I thought I was a careful guy...

CoachBoone · 01-22-2007, 01:58 PM

So last night we go to my daughter’s orchestra concert at a church in Beaverton. She plays double upright bass and is in the youth philharmonic here in Portland. My wife takes her early for warm-up/practice, and I drive out later. A couple hours of pretty good music later, we’re getting ready to pack up her bass and go home. My wife went on ahead of us in her car, as she had to get ready to go into work for a few hours. My daughter and I loaded her bass into the truck and drove home, where we met up with mom, as she was getting ready to go out the door to work. All of a sudden my daughter realizes that her cell phone and clip was missing off her belt loop, so we drove back to the church. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot and turned on my landing gear lights we saw it lying right next to the end parking spot that we parked in. As I shouted “There it is!” my daughter opened the back door and jumped out to go retrieve her beloved phone. At the same time, my son, who was sitting up front next to me, just answered a call from my wife, who was calling to see if we had any luck. All this time I was rolling toward the phone on the ground at about 5 mph. I remember feeling a bump, like I just drove over a rock, and it seemed weird that my daughter had not appeared in front of the now-stopped truck to grab her phone. A split second later she popped up, still outside her open door, with a pained look on her face. I asked her what happened and she said she fell when she jumped out. Of course I scolded her for jumping out of a moving truck, but assumed everything was ok. She climbed back in with her phone, and said she cut her finger when she fell getting out of the truck
We got home and after much grilling I find out that not only did she fall, but she fell in front of my rear wheel and it ran over her arm! As I did a cursory exam, I saw that she had some scrape marks on her arm, but no bruising or swelling. She assured me that she was only sore, and I sat there thinking about how much worse it could have been.
My wife got home at midnight and checked in on her, and she could not find any swelling either, but decided this morning to take her in for x-rays, just in case. It turns out she has a fractured wrist and some damage to her carpal tunnel cartilage area? She will be in a splint for 4-8 weeks, but everything should heal. I guess the lesson here is never assume that your kids are acting as cautiously as you’ve taught them to. Once I heard that back door pop open, I assumed she was just getting ready to hop out once I stopped. She knows better than to get out of a moving vehicle, but her adrenalin was surging, and she thought she could jump to the pavement safely. But one little trip and look what happened. And yes, I’ve thought about how much worse this could have turned out. Ever seen a 46 year old “tough guy” cry?

**Kronos1965** · 01-22-2007, 02:05 PM

I don't even know where to begin other than to first say, I'm so glad that nothing worse happened. Secondly, you're right, you can be as cautious as you can and still have something happen.

My sister's neighbor watched as his kids were playing in the yard and one of them pushed the garage door. The other kid tried to run under the door and was killed when his neck was caught-an act no one could have foreseen for sure.

I am surprised to read that after you learned that your daughter's arm was under the truck, you didn't immediately get her to a checkup at a hospital. I hope that kind of decision making changes if there's a future mishap at your home.

Anyways, I hope recovery goes well.

**Blackbeauty** · 01-22-2007, 02:09 PM

Wow! That is horrible. I can imagine how you feel after hurting your own child! Caution is never enough in a parent's eye, but you can't watch them 100% of the time. Stuff will happen occasionally. Fortunately she was not severely injured. Serious wake-up call, though. Hope she has a full recovery....and soon! P.S. Don't blame yourself. They call them "accidents" for a reason.

**Carbeaux** · 01-22-2007, 02:18 PM

Man. That puts a lump in my stomach, and raises the hair on the back of my neck. I think mostly what makes me feel that way is that I know that but by grace alone, it could easily have been me or any of us with kids. Here's to hoping for her full recovery.

CoachBoone · 01-22-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronos1965

I don't even know where to begin other than to first say, I'm so glad that nothing worse happened. Secondly, you're right, you can be as cautious as you can and still have something happen.

My sister's neighbor watched as his kids were playing in the yard and one of them pushed the garage door. The other kid tried to run under the door and was killed when his neck was caught-an act no one could have foreseen for sure.

I am surprised to read that after you learned that your daughter's arm was under the truck, you didn't immediately get her to a checkup at a hospital. I hope that kind of decision making changes if there's a future mishap at your home.

Anyways, I hope recovery goes well.

Yeah, sometimes you think you've drilled everythintg into their heads, and here's proof that all reason can go out the window aometimes.
I should have taken her in last night. I've had years of first aid training, CPR, the works. Did a thorough cursory and she said she was only sore where her finger got cut, but hairline fractures don't have to swell up like a balloon.
Trust me, I'll be erring on the side of caution from now on.

Antihero · 01-22-2007, 02:31 PM

Im sorry to hear that. Everyone is ok though so that is good. I remember my mom ran over my foot once, she was pissed at me though and didnt seem to even care, lol.

37L1 · 01-22-2007, 02:41 PM

Lightheaded and nauseous freaking out on what could have happened, going over and over it again in your head each time giving yourself a swift kick.

Oh yeah, we've all been there in some form or another.

Glad her injury is only something that will heal in time.

God bless you brother!

**nytitan1** · 01-22-2007, 02:49 PM

a parents worst nightmare hope she has a speedy recovery dont be too hard on yourself it was an accident and she will be ok.

DRTYAZN · 01-22-2007, 03:19 PM

Man... I feel your pain and concern CB, my 4 yo boy decided he was a big boy so he wanted to get down by himself from my Titan last week as well... he can climb up in it no problems, so I thought he would be fine coming down... nope, he did a single leg hang up on the step tube, twist to the side, land on his back, face-up move. I stood and watched with no expression, thinking, he cracked his head... he got up dusted himself off and said, "see I can do it! I'm a big boy!" Of course, for the next five minutes or so, I gave him the thorough look over and luckily he had no scrapes or bumps, however I was scared sh!tless when he fell. Thanks for sharing with us.

Quartz · 01-22-2007, 03:35 PM

Wow! That put a big lump in my throat. I'm glad to hear that your daughter is going to be OK. I can't imagine how you must feel right now. Good Luck

Aquaholic · 01-22-2007, 03:41 PM

That is horrible. I hope she heals well and has learned to be patient. I bet next time you hear a door pop you stop.

baggettp · 01-22-2007, 03:59 PM

Glad she's ok. I was expecting you to say that you ran over her phone.

**Blackbeauty** · 01-22-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggettp

Glad she's ok. I was expecting you to say that you ran over her phone.

That's what I was thinking. Now that the story is done, I kind of wish he had.....

tnbowhunter · 01-23-2007, 09:27 AM

Sorry to hear about that coach, I know it just makes you sick. Don't beat yourself up over it, it's just one of those things that happen to the best of us. I'm just glad that it wasn't a lot worse. Hope she has a speedy recovery.

rico387 · 01-23-2007, 07:30 PM

Coach, I have no doubt that you are a careful guy and a good Dad. Your grief when sharing this story with others speaks volumes. When I drive my 44,000 lb. fire engine the policy is: no personnel exits the truck until I put it in neutral and set the air brake. This has come about because of people getting run over. As you may expect, with a truck this big the results are big. My wife (the lovely Mrsrico387) never understood why I stop and put our Titan in park before she can get out, even if it is to check the mail on the way into our rural driveway. Thanx for your testament.