Let us hear how it ends! Andy does sound a little tired and with all the effort he puts into soccer games, and school maybe he needs more sleep or B vitamins! Charlie sounds and looks adorable! Enjoy his being two, not many months of “the terrible twos” left!!
Well,Marg, its always something!! but to have Sam “hit” doesn’t seem quite fair; although; I don’t know of many little boys who don’t get through childhood without breaking one bone or another! You were right thinking that in the waiting room! Remember your brother? he broke his arm twice! so, did his son,Marty!! Look at Sam’s resillancy and spirit! It must seem almost nothing to him for all he has been through,(Ports and all)
I don’t doubt that this adds to your Sleep Deprivation, but try a little Extra Sleepy Time Tea before bed!
Neil and you have to be the best, most caring, full of humor and patient parents!( as I would hope most all of parents having children afflicted with pediatric cancers would be!) But, you two seem phenominal!! Thank God, you have Sam, Andy and Charlie to keep you laughing through all these “crazy,stressful times!” “Keep on” Doing, Going and Enjoying Life! in the true spirit of “Let’s do It!” I guess, right now you are both coaching Andy’s & Sam’s soccer teams!
Much Love “Mom”, “Grandma Sara”
May 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Can’t wait to hear the conclusion about Andy’s book!!! (I may need to borrow it!!)
Sorry to hear about Sam’s arm (I know Mac & Ty would love to sign it)give him a hug from us .
Good news about the numbers though………
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Coins for a Cure starts Monday- Madison has a big bag ready. I wanted to take the fundraiser to VONS- I am thinking Sat the 16th or Sat or Sun the 23rd and 24th. I do not need to have you involved unless you want to but I would like to recruit 10 families to take shifts. What do you think? I need some intersted families- do you know of anyone that could help me and I need their numbers. YOu can email me personally at arowe@vistahill.org. Thanks and let’s raise some money!!!!!