Five Stitches

Monday, August 08, 2011

Five Stitches

You know I was distracted when I don't have pictures to show. The same night Peter learned to ride his two-wheeler, Ammon was out on his bike. Unfortunately, Ammon crashed and we had our first experience taking a child to the Emergency Room. I heard what sounded like it could be Ammon hurt just outside my window. But knowing Andrew was out there, I wasn't too concerned - until Andrew called out, "Jenny, I need your help!"

I went out to see what was wrong and found Ammon on the ground with several children surrounding him. Andrew said, "He cut his leg and it's so deep I can see his bone."

The first thing I pictured was an accident I remember from my days in elementary school. There was a boy who tripped on a sprinkler head and broke his ankle. The broken bone punctured through his skin and stuck out of his leg. The whole thing was very gruesome. Picturing that, I was surprised to break through the crowd and find Ammon there with very little evidence of a problem. He had a gash about an inch or so long on his shin. It really wasn't even bleeding. But as I peered into it I could see that there was something white and I realized that it was deep enough that Ammon probably did need to get into the hospital.

Andrew ran to his car to get his first responder kit. He wanted to clean and bandage it, but Ammon was in pain and we are about three minutes away from the hospital, so I told him to just get Ammon some Tylenol and then take him to the ER. (Later I was told that cleaning it would have been the right thing to do.) I stayed home with Peter while Andrew took Ammon to the Emergency Room at Primary Children's Hospital. Within moments of arriving, Ammon was happily playing with the Lego's in the waiting room. He got called back fairly quickly and was given five stitches. Andrew said that they considered giving him a sedative to help him stay calm and still during the stitches, but Andrew encouraged them to just explain in detail what they were doing. He was confident that Ammon would stay still if he just knew what was happening. They compromised by having the sedative on hand, but went ahead without it. Andy said the staff was all amazed and impressed with how good Ammon was through the procedure.

Ammon came home happy as a clam. I tried to take some video of him, but he was so distracted with the thrill of the adventure, and the new "toy" he received from the doctor. A week later I took Ammon back to get the stitches removed and now he just has a big scab on his leg. I don't think we could have asked for an easier "emergency" than what we got. Over seven years into parenting with this being our worst story to tell - this experience is leaving me feeling pretty lucky.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.