Avery's Activity Days group was planning a bike ride for their June activity. Their plan was to set out from the church and bike dowtown to the Tridge, and then back. It was probably about a 7 mile loop, and I think they were all excited for the adventure. In order to go, each of the girls had to agree to wearing a bike helmet. Avery was not thrilled about this prospect. She had just gotten her hair cut with sassy, new bangs earlier that day, and I think she really wanted to preserve her "do". She almost didn't go. I think back about this often...if she hadn't gone at all, this whole accident wouldn't have happened. Then again, such important lessons have come as a result of her experience that have been really important to learn, so I realize that it was almost "meant to be".
First lesson learned: she swallowed her pride and wore the helmet...learning that rules are often made to protect us. Nothing accidental happens on purpose. If she hadn't been wearing her helmet, things would have been much, much worse. Being obedient helped keep her safe, and definitely reminded her that it's better to follow the rules than live with regret.
The girls made it to the Tridge, and were up and over it before the leaders. Avery was actually at the back of the pack, and there was some distance between her and her friend Kassie ahead. They took the westbound bridge over to the park portion of the downtown area which has a really steep hill sloping and turning sharply downward towards the park. Because she was so far behind, Avery thought she could make up some time by taking the hill fast, and kept pedaling when she should have started coasting. Her speed, combined with the turn just made her bike slip right out from under her. She said she just curled up into a ball when she knew she was falling. I think by doing this, she became tangled up with her bike and her legs must have gotten caught up with the chain/pedals/hard metal mechanics of the bike. When she finished rolling, she was on her back with her arms shielding her face. Miraculously, she didn't get a scratch or bruise anywhere else on her...nothing on her hands, elbows, etc. That's amazing to me. Some teenage girls had seen the whole thing happen, and started freaking out. Avery said they just kept saying, "Are you OK?!? What should we DO?!?" Avery was the level-headed thinker and said, "do you have a phone? Call my Mom." They did, but of course I didn't have my phone on me (no cracks about this please). I think they were a bit panicked and so as a result they immediately called 911. It's probably not the first thing I would have done, but I'm glad they did. It was serious enough that they needed to act quickly, and I'm glad they didn't hesitate to get my daughter medical attention.
By this time, Avery's friend Kassie had turned around to see where Avery was, and saw her laying on the ground with a small group around her. She rode back to see what had happened. When she saw the blood and her deep cuts, she sped off over the bridge to find the leaders. They all returned and the leaders assessed the situation. I feel so badly for those leaders. They must've just been in shock! Can you imagine being in charge of other people's children, and something like this happening?!? Without skipping a beat, one of the leaders somehow wrangled herself out of her tank top (under her shirt, mind you), and wrapped it around Avery's knee to keep the wound clean, apply pressure, and try and stop the bleeding while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. The other leader called my phone again. Still nothing. They tried Mark's phone next. Luckily, he answered.
We were sitting in the backyard watching Parker jump on the trampoline. I had just remarked to him that wouldn't it be fun to go and spy on Avery and the girls down by the Tridge to see how things are going. We have this long-standing joke about stalking our daughters at public events such as dances, sporting events, eventually dates, etc. and having it go down something kind of like this: (usually in some hillbilly red-neck drawl), "Hi honey, we just wanted to make sure everything's okay...we'll just be over here if you need anything...(pointing in big gestures to our hiding spot)." I think I sub-consciously knew that something had happened. I think Avery popped into my head at the precise moment she needed me. Even though I didn't feel a sense of alarm or urgency, I was thinking about her and what she was doing. Isn't that interesting?
Lesson two learned: listen to the still, small voice. Even when you have no reason to feel alarmed or scared, sometimes the Holy Spirit is preparing you for what comes next. I never felt any fear, but I did feel like I was being kept calm and blessed with a clarity of mind.
Anyway, the leader on the phone was very calm and informed Mark that Avery had taken a spill and that she needed to be picked up because she wouldn't be able to ride the rest of the way home. It wasn't until the end of the conversation that she also told him that the ambulance was also on it's way. WHAT THE?!? We both realized at that moment that this was more than just a small scrape on the knee. We grabbed Parker and jumped in the car down to the Tridge. As we got closer, the knot in my stomach grew. I didn't know what to expect, but I was somehow calm and able to think clearly at the same time.
We got there, and couldn't see them anywhere. We started walking the trail and eventually saw the paramedics, and all the activity day girls crowded around Avery on the ground. Those poor activity day girls! They were all so worried for poor Avery. Some of these girls were only 8 years old! I found out later that it was the first activity for one of the newer girls. Haha! What a way to kick things off! She was probably traumatized. When we got closer to the scene, we were able to assess the damage.
I'd never seen anything like it. There were 2 deep cuts. One was long, and the other was short in the shape of a triangle. They had stopped the bleeding, and so you could see white material inside the wound. It wasn't the bone. The cuts had actually happened just under and to the side of her knee cap, but it had gone down to the fatty tissue layer beneath the skin. It looked like hamburger, and it was full of gravel. She was definitely going to need some help cleaning it out, and some serious stitches. The paramedics explained everything to us, got her up on the gurny and started her towards the ambulance. They asked us if they wanted them to drive her, and we both agreed. There's no way we could've gotten her all the way to our car in her condition. She was tough! Her leaders said she didn't cry once, until we got there and then I think she let some of her emotion come out. Even then, she was really strong and didn't fall apart. I could tell she was scared, the color was completely gone from her face and looked like she was cold and nauseated. It was good we were getting her to the ER.
When we arrived, they checked us in and got the wounds cleaned up and ready for her stitches. They also took an x-ray of her knee and ankle to make sure nothing was broken. Her ankle had a puncture wound and lots of swelling around it. Mark had called our old home teacher to come and assist in giving her a blessing. He also took Parker and picked up Maryn from YW to take back to his house while we waited for the Dr. 3 hours later, the Dr. finally got her stitches in...22 in total!! Wow! He prescribed an antibiotic, had her in a leg splint, and on crutches, and gave us some extra dressings for the road. Who knew she would come home from an activity days night like this?!?
Lesson three learned: Mark didn't hesitate to use his priesthood power to bless Avery with healing and comfort. He called the first person he could think of...our home teacher (which testifies of how well he was doing his calling)...and he was able to drop everything and serve us. It was so comforting knowing that our other girls were well taken care of, and that Avery was now blessed to make a full recovery. (Later on, I heard from some leaders at Girl's Camp that Avery actually talked about the blessing she received in the ER that night during her testimony at camp. I'm so grateful that this experience actually ended up strengthening her testimony, and bringing her closer to her Heavenly Father and Savior. Isn't it true that sometimes the worst of situations brings us closer to heaven than ever before?
Over the next few days and weeks, Avery has been on her back most of the time. She has needed constant care and attention, which of course, she loves! It's been good to be able to give it to her. She is usually such an independent, sometimes guarded person, so this has opened all kinds of doors for communication and affection. I realize that this has helped all of our relationships to become closer. In the midst of humility and vulnerability, true bonds of love and forgiveness can flourish. Thank heavens for that!
Status update to date: She has had the stitches removed, some butterfly bandages are still on it, but for the most part the wound is closed up and healing. There is still swelling around her ankle, but that will go away with time. She still needs to take bending and activity easy, but she is on the mend! What an experience!
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| Avery's selfie after getting her BANGS cut! She asked for "Emma Stone" bangs. :) |
