Well, I'll start from the beginning. Two weeks ago I selfishly took a much needed break from the full time mom job I have and went and played in St. George for a few days with some cousins, soon-to-be-sister-in-laws, and an already sister-in-law. It was a blast. However, between all the gut busting laughs, sleep deprivation, and junk food consumed I was ready for a vacation from my vacation by the time I got home! Little did I know that was so not gonna happen!
Unfortunately, Saturday night as I was sitting oh-so-comfortably getting a pedicure I got a phone call from Fischer saying "Mom, we need all the insurance information quick!"
what?
Of course I just naturally assume my baby is hurt and needing medical attention- which must be serious because we all know that according to Curtis super glue and duct tape work just as well as any procedure done in the ER.
"What just happened?"
"Dad was trying to move a heavy garbage can and it fell on his leg, he broke his ankle!"
I was very relieved to hear it wasn't any of the kids. Although at the time I had no idea what repercussions this would cause by having it be Curtis. Apparently they were all pitching in doing yard work and had loaded the garbage can up with wet grass, lots of dirt and weeds that in the end it came close to around 400 pounds. The kids had been putting TONS of dirt and rocks in without Curtis' knowledge. Curtis told Fischer to take the garbage can up front. After Fischer's failed attempt at budging the darn thing he told Curtis to do it. Curtis couldn't get it to budge either so he tried to use his foot to tilt it back and lost leverage when the wheels rolled out quickly from under and the garbage can fell on top of him. His body went one way and his leg/ankle went another way.
My mom came over to the house to stay with the kids and my dad took Curtis to the Urgent Care. A broken tibia was confirmed and a referral was written up for Curtis to make an appointment with a specialist for possible surgery.
I come home Sunday night completely exhausted and it all went downhill from there! Curtis was in pain and unable to walk or do anything. Monday his calf started hurting pretty bad and he thought maybe he must have done some ligament damage too. Tuesday he finally was able to get into the specialist which did more x-rays on his ankle. The break was really bad but isolated and not displaced-so no surgery necessary. The Dr. told Curtis he had to stay off his ankle (and no driving since it was his right ankle) 100% for 4 weeks since the break was in 90% of the body's weight bearing bone. Then in 4 weeks he could try and put little weight on it and see how it felt. Then by 6-8 weeks he should be able to drive/walk again!
We went on our merry way relieved that he did not end up needing surgery! Throughout the entire week Curtis pretty much stayed on the coach downstairs. It was too hard for him to go up and down the stairs and extremely exhausting. He would be completely out of breath just by doing very little. Little did he know that was because his lungs were filled with blood clots. He started having a lot of pain in his right calf for a few days. The pain started working it's way up behind the back of his knee and felt very tight. The pain then moved to his upper inner thigh over the next couple days. He did find it very strange that he was having so much pain but just felt as though it was because of the ankle break, being immobile, and having a 400 pound garbage can fall on his entire leg. However, Monday morning Curtis woke up at 5:00 a.m. and had the instant feeling/knowledge that he had a blood clot. And thankfully he started making phone calls as soon as the doctors office opened because had he waited any longer, he may not be here today!
After a day of driving from one place to another having ultrasounds, CAT Scans, blood drawn, etc. it was confirmed that he did in fact have a very large blood clot in his upper thigh. But it didn't end there. He had an entire blood clot from his right ankle all the way to the base of his heart and filling his lungs. Many doctors viewed the images and ultrasounds and were speechless as to how he was sitting and breathing. He ended up at St. Marks Hospital Monday and it was a very rough roller coaster ride the entire time. He started having severe pain in his right leg and started getting very sick. They placed him on Heparin to thin his blood. This prevented the blood clots from getting any larger and from him getting any more blood clots. Wednesday they went down through his neck and stomach and placed a "filter" just below his kidneys. This prevents any further blood clots from passing to his lungs and heart. He will most likely keep it in permanently. The hospital was a very rough experience for him but he is on the mend. Late Saturday afternoon he was transferred to a rehabilitation center and we're not sure how long he'll be there yet. His blood has gotten too thin and they are trying to get the Cumiden levels in his blood at the right level. He is having physical therapy done to help him move his body again. It's so hard to see such a tough guy be so weak physically and mentally. The Dr. said that with how large his blood clots are, it could possibly take 8 months for them to go away. We are so thankful that he survived this and the Lord has been watching over him. It's such a scary situation to be in. I felt like there was a time bomb ticking inside of him and no one knew when it was going to go off. Curtis' mother died of blood clots and his brother almost died of blood clots a few years ago!
Yesterday he looked really good, sounded really good and felt really good. I think he is on the road to recovery....HOORAY! It will be a long road but we'll survive taking one day at a time. I was quite grumpy the first week he broke his ankle because he couldn't do anything and was in pain and didn't feel good and I was having to do everything for the family and him. I have felt so awful now knowing what we know and he had a legitimate reason for being in such pain. We all know what babies men can be sometimes. I am so excited for him to be home regardless of him being laid up because I am so lonely! I will try my hardest to keep a positive attitude NO MATTER WHAT! My husband is alive and I am so very very grateful. He is irreplaceable and my heart is full. I have so much to be thankful for and I feel very blessed.
**My family has been so AMAZING as usual. Stepping in wherever they possibly can which has been very often! I am so blessed with the greatest family on the planet. I could not have done it without them. I really do not know how people survive without family nearby in situations like this. I know I certainly couldn't! We have such great friends too no doubt! Thanks for all the prayers, concern, phone calls, help, love, treats for Curtis, visits, etc. You are all so wonderful and we are so blessed to have you in our lives.**
Life is precious!
