Just One Of The Reasons I Have Always Freaked My Mom Out

Hey, check it out – my mom started blogging before she died!

Ok, so maybe not.

But she did start writing stuff down for our family before she dies and sent me something recently that covered many of the stories that I have told here on this very blog from her point of view.

Here is the first excerpt from her writings about stories of what happened when I was young. Sam and Brock – love you, and yes, someday I will print this all out and give it to you.

This first excerpt has to do with playing in traffic. Here is my mom’s account (exactly as she wrote it) of what happens when a 6 year old gets hit by a truck.

Yes, I was the 6 year old.

One day I will never forget …

I sent you and Jason down the country road to get your babysitter. There were no houses between our house and hers and I could see you about half way there. Clinton was asleep and I decided to run upstairs and clean the bathroom. As I was cleaning a thought came to me that I should go downstairs and look out the window. I kept cleaning. I was almost finished I thought and I just saw the boys, they were fine. The thought would not leave me, so I went downstairs.

Just as I looked out the window, I saw a truck hit you.

You rolled and then up you went running toward home. An older man was chasing you and caught you. I was running toward you and heard the man yelling CALL AN AMBULANCE.

I ran inside and could not even think. Shaking so hard I dialed the hospital in Driggs and told them we needed an ambulance.

There were no cell phones then but I knew your dad was in Tetonia finishing a job and called there and told the person to tell Leon his son had been hit by a truck and meet me at the hospital. They said they would try to find him.

I ran back outside just as the old man laid you down on our sidewalk.

Get towels.

Hurry.

Where is the ambulance?

When I returned with the towels and saw what had happened to my Justin, I thought I would faint.

Your forehead was smashed in on one side and your eye was bulged out and there was blood everywhere. The old man said Youll have to drive us to the hospital NOW.

Right, I thought.

I grabbed the keys and got behind the wheel.

The old man held you tight and had pressure on the wound to try and stop the bleeding. I drove fast to town and when we arrived at the hospital they were waiting for you.

Driggs was just a little hospital and you were left on a gurney waiting to be put in the ambulance when your dad arrived. He was full of adrenalin. First thing he did was remind you that you were told never to go in the road. Told you a few other things and then just cried and told you how much he loved you. He gave you a priesthood blessing and they put you and me in the ambulance to go to Idaho Falls Hospital.

Leon said he would catch up with us. He went home to change and get cleaned up. Before we arrived to Idaho Falls which was an hour and a half away your dad had caught up with us. I was so happy to see him.

You were seen by the doctor and by then it was late at night by now and we were so tired and worried about you. After the exam and cat scan the Dr. told us you would need to have surgery. Your forehead bone had been broken and pushed into your brain. A very large blood clot had formed because of the time in traveling. He didnt know what would be effected by the trauma to the brain.

They took you into surgery right away.

Across the river from the hospital was a hotel that we went to. We called Grandma and Grandpa Orvin who lived in Mesa, AZ at the time and told them all that had happened. The Dr. told us to get a good nights rest because after the surgery they would have you intensive care. He was sure it would be mid morning before you even woke up and we could see you then.

I cried, your dad was so tender, too. What a horrible thing to have happened to our little boy. Leon assured me you were a tough little kid and everything would be fine. The phone rang at our hotel room and it was Grandpa Orvin. He asked if we could pick up Grandma at the airport in a few hours – she was on her way!

Grandma was an angel. No matter what ever happened she was our moral support. Grandpa and Grandma Orvin love you as much as I do. We had a king size bed for the 3 of us. I slept in the middle with Leon on one side and Grandma on the other.

It was a funny night for all of us as we lay there talking and crying and assuring each other.

The phone rang about 2am and Leon answered. It was ICU at the hospital. They said that Justin was awake sitting up in bed and wanted to see his daddy. We could not believe it! You did so well thru the surgery.

The next morning when Grandma and I got to the hospital you were wheeling around in a wheel chair. The Dr. told us he thought you were one lucky boy. He didnt think any damage had been done to the brain. The piece of bone on your forehead that was broken was removed. This meant in about 6 months you would have to have another surgery to put an artificial piece of bone in your forehead to protect your brain.

He gave strict instructions not to have you rough house or hit the place where he took out the bone. Leon took Grandma Orvin home with him to Driggs and she tended Jason and Clinton so Leon could work.

I stayed at the hospital with you for a few more days.

When we got home Mrs. Hillman came to visit and brought you a football helmet to wear for protection. She had several boys and knew youd love to wear one of their helmets. Im sure that was a blessing because I just couldnt see you not rough housing with Jason for 6 months. Let me tell you, it was a long 6 months watching over you! Your second surgery was done by a plastic surgeon. It went well and you were all fixed up ready to be normal again.

Mom, thanks for writing all of this stuff down!

Love you — as always.

Justin