“Why can’t you just break something?” I asked my son as we walked through the sliding doors into the emergency room. Our weekend had taken a dramatic turn last Saturday at a family outing, when Benson fell out of a restaurant high chair onto a concrete floor. His head unfortunately took the brunt of the impact, and after monitoring him for a while (along with multiple medically-certified family members), we knew it was time to take him in when concerning signs appeared.
Head injuries are on a totally different level than other bodily harm accidents, and I was just wishing for a “simple” broken arm or toe or something. Apparently I should have been more specific about what to break, though — because he complied, with a fractured skull.
A CT scan showed the occipital fracture, which was obviously not good, but it also showed that so far there was no bruising or bleeding on his brain, which was very very good. Benson was so brave going into the scan, lying there so still in his alligator footie pajamas and clutching his stuffie cow, Moo.
He needed constant monitoring for the next hours to ensure nothing negative started happening; there is no pediatric unit at Hutch hospital, so once the ambulance was ready, the paramedics strapped him in and I rode with him and Moo to Wichita while Brian followed in the van.
It was around 4:30 in the morning by the time we got all settled into a room in the children’s wing at Wesley Medical. Needless to say, it was not our most restful or stress-free night. I’m fairly certain I didn’t sleep at all — but that’s okay, because we were discharged by late afternoon and back in our own home that night.
Nothing else concerning had happened (nor has happened in the week since), and Benson was showing no signs of cognitive or functioning difficulties or delays, confirming that the accident’s damage was limited to his physical skull and did not cause any intracranial pressure or complications.
I have to stop and take a deep breath of relief and gratitude typing those words, because our situation could clearly have turned out much worse. A concussion and broken head are not nothing by any means, but they also should have no impact on his brain or development. His skull is still malleable enough that it should heal itself within two months! We are incredibly thankful for God’s protection.
Benson was so hungry and thirsty by the time Sunday morning rolled around, but we had to be careful with the poor boy to make sure his body could keep it down. I am familiar enough with Wesley (I’ve racked up months there between my two guys) that I knew just how to get my hot chocolate, but I had to turn away while drinking it to try and hide it from Benson. It didn’t work. Fortunately, by mid-morning he was started on Pedialyte and apple juice, and a couple hours later he was finally able to get something to eat. The peds unit is definitely better stocked with snack foods than any of the other units I’ve been scavenging on before, and like I said, I do have experience.
Before he was allowed to eat, Benson pleaded for literally any scrap of food he found in our hospital room, but when we actually started saying yes, he pretty much gravitated exclusively to the strawberry yogurt. I think he demolished three containers of it, and not much else, by the time we were discharged a few hours later. Who are we to argue with good taste.
And yes, this week at home I did make a big batch of yogurt and buy a bunch of strawberries. It’s always hard to say no to him, but even harder when he’s broken-headed yet healthy-brained.
Although I will be very good at saying no in regards to climbing things for the next seven weeks while he continues to heal.
Creamy strawberry Jello-gurt
The easiest way to make strawberry yogurt? Mix strawberries and yogurt...but that’s no recipe, so lucky for Benson, I decided to get fancy. This simple snack is bright and refreshing, and I may have eaten some out of his jar. (To be fair, I think the accident was more traumatic for me than anyone, so I’m not apologizing.) My brothers and I used to always sprinkle dry Jello mix onto homemade yogurt and eat it just like that, the sweet granules crunching amidst the sour creamy yogurt, so this is also a fun nod to my childhood.
Prep tips: I buy the bulk flavored gelatin from Glenn’s Bulk Food Shoppe, but of course a box from the grocery works fine. Switch up the flavors for whatever you’re into that day; the possibilities are endless.
• 3 oz [1 box] strawberry-flavored Jello/gelatin
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup plain yogurt, plus more
• sliced strawberries
Mix Jello and boiling water in a heat-proof bowl until dissolved. Let cool off (but not set up at all), then whisk in yogurt completely. Pour into serving dish/individual dishes and chill completely. Once set, top with more yogurt and the sliced berries.
Amanda Miller lives with her husband, almost-two-years-old son, and whoever else God brings them through foster care on the family dairy farm in Hutchinson. She enjoys doing some catering, teaching cooking classes, and freelancing, but mostly chasing after her kid(s). Reach her at hyperpeanutbutter@gmail.com.
