In Case of Emergency, Do Not Point Fingers…

It has been a while.

It has been a while since Emma needs to be examined by a doctor for being critically ill.

I thought I have seen the last of Emma and emergency cases since last she was hospitalized early 2005. But I was wrong. Very wrong.

On Sunday evening, 6 August 2006 at about 7.00pm, while I was with Ash, hubby preparing our Sunday evening meal, and Emma with her cousin outside, I heard a loud thud! The next thing I knew, I was on my feet and going out to see what happened. All I remember was Lane shouting about going to the hospital as she handed me Emma – Emma was crying and bleeding from the mouth and nose. Hearing the commotion, Hubby came from the kitchen and shouted at me, “What did you do?!”

And I remember saying quietly, “It’s not time to point fingers; let’s just go.”

We – Hubby, Lane, Ash and me with a bleeding and screaming Emma in my arms, hundled into the Kancil and headed to Kuching Specialist Hospital.

I remember praying that despite all the blood, nothing worst happened; I remember the smell of blood as it seeped onto my t-shirt; I remember that being at home, I did not have my bra on; I remember Lane sobbing while repetitively apologizing to Emma (and us?); I remember telling myself not to go into panic-mode and not to cry.

At the hospital, the MO on duty examined her and gave Emma some paracetamol to ease the pain. By then, my little Christmas Gift was screaming her hearts out and thrashing around as we tried to get her to take the medication – medication which, on normal circumstances she would gladly take.

Then the MO advised us two things:
Either they keep Emma in the hospital for a 24-hour observation Or have a CT Scan then and now to find out immediately if there are any internal injuries.

Hubby opted for the CT scan.

There were further screams and thrashing as the nurse administered an oral sedative for Emma to calm her down enough for the scan. A further wait of 30 minutes as Hubby when into the radiography room with Emma and the technician.

We had to wait a further 30min before the MO examined the result where she finally announced that she is calling the surgeon in for second opinion.

That was when my heart really sank and I thought maybe, just maybe I should let myself cry.

I guess in times like this prayers are men’s best friend because I must have said, asked, negotiate with God a whole lot while waiting at that emergency room. There were further pleadings and negotiation with God when Dr Wong (the surgeon) examined the scan.

It was nearly 10pm when I finally can smile when Dr Wong declared that there is nothing serious aside from the bruises. Just then, my sister and her hubby (lane’s parents) walked into the emergency room.

A week into the incident today, Emma’s left eye – which was swollen shut for two days, has turned black and is slowly turning yellowish. Her bad bump on the left side of her head has healed aside from the scratch from falling on the gravel. The left side of her nostril is cut and still red because it is not enough that she had to hurt herself, she has also caught the flu.

When I look at her now, I thank the Lord for keeping her from harm – serious harm. And I always ask of the Lord to keep her – and all my children, from harm.

And I also ask that no matter what, no matter when, God will always be with me so that I will not do anything that offends him.