Because, my sweet boy, R, broke his back. Seriously, I'm having a hard time processing those 4 words...R broke his back. It's been diagnosed as a Pars stress fracture. It was explained to me by the pediatric orthopedic doc that a stress fracture is an injury that occurs over time from over usage. He's 12...over usage? If that's the case, I should be in a full body cast. Anyway...his back had probably started weakening months earlier and wrestling most likely sealed the deal. Ugh. His pain first surfaced 4 weeks ago, and his coach, the school trainer and we, his parents, chalked it up to a muscular strain (have you ever seen the positions those wrestlers get into?).
We allowed him to "work through it" for 2 weeks...even participating in a meet, before we decided to take a break from practices to allow it to rest and heal. He just wasn't improving, and was still in pain, so we took him to see a doc. Check out this AWESOME full body bone scan...we were all huddled around the computer oogling R's very impressive skeleton. I may have to blow this one up poster size for Halloween...
One bone scan, one CT scan and a custom $1300 back brace later...it's broken. I feel so terrible that we allowed him to continue wrestling as long as we did. We never dreamed...NEVER.
God is good...this could have been disastrous...so much worse. He is healing now...in good hands...and, in good spirits (despite the fact that wrestling season is over for him and the upcoming baseball season (his true love) is a no-go, too.
He is still totally mobile, although he will be wearing the back brace for 23 hours/day for 3-5 months. The bummer is...no sports, PE, or strenuous activity...but, on the bright side (for a 12 year old)...we're talking about lots of video games, tv, movies, and books.
Mom's prescription...lots of TLC....
Yards and yards of bubble wrap...
And, maybe one of these...
i am so sorry. it could have been worse though. only you could make it look so cute. let us know if you need anything!
Posted by: Erin Vale | February 20, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Oh! I am really sorry to read this! Think positive, he is young and he will be good for sure! I loved the idea of rolling down the hill inside that giant bubble!:D
~R.
Posted by: Rita | February 20, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Oh my gosh, this sounds so scary. Hope he is ok. Sending healing thoughts his way.
Perrin
Posted by: Perrin | February 20, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Sweet Ri. Let the healing begin... xo, nimi
Posted by: MikPink | February 20, 2009 at 05:56 PM
So sorry for R, but I feel even worse for Mom & Dad! Silly me, to think I've been worrying about my K, who just has pink eye!Try not to worry, he's a kid! Take care, my thoughts are with you!
Posted by: Jane | February 21, 2009 at 11:56 AM