Helpers Be Helping

Goodness, there’s a lot of bad/sad/mad news out there. And not without merit. We live in a messed up world. But today let me share a positive in the vein of Mister Rogers: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Which ultimately reflects on God “who is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:1.

Blaming a pair of fluffy slippers that were ever so comfy, but too big for me, I tripped and fell down a flight of stairs this week. Brilliant me decided my best course of action was to catch myself with my right arm outstretched, so I did. Then sat up and attempted to move said arm. In a strange turn of events, my limb would not obey my commands to move! I reached over with my left arm to pull the disobedient one to my body and, when I did, I almost fainted with pain. Being in charge of four kids at the time, my barely conscious thoughts were that 1) I would eventually have to move and 2) I did not want to pass out and leave them unattended. So I called 911.

Me. The ER nurse. For myself. 🤦‍♀️ And honestly my initial thought was that EMS could help me splint this mess of an arm and get me upstairs then my husband could come home and take me to my PCP for an xray. Because nurses stubborn like that. I was sobbing talking to the 911 operator. I’m honestly not sure what I told her besides I was worried I’d pass out and had children at home, but she was a rockstar and figured out what was needed. BLESSED MEDIC 53 was at our house what seemed like a couple minutes later. Our dear neighbors ran over and took great care of the kids until my parents could come get them. 

Long story a little shorter, never did get my arm splinted like normal because (as we would come to find out) it had done this rude thing where the upper arm bone came completely out of socket and fell back down and behind my shoulder joint. I’ve…never known pain that intense, y’all. I would have rather birthed all four of my children in a single day than feel that again. BUT the medics were so kind and wise in talking Paul and I out of dragging my what would have been my unconscious body riding in his backseat and took me to their ambulance instead, where they had an IV in me within moments and Zofran and Fenatyl quickly followed. Later in the ER came Dilaudid then finally conscious sedation to put my arm back in place (yay for reconnected bones!). Y’all I ain’t never been so high in my whole life. 😂

And this is the short version, y’all. God orchestrated SO MANY DETAILS to help your girl out, and a lot of that help he sent through people:

• The 911 system and operator
• My neighbors
• Ambulance and fire engine there so fast (I know the people in them are cooler than the trucks themselves, but that may still be up for debate in the minds of my 4, 5, and 6 year old boys)
• My parents and sister (and others willing to take/help out with my kids while their mom is a gimp)
• People at my church, who have been feeding us 
• The ER team in place and having the equipment needed to put me back together
• Others I’m sure I’m missing due to pain med hang over 

My pain is very minimal now and I am being taken good care of. I put up a pic of Luke happily playing with a toy ambulance because my kids could have been terrified by the whole ordeal, but thankfully instead they are so impressed by the skill and kindness of those who took care of me. Also a cute kid pic because I’ve been told the photo of my deformed arm may make people woozy. Just message me if you want to see that. 😂

Also, if you know the medics who took care of me, please know that I definitely DID look at their names so I could say thank you later and then Fentanyl happened and those memories floated blissfully away, lol. If you want to send me their names I will happily write a TY note when my arm gets out of this sling. 

And remember: in the midst of this crazy world, GOD IS STILL WORKING. He is still on His throne. People are still helping. And someday, good will win forever.