The day started out fine, busy but fine. Then all hell broke lose. The head partner and surgeon at Lori’s Practice hurt his back and needed surgery asap. So as usual, Lori pulled in favors and had everything set up within a couple hours. This meant rescheduling some patients, securing OR (operating room) time, making sure there was staff, and most important, getting something called the O-arm at the hospital which is some mechanical tool for surgery. It also takes a specialized staff. I was taking Ty to the skate park when she found all this out and that she needed to go to the office so I turned around with Ty and had her take him on her way instead.
Dixie and I hung out for the next 3 hours watching the Dennis the Menace movie and visiting. About the time Lori made it home at 4, Ty called asking if I’d come and get him at the skate park. We thought he was staying out with Sonny and his friends but Sonny unbeknownst to Ty was heading to a family wedding in California. Ty casually told me he fell at the skate park and was hurt a bit and needed a ride home. On the way he called me back asking me to bring crutches which was odd. I told him I was already on the way. When I arrived I called him to tell him I was there and he said he was sitting over by the big bowl and needed help getting up. I jumped out of the car and walked over to him to find him sitting there on the edge of the bowl. I tried to help him up but after a few minutes it was clear he was in real pain and his knee was really swollen and this was more than just a little bump. After deliberation and phone calls to Lori, I called 911 to get an ambulance. They showed up pretty quick and Kayla, one of the paramedics (there were two girls) and I helped Ty up and got him to the stretcher. I followed the ambulance to the hospital in Vail, ugh.
Once in the ER we had x-rays within minutes and soon found out Ty had fractured his patella which is commonly known as your kneecap. They said he must have banged it really hard to have broken it the way he did. Good God, I couldn’t believe it. We did get great treatment with Lori working there and everyone knowing it even though it was just Ty and I. I made sure to let everyone know who his mom was, ha. Meanwhile Lori was home with Dixie as she couldn’t leave her alone. We had a friend coming over but things were moving so fast I told her to just sit tight. I was taking photos of the x-rays and texting them to Lori who was texting them to Dr. Dorf from her office who then told us what to do. In the end Ty was put in an immobilizing brace and I took him home. It wasn’t easy getting him up and in the car as we have to keep his leg totally straight at all times but we managed. We made it home and got Ty upstairs. Monday morning we’ll follow up by going and seeing Dr. Dorf at Lori’s office. Looks like about 8 weeks on crutches but we think he’ll avoid surgery which is a big deal. Surgery could have meant months and months of recovery.
Obviously the knee on the right is the swollen one!
In the world of fractured knees, that’s one big break! Luckily he didn’t fracture his femur which is the bone above the break or it would have been surgery for sure. They tried to give Ty some pain medication when they showed up at the skate park as he was in tears when we moved him and I authorized it but then asked what they use and when they told me fentanyl I asked if they had anything less potent. They didn’t and Ty quickly spoke up and said he’d be fine. They asked him again at the hospital and he passed once again. I found out later one of his favorite musicians had over dosed on it and he wanted nothing to do with it. He’s a tough kid and has a high tolerance for pain but had to be in big time pain. All he had last night for pain was Tylenol even though they sent us home with Hydrocodone. He must have slept through the night as he’s still sleeping now. Poor guy, he has a concert in Salt Lake in two weeks that might be out now plus will be starting his senior year on crutches and was going elk hunting with me and James and his son at the first of September which now is out for sure. More to come in the next few days.
This morning Lori, Dixie and I are up. Jag and Katie made it home around 9. We bought them each a pair of cowboy boots that they stopped and got in Denver on the way back up the hill. I called my girl at my western store and they hooked them up at a 30% discount. They’re going to the county fair tonight and of course needed boots! Pictures tomorrow!
Lots of road closures and flooding up here from mudslides. It’ll be the norm for a while this summer and probably the next few years until the vegetation grows back.
That’s it, time to get moving. hope everyone is well, take care, be well, stay safe and God Bless. Shoot Ty a text or give him a call later today if you can. His number is 303-960-6078.