Protection by Circumstance (22/73)

When Lawrence got off the phone he told us that we needed to go next door to the neighbor’s house, ‘The Bennett’s’. Mr. Bennett was a retired EMT he would know what to do. I was nervous as we waited at his door for him to answer. I knew that he was going to make me move my arm in order for him to look at it. That scared me because I knew it was going to hurt.

Once Mr. Bennett open his door he immediately could see that something was wrong. He invited us in to the dining room so he could take a better look at my arm. He knew the moment that I tried to move it that it was broken. By now my right arm had swollen up twice its normal size and I really wanted my Dad. It was not long and my Dad came through the front door of the house into the dining room. I was so relieved to see him. Mr. Bennett explained to him that my arm was most likely broken but that I would need to go to the hospital to have an x-ray to be sure. He also mentioned that he was concerned about the swelling. He thought it may be quite badly broken and said I must have really fell on it good.

Before I knew it my arm was in a make shift sling and we were in my Dad’s truck driving towards Edmonton. He had spoken with my mother and to be expected she was very angry at him! I knew she would be and that she would use this accident as a way to say I was in an unsafe environment with my father. She had asked for him to bring me home and that she would take me to the hospital.

Soon I had arrived back and was greeted by Jack and my mother as soon as I walked in the door. My Dad was close behind me with my suitcase in his hand. He did not usually come up to the door but tonight was different. He had to, no matter how much he dreaded the thought of having to hear my mother yell and claim was failing as a father. Quite ironic considering I was safer with my Father then at home with her and Jack. My Dad hugged and kissed me good-bye before he left.

My Mother, Jack and I would then head over to the Royal Alex Hospital to the Emergency department to have me looked at by doctor. After waiting in the waiting room for what seemed like hours, we were finally brought into a room in the back. A friendly red haired nurse helped me to get undressed and into a hospital gown. Once the doctor came into assess me, he immediately sent me off to x-ray, but not before giving me a needle for the pain. When I returned back to my room, the doctor was waiting for me. He said I would need to be admitted for observation for at least 3-4 day. I had broken my upper right arm very badly and they were concerned about internal bleeding due to the amount of swelling and redness that was getting worse as ever hour passed. He also explained that it would be a couple of days before they would be able to put a cast on and in that time I would be in a lot of pain. It would be better for them to admit me so that they could also keep my pain under control. I was excited at the chance to stay at the hospital. I knew that Jack would leave me alone while I was in there. I would be protected. Even if it was only protection by circumstance.