As much as possible, we try to remain accident-free on our farm. We know there are many circumstances where an accident just could not be prevented, but for all intent and purposes, we try very hard to stay safe.
As our kids grew up on the farm, there were the usual little scrapes and bruises, with a couple of mishaps requiring a trip to the doctor. One time a few stitches at the hairline was necessary. When we did need attention, we always received the very best care.
Years ago, we dealt with a traumatic ordeal that, thinking back on it, makes me shudder to this day. I was cleaning out a calf pen and thought my oldest, at that time just a little tyke, was close by, playing with the kitties. I recall the barn was empty. All of a sudden, I heard sobbing; my momma-alert kicked into high gear. It was our dear one running down the middle of the barn aisle. I threw open the calf door, dropped the scraper and ran. Kneeling down, I reached out to him. He was crying, “Mommee, Mommeee, Mommeeee!”
I could see he was holding his face near his eye and with a sinking heart I smelled the alkaline solution we use to wash the milkers. It dawned on me he had sprayed that awful acid on his tender, precious face and worse, dangerously close to his eye.
Trying to keep him calm but wasting no time, I scooped him up by the waist and ran back into the milkhouse, immediately dousing his face and eyes with water, lots of water, all the while he was screaming, scared and in pain. Later the doctor said my quick thinking probably saved his eye. Quick thinking? It was a mother in action.
While I was driving to the ER, my husband called them to let them know what they would be dealing with. As he was on the phone to them, he was astounded to hear us in the background. I had gotten us to Shawano in 12 minutes and that was the old Highway 29.
Leaving so quickly, I had not bothered to change. I literally had the lingering odor and effects of my body being very close to many calves one quarter of an hour before I was standing in the middle of a hospital emergency room. I didn’t care. Not one bit. The nursing/doctor staff either did not notice or they did not care. Everyone was concerned with their small patient lying on a cot before them.
They tried to hold him down and keep his eye open to rinse the area completely clean, wanting to douse it. Our little one would have none of it, squeezing his eyes so tightly shut and thrashing around for all he was worth. They had no recourse but to sedate him.
As the anesthesiologist was prepping my son I pointedly looked at him and said hoarsely, “This child is more precious than life itself so don’t mess up!” Honestly, I don’t know where that came from. It was in the depth of me, somewhere, and I was floored that I said it because I thought I had just thought it!
The anesthesiologist probably went home that night shaking his head at this forthright family. He kept calling our son Tiger. He’d say, “OK, Tiger, I’m going to clean this spot right here on your arm, first.” And then, “Now Tiger, I’m going to stick this needle in your arm and it’ll prick for just a little bit, OK? Tiger, you ready?”
My son, eyes squeezed shut, face red and streaked with tears, piped up, “I’m NOT a tiger; I’m a little BOY!” Everyone in the ER held back giggles because let’s face it, this little kid was more like a tiger, but I think they admired his feistiness and sheer honesty!
The medicine did its trick; it was administered without incident. They could then hold his eye completely open, rinsing it and the affected area over and over.
Our son ended up with no residual effect from the acid, amazingly. The doctor and nurses were calm and efficient and commended me for immediately flushing with water. It was exactly what I should have done. It was common sense. Get that stuff off my little boy as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, accidents as our children grew up on the farm were few and far between. Accidents do happen; they’re a part of life. I so appreciate completely capable and very tolerant professionals to turn to when they do.
(“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.” Jeremiah 27:14)
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