[Jmak]

AAAHHH!
I was in Macy's yesterday trying to get into one of those single bathrooms with the baby in his stroller and my 4 year old Kate. All I needed to do was wash my hands so I didn't push the stroller all the way in so it kept the door open.

There was a woman waiting to go inside after me and while I was washing my hands decided to scoot my stroller in and close the door ALL THE WAY for us. My daughters finger was in the corner of the door and it smashed her finger. The door was completely closed with her finger in it. The top of her finger was completely off the bone.

Long story short, I spent all last night in the ER while they basically created a new finger top for her. It was a horrible experience and I feel horrible about it. I could have done 10 things differently.

Why would that woman do that? I told her before going in I would be quick and I was just washing my hands. I had just changed the baby's dirty diaper in the baby room next door to the family bathroom. Why they don'y have a sink in the baby room I have no idea.

I know that in the scheme of things, this is a very small injury. She is my first baby and she was so traumatized being in the hospital. She just kept screaming the whole time no matter what I did.

Thanks for letting me unload all this. It was a terible night.
Jean

[Snoopy]

Oh Jean how awful! I'm sure it was traumatizing for you daughter, poor thing.

Did the woman offer an apology? I would think she would be responsible for any medical bill that is not covered by your ins. but I'm sure she is long gone and your first and main concern was your daughter.

Don't blame yourself, I'm sure it was an accident and we can always think of the shoulda, woulda, coulda after the fact.

[lady_express_44]

Awe, Jean! (((Kate)))

That first big injury our children suffer is pretty traumatic isn't it?

I hope that lady was very apologetic, to say the least.

Cherie

[Cherie]

What a horrible feeling! In the long run, you will probably remember and feel this long after she's forgotten. A similar thing happened to my Becky when she was in 1st grade. She was leaning on the door frame of her class room with her fingers on the hinge side of the frame when one of her classmates came in and shut the door with three of her fingers crushed in the hinge side of the door. It took several minutes to get them out and the janitor actually had to take the door off the hinges to get it open.

4 hours of reconstructive surgery. She amputated the last third of the three middle fingers on the left hand and they had to be reattached. Her middle finger is the only one of the three that failed to mend functionally and straight.

Sounds like this was very painful but at least the bones were not broken or severed. My concern for her is that the blood supply was not interrupted for so long that the flap of skin does not heal well. Please keep us posted on her progress.

[wannabe]

oooooh,

I'm having horrible visual images flashing in my head just from your description of this!

What a horrible experience for your poor sweet daughter and for you.

You are in my thoughts and prayers and hopefully the memories of this will fade with time. It sounds so traumatic.

[Jmak]

Oh Cherie- that's sounds horrible! What a terrible thing for you and your daughter to go through. First graders are so young. I'm sure it pains you to think of it still.

The woman at least didn't take off. Her husband or boyfriend stood near us as another woman gave us ice in a bag from her drink. She hid and stayed over by the bathroom. It was an accident but you should never touch someone elses stroller! She was young and probably had no kids of her own. We just ran out of there to get to the car and the ER

I hate that I panicked and had no clue what to do. I have worked at summer camps, day care centers and have been a teacher for 10 years! I am still very angry at the whole thing. The patient is doing fine. She's puffy eyed and all bandaged up, but she'll be back to normal in 10 days. I think I am the one who needs to calm down. It just has been one thing after another since my husband deployed.
Thanks everyone,
Jean

[SallyC]

I am so sorry, (((((((((((Jean and Kate))))))))))))..How awful. Poor baby. Give her a smooch from GrandMom Sally and yourself a hug.

How long will Hubby be in Iraq?

[Judy2]

What a horrible experience for both of you! But I'm glad to hear your little sweetie is on the mend. Isn't it the truth -- we can handle most emergencies but in the case of our own loved ones, it's a different story.

All the best to you and a safe return for hubby!

[Cherie]

Been thinking about this all week. How is she doing now? Still uncomfortable? Still bandaged? If I remember correctly, Becky was in bandages and splints for about 8 weeks because of the reconstruction but if it was just a tip of a finger, it should heal fairly quickly....I hope. Please, when you get a chance, give us an update.

[Jmak]

My Kate is much better. She still has her splint on because her finger is still tender and healing. The stitches should disappear in the next 3 or 4 days. It still looks horrible. She gets very upset when she sees it and hates to have the bandage changed.

I am still upset that she got hurt even though it was an accident. I feel like I am being very overprotective now. I hope I can relax about it soon.

Eight weeks for you must have been awful. I keep thinking about your experience and how hard that must have been for your daughter. It did give me strength knowing that you made it through a similar situation. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.
Jean