The Scariest Sunday Ever

This past Sunday, August 30, 2009 was a great day up until around 7:00 p.m.

We had gone to church in the afternoon (at our regular 1:00 p.m. time) and invited a few friends over to share dinner with us. We had Lilliana and her Aunt and two kids, Kara and Brennon, and the two missionaries. It was a full house when you add in our seven (Mark, Betsy, Jern Jern, Jessica, Devon, Marissa and Robert). We enjoyed African seasoned chicken and rice with a Italian Pasta salad, and various brownies for dessert.

Betsy, Devon and Jessica had to leave at 6:30 to take the kids to a church fireside. While they were gone, Mark was going to take our guests on a nature hike in the wood near our house. We live on a beautiful golf course that has a waterfall at the 16th hole. We go there often. One of our guest couldn't see well, so Mark stayed back with her and Lilliana and the babies, while Marissa and Robert lead our friends Kara and Brennon on the hike.

One of our favorite activities is to cross over a gigantic fallen tree that spans the width of the creek (river). The river bed is 10 feet below. We have to climb up the bank to get onto the tree and then walk over it to the other side. It's great fun to be out on the tree over the creek. Well, this particular Sunday, Marissa took the lead crossing the tree, but only a few steps out over the river bed, she lost her footing - she caught herself for a second and then fell 10 feet the the rocky water bed below. Even though I wasn't there to see it, I still tear up just thinking of it. She must have been so scared. She landed trying to catch herself with her arm extended, and then her bottom, and then the side of her head. Robert was right there when it happened and wanted desperately to catch her from falling but couldn't. He was very upset that he didn't stop her from falling (and later cried thinking, it was his fault). Poor guy! Luckily, Devon and I were able to convince Robert that if he had reached her, she would have probably pulled him down too - and we don't want that!

To finish up. Kara called Mark and told him about the accident. Mark drove over and picked up Marissa. Unfortunately, we had a dilemma ... Mark had driven everyone to our house. Now he had to drive them home before he could rush Marissa to the hospital. Marissa was in so much pain. I don't think anyone can understand that kind of pain unless they have had something similar happen. (When I was 12 and when I was 23 I broke my arms so I could relate to the pain).

At the same time, he was trying to call me, Jessica, Devon - anyone that would pick up - but since we were sitting on the front row of the chapel at the fireside we didn't answer our vibrating phones. We had no idea what was happening at home until 8:30. At that time, (I) Betsy gathered up Jessica and Devon, plus the two boys we drove to the fireside to race home.

Mark came home around 11:00 p.m. with Marissa in a splint and sling. She broke both her Radius and Ulna. By trying to stop the fall with her outstretched arm, she snapped both bones. She actually was very lucky that she didn't land on her head or have anything worse happen. I was never so happy to see her come home. She was on heavy pain killers (Vicodin) so she felt better by the time she got home. She was in pain for the next day until she could be seen by the doctor.

On Tuesday morning she was free of the splint and put in a bright pink cast. The cast only goes to her elbow, but it is still so heavy for her to lift. She is a trooper - she joked that she will at least get strong muscles from lifting her cast.

She will take this week off Cross Country, but the doctor said she could go back to running as soon as it felt okay to run with the cast (probably in a few days). It's amazing - even just 48 hours later the cast has helped reduce the pain dramatically. I'm so grateful. I HATE to see anyone (especially my kids) in pain. I feel every ounce of it too. I guess it is part of being a mother.