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I have to say this is the last thing a mother wants to deal with on Mother's Day.

Yesterday my lads and a couple of friends were up fishing and hiking in the canyon. They decided they wanted to cross the river and go hike on the opposite ridge. Now, my son Charles has been hunting that canyon for years with me and he knows my only fear is crossing rivers. I am dreadfully affraid of slipping on the rocks and falling in. I have always told him I would rather walk a mile up or down the river to cross safely than to try to wade across. That is just me, but it seems mother knows best.

Well, the 4 lads were crossing and Charles slipped and went down and smashed his head on a rock. I am thankful that my youngest son Brandon and his 2 friends were there as this could have ended very badly. They pulled him to the bank and got him out of the water then applied pressure to his wound on his head. Thankfully they were in an area where there was cell phone service so they can call 911 and me. After a long rescue effort by the Dayton Fire and EMT's they got him back across the river. I have to say what an awesome team of fireman and EMT's we have here.

At the ER he received over 20 stitches to his head and a severe dislocation of his wrist (8 places) He is off to surgery this afternoon to repair the wrist. Poor kid, he is right handed and it is his right hand. Hopefully he will heal well as he is majoring in Criminal Justice to become a cop and that is his shooting hand.

I have to say this, if it means anything at all, that I am very thankful that my kids and the 2 lads that were there with them knew what to do and remained calm. Part of this I will credit to what they are taught in hunter saftey and having parents that hunt, fish, and share their outdoor knowledge with their kids. We never want to ever think that this will happen to our own, but I am so glad that I taught my kids what to do if there is an emergency on the mountian.

I am including a pic of his head before and after the stitch job. Don't look if you are faint of heart. It went all the way down to the skull.

Thats ugly. I wish all of you the best.

Ouch. Glad he'll be OK.

Come on boys. Its only a scratch. He couldve cast with the other hand and got his mates to clean the fish for him till they decided to go home. Couple of band aids and bobs ur uncle. Right as rain.

(aussie humour)


It does look as if he would have had a bit of a head ache.

Ouch! good thing he was with buddies and not out there alone. Glad he is going to be ok.

wow nice little gash he has there glad he is ok though

Thank you for all the well wishes. He had surgery Monday on his wrist. It was more damaged than they initially thought. He blew everything out. They had to open it up on both sides and re-attatch everything, the ligaments, tendons, and reset 8 dislocations with 3 pins. He is resting well and the pain is moderate. Poor kid is in for a long road to recovery. 8 weeks in a cast then back into surgery to have the pins removed then physical therapy after that. There goes his summer. He just got out of college last Friday.

Well only the best wishes for your boy Tessa. I hope his recovery and rehab goes well.

Sorry to hear about the bad luck Charles had crossing the river--looks like it hurt plenty! What little I was around him he seemed like a really respectful and nice kid. Tell Charles ol' Ike wishes him a speedy recovery.

ike

Charles is on the mend, but still has a long way to go for recovery. His head is healing good. Here are some pics of his wrist 10 days post op. He got a new cast on yesterday too. Will go back in 3 weeks for another new cast. He will be in a cast a total of 8 weeks then has to have 4 to 6 weeks physical therapy. Poor kid's summer is pretty much done before it got started.