Gratitude journal
When A Parent Gets the Text ‘I Dislocated My Knee-I’m Pretty Sure’
Thankful for the souls who stay calm during emergencies
Yesterday around mid-morning, I received a text from my 15-year-old son, “I dislocated my knee I’m pretty sure.” Followed by a call. I vomited words into my phone, “What happened? Is there a nurse with you?”
The 9th graders had been playing dodgeball that morning. “I think I was getting too competitive. My knee popped out.”
Thankfully, the school staff was with him in the gym. “An ambulance is on the way. What hospital do you want them to take him to?” the school nurse asked. “He’s handling the pain very well.”
Ambulance. Hospital. Pain.
He did sound calm, in contrast to my racing heart. I told them I would meet them at the ER. After calling my husband, I tried to calm myself down as I put my shoes on.
Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay.
Since we lived less than 10 minutes from the high school, I decided I should call again to see if they had left yet. The ambulance was still at the school. I decided to head over there and see if I could ride with him. I cried the whole way thinking about him being in an ambulance.
As I pulled in behind a fire truck and the ambulance, I was greeted by one of his teachers. It was surreal seeing him sitting on the gurney down the hall.
“His kneecap popped back into place.” Managing to resist throwing up in reaction to this great news, I raced over to him.
The calming paramedics reassured me he was doing great and they recommended he go to urgent care to get x-rays. No ambulance ride to an ER thankfully. We ended up taking him ourselves to a nearby orthopedic urgent care.
I understand the need to say cool under pressure. I used to work in an ER in my 20’s, registering the patients. I remember my supervisor telling me I was always so calm during the chaos of working in an ER. When you’re helping people you don’t know, you understand the importance of not adding to the chaotic energy. I'll admit there were times I went into the bathroom to cry for those situations that were heartbreaking.
This time I was on the other side of an emergency. This was not a life-threatening situation(thank goodness) but when your child is hurt enough where an ambulance is needed, you feel the pain alongside them.
Every single soul I encountered yesterday, from the school staff to the paramedics to the urgent care professionals, was comforting and calm, which helped this anxious mother.
The paramedics were chatting with my son as if they knew him for years, which I know helped him to take his mind off the pain. They have one of the most stressful jobs, especially heightened during a pandemic, so I am so incredibly grateful for their professionalism and steadfastness.
Later that evening my 15-year-old told his younger brother the play-by-play of the day. “I didn’t even cry!”
I interjected, “It’s okay to cry, ya know!”
“I know, Mom. But I did swear quite a bit when it happened,” he said as he proceeded to list all the words he yelled out.
“Hmmm, well that’s one way of working through the pain.”
I never told him in my 20s, when I worked in the ER, I got in trouble a few times for swearing (under my breath mind you!). I guess it’s our coping mechanism.
“For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”
— Neil deGrasse Tyson
Each day in November (or as often as I can) I’m writing a thank you for this month of gratitude. Join me anytime this month!
Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2021 all rights reserved.
I’m a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, writing my first novel, a psychological suspense novel. Are you a writer? Check out Sparks, my newsletter filled with writing prompts to spark your creativity.
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