Update

Leg Up

Mary & Phoenix

Round Pen

OK, for those of you who don't know the story.

This is how it goes...

About 7 weeks ago 

Mary was taking a lesson 

& doing some round pen work with Phoenix.

(Jaylan and Jericho were there to)

They worked on many things 

and at the end of the lesson they started doing some canter work.

Mary was having a little bit of  trouble 

keeping Phoenix going in a canter

and

keeping her feet in the stirrups.

(Phoenix's transitions aren't too smooth & Mary's balance not so great)

Well...

She was trying to keep balanced 

and "keep riding" 

(opposed to stopping the horse and putting her foot back in the stirrup)

It wasn't really working to well for her.

She was looking just a little odd hanging on one side of the horse

when ...

her instructor asked

"Mary, what are you doing?"

Mary responds...

"I'm trying to..."

PLOP

Over the opposite side of the horse

into the fence rail

and bouncing back under Phoenix, Mary went.

It appeared that Phoenix tried to miss her

but Mary's instinct

 was to try and 

get small.

Well, Phoenix first stepped on her with his front hoof

and then again with his back.

Now remember he is moving at a canter.

It gives me shivers 

just thinking about it again.

Those first few moments, I got to tell you were terrifying.

She was face down screaming...

"he got me"

All I could think 

was

"He has stepped on her back"

Ugggh...

the tears are welling up as I type this.

By the grace of God...

he didn't step on her back it was her left inside calf.

The same time Mary was coming off the horse

Judy was pulling up to the barn.

Judy just so happens to be a paramedic.

She got to Mary before I was out of the truck, 

and quickly 

assessed the situation.

Thanks to God

because I don't believe in coincidence! 

We all scooped her up...

and off we went.

It was the longest trip to the medical center I have ever had.

Her riding buddy, Jaylan

stayed by her side the whole time!

After a bunch of x-rays and a full examination 

it was determined that there were

NO fractures

just a really bad crush wound.

It was crutches and pain management for the next week.

And follow up with her Pediatrician.

Day 2

You can see the necrosis starting to setting in.

But this didn't stop Mary.

The day after her accident, she was back at the barn

wanting to make sure 

Phoenix was alright.  She didn't want him to 

"feel guilty."

She wanted to get back on her horse.

I had to put my foot down

"No Way"!

Wow... then came the water works.

I told her if she could stand on her leg long enough to groom Phoenix

and do her regular barn chores 

then "MAYBE"

I would let her ride little Miss Heidi Pickles.

You would have to put a stick of dynamite 

under Heidi's tail 

just to give you an extended walk.

Anyway...

the key word was

"Maybe"

I didn't think Mary could pull it off.

How WRONG was I.

So on day two...

Mary is right back up on the back of a horse.

She can't walk

but

she can RIDE!

Day 7 

Ok, she is walking a little bit...

but it is starting to look 

pretty BAD!

It got even worse than this...

So, we were back in to the see the Dr.

more x-rays

and a round of antibiotics.

and

Silver Sulfadiazine.

What the 

Dr. Ordered

Apply twice a day for 7-14 days as prescribed.

Well, we did this for 2 weeks.

And it started to look a little better.

It's Not So Bad

Yeah, well it isn't looking GREAT either!

Are You Sure?

Yes, I am sure!

What now?

We head back to the doctors office.

We are starting to get some VIP treatment from the Pediatrician's office now.

Two doctors at once.

I tell them that I am starting to get a little concerned.

A friend, who is a nurse

thinks she needs to see a wound specialist 

and that the wound needs 

to be derided.

One doc agreed with me and and thought they should send us to see a general surgeon

at Outer Banks Hospital.

(the same surgeon who botched my brothers collapsed lung)

I wasn't real crazy about this idea.

I think I would much rather go to CHKD for a second opinion.

The Sr. doctor thought that we needed another route

to start another round of antibiotics 

and continue the Silver Sulfadiazine Cream.

He also wanted us to start soaking her leg, often.

I guess 

to soften the necrotic area of the wound.

Then come back in

a week.

Soak

Logically, I know this is 

improving.

But, I gotta tell you...

this is my baby

and I don't like the looks of this

not one bit!

Next week this wound will be 2 months old.

 Yikes!

oops...

She took her leg out to eat dinner

and it aired out a little to much.

This defeats the purpose of soaking the leg just a little.

Time to soak again.

Wrap It Up

and ready to go!

This is our regiment...

clean, soak, apply cream & wrap.

Every morning and every evening.

So, we are once again 

we are

wrapped and ready to go.

What interesting things will this day bring?

As bad as this looks...

Mary hasn't skipped a beat though.

She still does all the things she would normally do.

Ride a horse and a bike

Play basketball

Run

Goof around and play with friends

With only an occasional complaint of pain.

As she says...

"Are you going to just sit there and bleed ...

like a cowboy 

or 

are you going to cowgirl up?"

That's my girl!

But she is 

still 

MY BABY

and I want this thing gone.

We know she is going to have a scar,

that we can live with

it is the other

complications that I am worried about.

Infection or permanent nerve & muscle damage.

This kid is crazy about sports

she needs all

the muscles she has! 

I am sure 

she will be fine.

We love her pediatricians.

However, when it comes to the well-being of my child

I am always going to go be the annoying parent.

She's my Baby!

So, keep her in your prayers and hope for a speedy recovery.

Guess where we are going now?