Daddy Broke Ankle, Big Band Aid

Seattle has had a record 10 inches of snow over the last few days. Due completely inadequate snow removal strategies, for days the streets have been covered in compact snow and ice that refreezes every night causing hazardous conditions every morning.

On the way to work Monday morning Dad went out to clean off his car, slipped in the street and "sprained" his ankle. After picking himself up off the street he continued off to work, limping his way through the day. Not to be deterred, he continued on Tuesday with a survey of the Seattle University Campus requiring a good 3/4 mile of walking.

Tuesday afternoon we headed down to Enumclaw for Christmas in advance of yet another snowstorm. Orthopedic surgical nurse Grandma Pat took a skeptical look at Dad's "sprained ankle" pulling Mom aside insisting he needed an xray, Dad refused.

Around 5am the next morning, Christmas Eve, Mom was up with Hank and Grandma insisted again that Dad needed an xray. Since we have had more than a few medical bills lately (Hank's birth, Ella's ER visit) Mom was not too excited to send Dad to the ER. A plan was hatched in which Auntie Cary (also a nurse) would sneak Dad into her office for an xray and then bring it to the hospital where Grandma was assisting Dr. Bishop in surgery that morning. Just in case, Dad was not supposed to drink or eat anything. Deprived of his morning coffee Dad was not a happy camper (to say the least), still insisting his ankle was sprained and not to make a big deal about it!

The xray was taken and Dad's first words to Auntie were something along the lines of: "Damn, your Mom was right!" His ankle clearly broken, even to the layman, the smaller bone snapped and now at an odd angle. Being that Enumclaw is a small hospital and Grandma is a well known nurse there, Dad was fast tracked into surgery around noon.

He was delivered home around 4pm with crutches, a splint, Vicodin and strict instructions to remain off it for 6 weeks. At every chance Ella parrots: "Daddy Broke Ankle, Big Band aid." Seeing as how we have a newborn baby and spirited toddler to care for, we aren't sure Mom is going to survive the next few weeks.


Before surgery, still smiling (and handsome in a gown)!

Does that look like a sprain to you?