My baby had a Fractured leg – Yes you read that right! -

It only took one little slip up for it to happen. My beautiful 6 month old baby boy had a fractured leg and it was all my fault. Fathers day started like any other day, waking Mark up, sitting on the bed, chatting, laughing and being together. Rallying the kids together holding Arthur, we made our way downstairs. Except I slipped. Slipped down 5 steps and then I heard it, the high pitch wail and scream from Arthur. Straight away I picked him up and cuddled and soothed him. Mark came running took him off me and went back upstairs.

I broke my son’s leg

Laying him on the bed and checking him over, he seemed absolutely fine. Doing a secondary survey, I started to check him over. Head fine, he didn’t bump that. His arms were fine, stomach fine, back fine. Right leg fine, left leg left him extremely uncomfortable and in pain. He winced, cried and withered it was pure heartbreaking! He settled quickly, speaking to Mark we decided something was not quite right and so we phoned 111, a free NHS advice and support service. They advised a visit to A&E and so we got dressed and off we went. Within an hour of slipping down the stairs, Arthur and I were waiting in the waiting room of A&E to be seen.

A visit to A&E

He seemed absolutely fine, as long as you didn’t touch his leg. He was smiling and giggling being his usual self. All I kept on thinking was, what if it was broken and it was all my fault! After waiting for about 15minutes we were seen in Triage. The lovely Nurse Magdalena (she was really lovely) assessed him and agreed an X-ray would be needed and we needed to see a DR.

Xray 🙁

After what seemed an age we were finally taken to X-Ray. They very quickly diagnosed a fractured tibia in his left leg and it would need a cast.

It was one of the worst moments in my life when they confirmed the fracture. The nurse had to put a backslab cast on his leg and watching him wriggle around was heartbreaking. It was my fault he was laying there and all because of a stupid fall!

After 4 hours in A&E I was told we were being admitted to the children’s ward for assessment. This is apparently standard procedure for all breaks and fractures in children under 18months old. We were coming up to breaching in A&E so we were told to wait outside and we would be shown the way to the ward. I couldn’t help but think we were being led into the corridors so they can remove our names from the waiting list.

About half an hour after we breached the 4 hour waiting time in A&E we were shown to a ward. Arthur was settled into a cot and I had a few moments to finally sit and re-live what happened. It was absolutely horrendous but thankfully Arthur was going to be okay.

Time to go home

At around 1.30pm the Dr came to see Arthur. He had asked plenty of questions about what had happened and thankfully agreed it was a big accident. Not long after his visit he discharged both of us. The DR said we needed to attend Fracture Clinic and that we would be notified by letter within 7-10 days.

It took ages for the discharge papers to be completed but thankfully we found a sensory room. Arthur absolutley loved looking at all the lights and bubbles and it was shame to have to go home.

When we were able to leave hospital Mark came to pick us up. We had come home and although it was Father’s Day he had cooked lunch. Mark and the boys had already eaten and thankfully they had plated both Arthur and I a plate of food.

The next couple of weeks are going to be tough!