When you're a parent of boys, it's only a matter of time before you make a trip to the A&E so I'm told. I always imagined it to have involved scaling mountains, dirt-biking or some other death-defying act to warrant a trip to the emergency room. However, it turns out, practicing your forehand by yourself at the tennis court can result in an injury serious enough to warrant stitches.
My littler man was in a corner of the court while his brother and friends were working on their strokes on the other end. He apparently took a swing at a ball, spun around and lost his balance, landing on his chin. I didn't even witness it but turned to see my little one sprawled on the floor wailing his head off. When I ran to him, he lifted his face and I saw the blood trickle out and there was a lot of it. I didn't really need to look to know he needed stitches but look I did just to confirm what my gut already told me.
There was a time I was utterly convinced that I was the squeamish sort who would pass out or throw up at the sight of an open wound. Perhaps God made me of sterner stuff than I realised since I was able to calmly staunch the wound and soothe my son while waiting for Len who was rushing back from buying coffee and breakfast near by! Praise God for that!
God also provided for us in the form of our friend Terence who happens to be an A&E doctor and happened to be on duty that day. We were also so grateful for friends like the Ngs and Norohnas whose children were taking tennis lessons with ours as they helped look after Zachary while we headed to the hospital.
Even though little children are usually directed to KK hospital for such procedures since sedation was often necessary, I decided that I needed a familiar face and I believed that God would help Eli get through the whole thing. I was so thankful that we didn't have to wait long after registering at the hospital since seeing my poor little baby in such a sorrowful state made my heart ache. He was so good while we were signed in and he got onto the gurney by himself. Though he was nervous, he wasn't hysterical, in fact he was stoic for most of the time that Terence was preparing the equipment. He had to have 2 shots of local anesthesia to numb both halves of the split. The first shot went off with a loud and very painful yell. It took him a little while to calm down and a little quick thinking on Terence's part to sneak the 2nd shot. I was so tense throughout as I sat on the gurney with Eli's legs draped over my knee his hand in mine. Len and I were so proud at how very brave he was. We didn't need to hold him down or restrain him in any way, keeping him talking about Jurassic World seemed to be enough. 3 stitches later, Eli got his request for a plaster and he was almost good as new.
When I woke up that morning, I never thought I'd be at the A&E a few hours later. It just goes to show that life really is so unpredictable but God knows it all and provided for us in such a generous way. I don't think we would have been able to have felt so peaceful and comfortable during this ordeal if it weren't for his guidance and presence each step of the way. All glory to our God!
