May 26, 2004
Boo-boo brings tough guy to tears
By
Herald Editor
It takes a lot for me to cry. Physical ailments, chopping onions, Old Yeller and Travis; none of these things make me weepy.
Last Wednesday, however, a boo-boo brought me to tears.
In a matter of seconds and with one wrong step, Ella suffered her first childhood mishap. As the story goes - and every fracture, bump and bruise has one - it all started with Petunias. In one of those blink of an eye moments, our daughter fell off the front porch while sniffing flowers. It is amazing how an afternoon can go from idyllically serene to horribly surreal.
Life is often measured in tangible increments: years, months, days. In this case, an inch - that being the distance between the stick lodged in our daughter's forehead and her right eye.
It was 10 minutes after dialing 911 that Ella went for her second ambulance ride. This time, however, she rode on mommy's lap while daddy pursued in the minivan. I was fine until the ambulance hit the lights, siren and accelerator four miles from the hospital. Naturally, I caught every possible red light. While the van was idling, my mind was racing with 'what if' scenarios. I left Goodyear behind at several intersections - not easy in a Grand Caravan.
After arriving at the hospital, I ran a 100 yard dash across the parking lot worthy of Athens 2004. I raced into ER and stumbled into informational red tape. Finally, an EMT informed me that Ella was OK and brought me to her. I later learned from my wife that Ella had lost consciousness while waving at daddy driving the van.
Watching our two-year-old get stitches was painful - a moment that left an indelible mark. Hopefully, the scar on Ella's head and our hearts will heal.
Now I realize this is just the beginning of the harrowing, and often excruciating experience known as growing up. If our child is anything like me, she will be an accident waiting to happen. My life has been full of brushes with hairline fractures. I've lost count of the number of stitches that have held my forehead, nose, lip and fingers together at one time or another.
Childhood comes with its share of bumps and bruises, I just want to keep Ella's exposure to X-rays at a minimum. Unfortunately, life doesn't come with training wheels - unless you count Barbie bikes.
If humanly possible, parents would protect their children from all elements of a cruel world - including gravity. However, it's hard to ride a tricycle or try on a prom dress covered in bubble wrap. I just hope we survive puberty, driver's ed, and dating unscathed.
Today, however, the first childhood stitches come out. Strangely, I think Ella will miss her little "bug" as she affectionately calls it. The next time she asks to see "bug" in the bathroom mirror, its absence might make her cry. I'll kiss her boo-boo and try not to do the same.
Grand Traverse Herald editor Garret Leiva can be reached at 933-1416 or e-mail gleiva@gtherald.com