Daughter in surgery

[Nate Pruitt]

My 5 year old, Gabriella, took a dive off the top bunk last night playing in her room. The result was a broken elbow. She is now in surgery getting two pins put in. Her first surgery, and hopefully only one- at least for a long time. She has an Autism Spectrum Disorder & can't easily communicate how she feels, which will be important post op, too. We appreciate prayers for her safety & healing as well as for our wisdom & understanding in the days to come. Thank you!

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Nate, be sure to check back in with an update when you get a chance. It's tough when it's our kids who are hurt.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Praying for Gabriella, as well as her mom and dad.

[Diane Likens]

Bless her little heart! You can bet I'll be praying for her as well as for you.

[Jim Franklin]

Precious Heavenly Fathe and Brother Jesus, here is your little cherub, Gabriella, with a need for Your almighty supreme Physicians touch and mercy, I ask that You will bind up the wound and mend the bones affected for Your honor and glory and do bless Nate and his wife as they comfort, minister to and guide her in the days to come, all according to Your will, Amen.

[John Reilly]

It is an unnerving noise to hear a child fall from the top bunk. At children's camp it happens almost every summer. This summer no different. The boy was ok and no hospital visits were needed. The teenage CIT was so frightened ... he held his breathe until the counselor asked the boy if he was ok. Then everyone could breath again. Several years ago I told my now 88 year old father that I forbid him sleeping in the top bunk. My brother took the bunk beds for his children so my father would not be tempted. My father sleeps mostly in the recliner and it does not matter if it is day or night.

[Nate Pruitt]

It is an unnerving noise to hear a child fall from the top bunk. At children's camp it happens almost every summer. This summer no different. The boy was ok and no hospital visits were needed. The teenage CIT was so frightened ... he held his breathe until the counselor asked the boy if he was ok. Then everyone could breath again. Several years ago I told my now 88 year old father that I forbid him sleeping in the top bunk. My brother took the bunk beds for his children so my father would not be tempted. My father sleeps mostly in the recliner and it does not matter if it is day or night.

I had one little boy go off a top bunk twice in the same week of kid's camp when I was a counselor. He was fine both times... and then got a welt above his eye falling headlong into a windowsill. I sheepishly explained what happened to his mom, she laughed and said he did stuff like that all the time.

[Nate Pruitt]

UPDATES:

Sorry I took so long to respond. Naznet needs a mobile version. The initial post proved challenging enough on my phone. When I got home I went to sleep because I hadn't slept since Monday morning (and had only managed 3+ hours Sunday night, and another 3 Saturday night... 6 hours of sleep over 56+ hours pretty much did me in). I got another 3 hours, hahaha.

When they got the dye in the cartilage and fracture it became clear that the damage wasn't terrible to the joint, and was actually on the surface of the joint, not through it. This means that there is ZERO damage to her growth plates nor any that will directly impact her range of motion (once she can move it again). She had 2 pins inserted directly, no incision was made to do any further work, so ultimately she may get out with only a couple small scars and potentially none at all. The orthopedic surgeon is one of the best pediatric orthopedic surgeons in the nation, and he was very confident about how things went and greatly encouraged.

A major blessing was that today was a full OR day, and we obviously weren't scheduled as we'd arrived during the night in the ER. That meant that Gabriella's surgery could have happened any time they could squeeze her in during the day. The surgeon came in, seemed greatly impacted by meeting Gabriella and knowing that she had to deal with added confusion in being there (interactions) due to her Autism. He opted to do her surgery first thing that morning, so she had the first slot in the OR. This also meant we got to go home and rest, arriving home before noon. Many blessings throughout!

Thank you all for your prayers! Now we begin the journey of healing and recovery. Should make the start of home-schooled Kindergarten on Wednesday interesting since the cast is on her dominant arm and hand. :/

[Nate Pruitt]

Gabriella decided on night two that she is a big girl and no longer sleeps on the couch downstairs. So she returned to her bunk and went to sleep. She has been sleeping very well and is getting used to the cast. She hasn't acted like she has much pain, but she has an extremely high pain threshold! Especially today she has been very active and smiling! She is using her fingers quite a bit on the cast hand, which is a great sign for her healing potential! Thank you for continued prayers as she continues to heal.

[Peggy Gray]

How is she doing?

[Nate Pruitt]

She has been very giggly and happy. However, she is very silly. Part of her Autism is sensory seeking, so when she's happy she loves to bounce/hop/jump. Yesterday she decided to knock over one of the back cushions to the couch and bounce on it for a while. She fell backwards off the couch, landing on her bottom and then both elbows. Now the elbow and pins are in a cast, which took the brunt of the hit, but she was obviously unhappy with the results for a little while. Within fifteen minutes she wanted to resume bouncing. We had to help her understand the need for some self restraint as best we could.

When her parents have gone completely gray in the next couple years we'll all know why.

[Nate Pruitt]

Gabriella just headed out for her one week check up with mommy (daddy and the boys are at home). This is where we get more nervous, because she really does hate doctors' offices. She has her worst freak outs in these instances.

[Nate Pruitt]

The check out actually went very well. Gabriella was generally calm, despite falling asleep on the way there- and who isn't grumpy coming out of an eight minute nap? The elbow looks good, the pins are in position, cast comes off in three weeks and there is no planned physical therapy because things are going well and there shouldn't be any need for PT. We're very thankful. Many praises to our Lord and Healer!

[Nate Pruitt]

Today the cast was removed from Gabriella's arm as were the two pins in her elbow. She handled the cast removal fairly well, but getting the pins out and dressing was very traumatic. She doesn't like having wraps or bandages on at all. The cast, to her logical mind, was not something she could remove so she was tolerant of it, but at this point in the process she is distressed. The end result is that today proved so traumatic that she put herself to bed at 5:15 this evening, allowed us to wake her for dinner, ate, cried some more, and put herself back to bed before 7:00. To create a frame of reference we typically have to give her a few items, a prescription drug and OTC Melatonin, to get her to go to sleep each night or she just won't. Sleep problems are common for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Clearly she is really stressed. Just another full day of the elbow being wrapped and she should just have a couple scabs that won't be a major problem. Prayers still welcome and needed. Praying she sleeps through the whole night and that we can successfully redress the wounds in the morning!

[Susan Unger]

Today the cast was removed from Gabriella's arm as were the two pins in her elbow. She handled the cast removal fairly well, but getting the pins out and dressing was very traumatic. She doesn't like having wraps or bandages on at all. The cast, to her logical mind, was not something she could remove so she was tolerant of it, but at this point in the process she is distressed. The end result is that today proved so traumatic that she put herself to bed at 5:15 this evening, allowed us to wake her for dinner, ate, cried some more, and put herself back to bed before 7:00. To create a frame of reference we typically have to give her a few items, a prescription drug and OTC Melatonin, to get her to go to sleep each night or she just won't. Sleep problems are common for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Clearly she is really stressed. Just another full day of the elbow being wrapped and she should just have a couple scabs that won't be a major problem. Prayers still welcome and needed. Praying she sleeps through the whole night and that we can successfully redress the wounds in the morning!

Feel for her greatly. I had to have a port-a-cath in me for 6 months. I wanted to rip it out every single second of those six months. I don't like things messing with my skin or person like this AT ALL. The trauma is still a strong memory for me 8 years later.

[Nate Pruitt]

She's been up since about forty past midnight our time. For the most part she has remained bright-eyed and giggly throughout the day. Hoping a bath will be an option Saturday. Good to hear her being happy again.

[Cynthia Prentice]

So glad to hear she is doing better. My two nieces and my nephew are all on the autism spectrum...and they are all teenagers now. Their mom was killed in a car accident in 2001 and I love them like they were my own kids. I sent them back to their dad a few weeks ago. They were with us for two months. I will be keeping your little girl in our prayers...and you and your wife too. I can't imagine my life without them and it has been such an adventure seeing them grow and the stages they have gone through. The oldest will graduate from highschool this year. Keep us posted on how your precious one is doing.

Blessings,

Cynthia