Ryland's finger

Sunday night, after church, Ryland managed to get his right index finger in the door jam of a large heavy metal door – and the door was then shut. At first, Becca and I thought it was just another boo boo – smashed finger in the door trick. A little crying and some cold water or ice, and all would be well. We quickly realized that this was more serious. We are both veterans to seeing and dealing with blood. But this was probably the single most traumatic thing either of us has experience with our kids. His finger, from about 1/8 inch behind the back of his nail (right index finger) was crushed (bone fractured) and completely severed, minus a bit of skin still holding it on.

Becca and I just lost it when we saw the smashed finger tip just flop over and dangle there. A total of only 1\2 inch, and thankfully not as far back as the joint. But it did mess up the ‘nail bed’, so he may never grow a fingernail on that finger again. We rushed him to the ER and they took him straight in and began working on him. He’s about as stubborn and hard headed as a kid can get, and it took Becca (I went home with the kids) and nurses all they could muster to keep from getting totally beat up by his kicking and punching and grabbing as they poked him (often right into the open wound) with needles over 8-9 times just to try and numb him enough so they could sew the finger tip back on.

I think this process was more traumatic on him than the initial injury. Becca is frazzled and completely spent after having to go through that with Ryland. And based on my ‘post traumatic stress’ (can’t close my eyes without seeing that finger tip flopping over like that), I can only imagine she’s even more traumatized. The other kids (who didn’t see the same thing we did) are doing fine. They were a little freaked out at first, not knowing if Ry was going to be OK or not. But now they are more interested in seeing the stitches and stuff out of morbid curiosity that most boys seem to have (and girls – TBella is still with us).

Ryland is doing great. He has some pain that shoots through now and then. He takes children’s Motrin and that helps a little. I think soccer will be put on hold for a week or so though, but he’s already back to wrestling with his brothers… Tomorrow we are taking him to see a specialist (surgeon who works with amputations and severed limbs) based on the recommendation from the ER doctor. We are praying that he’ll say all looks well. But he could say that the finger tip needs to be re-done and that would be not be good! I know it’s just a finger tip. In the long run it isn’t that big of a deal. But this really shook us up and we can all use your prayers.

-Chad

If you're brave click on the link to see his wound. It may serve as a strong warning to other kids to not linger at door jams.

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