It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

We all were having a wonderful Christmas with family – The boys had woken up early and with great excitement – the kind you remember only too well.  The kind you wish that still endured though it can never be recaptured quite as exquisitely as it exists in a child on Christmas morning.  The first glass of champagne had been started – toys were being enjoyed with high energy and delight.

I think now there is something about two year olds that kicks you screaming into the reality of what can happen in a split moment of time. It happened to us with Grant with his seizures.  Now again, two years later.

Henry was playing by Misty’s chair when Bubba (English Bulldog) started chewing on a bone.  Henry bent over to take a look and before you could have ever noticed Bubba went for him.  Bubba has been a very gentle dog with children.  Apparently even taking food from his bowl while he has been eating before now.

Henry suffered two deep puncture wounds on his right cheek and some grazing across his face from other teeth.  We were lucky in that it could have been much worse.  The shock is still sinking in.  Looking at him brings tears to your eyes.

Unfortunately this happened in the middle of a serious blizzard and way out of town in the country on gravel roads.  The nearest hospital was 20 miles away if you could reach it.  The travel advisories were all “DO NOT TRAVEL” (rare in the mid west!) but we called the hospital and they said he needed to be seen within 4 hours in order to prevent infection in the wounds.

Even with serious 4 wheel driver vehicles (a Hummer H3 and another 4 wheel driver crew cab truck) there were serious doubts as to whether we would be able to make it through the snow drifts and gravel roads to the edges of town.  Chris, Junior and I loaded the truck up with shovels, blankets, donned tons of layers, brought multiple cells phones and water – We really did expect to get stuck about 5 miles in and so we wanted to be prepared for the worst.  We were also not sure if we’d be able to make it back out to the house after the hospital.  Luckily we got some good inside knowledge from local farmhouses on gravel routes that had been less impacted and so had good intelligence to work from.  Visibility was often near zero and we plowed through a couple of big drifts but fortunately luck was with us and we didn’t get stuck.  Once of the major roads it was easier going – Just the visibility problems due to the blizzard there.

Rushed the little guy into the hospital and after all the usual “are you insured” card finding melodrama (richest nation on the planet and the only one without universal health care – outrageous and disgusting but I’ll get off the soap box for now)….  They had to strap Henry down into a little burrito/straight jacket type thing in order to do the stitches and wound cleanings.  Poor little guy was petrified with fear.  Most distressing sounds you can ever hear as a parent are your own flesh and blood in real pain and fear – yet you can do nothing since they need it in order to get better – if only at two years old you could at least comprehend that.  Alas no.  By the end I’m not sure who had the most tears on their face – Henry, me or Misty.  Awful, simply awful.

Henry ended up with 4 stitches in the lower wound and 5 in the top wound.  We have to have them removed in 5 days and then see how scaring goes over the next 6 months – may then need to see a plastic surgeon depending how things are.  Hospital prescribed him antibiotics which we managed to pick up at a pharmacy open on Xmas Day next to the hospital – Then we started the dreaded blizzard filled journey back to the house.  Things had not improved but we finally made it after plowing through some snowdrifts and navigating the gravel roads.  Many thanks to Chris for driving us there and back safely in such dangerous conditions.  Getting stuck at any point on that route could have been a really serious situation for all.

Henry is doing well at home – Injuries don’t appear to be greatly impacting his toy playing activities!

Amazingly this all happened at 1pm and we were able to get home in time for Prime Rib – which Henry enjoyed!  Many thanks to Audra and Irma for the wonderful food and hospitability.  Thanks to Junior for helping us get the van loaded and ready to go so quickly and thanks to Taylor, Tim and everyone left at home for looking after Grant for us while we rushed to the hospital.

Some photos of the poor dude below: