We had quite an eventful weekend. In addition to spending time at Grandma and Grandpa Bradshaw's house this weekend and making crafts at Aunt Teresa's house and getting to play with the coveted cousin Bailey, Mary Alice got go see the doctor - then ride in an ambulance - then get tested for five hours in the ER on Sunday.So, here's her story:
She was strapped into a car seat that was not secured properly into the van. (Long story, but it ends with her Mom simply not noticing that the LATCH straps were not attached nor was the regular seat belt.) On the way back from the grocery store in Ogden, we came to a red light on a highway and had to stop abruptly, which sent our poor girl and her attached car seat flying.
This is quite definitively a parent's ultimate nightmare. You never really realize how dangerous it is to drive at high speeds with no safety restraint - nor do you realize how quickly you turn into a projectile when you have to stop abruptly. I can't even imagine what would have happened if we had been in a collision rather than just stopping at a red light.
But we got really lucky. No broken bones for this little one, just a really sore neck. We took her into the Instacare, hoping that they could x-ray her to make sure nothing was broken. However, the doctor there was really concerned about the tenderness on her neck and immediately restrained her in a neck brace, followed by one of those flat boards the paramedics use. Poor kid was strapped down from head to toe so she couldn't move at all. Then they took her by ambulance to the hospital a few blocks away [this part made her brother pea green with envy!] where they did a few x-rays, which were inconclusive, followed by a CAT scan.
Poor kiddo was so frightened - mostly from the restraints. Kids simply hate being tied down, it makes them go crazy! But she got three princess stickers and a teddy bear from the doctor and discovered the wondrous joy of My Little Pony on DVD (which apparently we simply HAVE to get now... oh joy!)
But she is home now and everything looks fine. She has stiffness in her neck and still can't tilt her head back - but she gets to drink from straws and sit in Mom and Dad's bed to watch Spiderman for the next two days (to keep her from moving around too much.)
And we are just so grateful it wasn't anything worse!
Lesson learned here: Never let the kids "play" in the car or, if you do - cause, let's face it, it just happens that way sometimes - check EVERYTHING before you take your next ride!
