A nurse writes about a heartbreaking case that came to the E.R. last night.
We had a bad one come into our E.R. last night. A little boy. He was brought in by ambulance; he was unconscious, and blood was trickling from his mouth. He was the color of death, and it scared us when we saw him, lying so helpless, on the stretcher.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time the little child (his name was Justin*) came to our E.R.: he'd been to our E.R. several times already this year, once for burns on his arms and chest, and twice for broken bones. Now he was here again, and it looked like his father worked him over once too many times.
It was a classic case of abuse: you could see it in the scars that traversed the tiny body, in the sallow complexion of the kid, in the unwashed hair, in the very condition of the boy. It was heartbreaking, and it left us shaking our heads in wonder, wondering how a father could be so callous as to beat the holy shit out of his kid.
All we could do in the meantime was tend to the boy's wounds, see the extent of his unconsciousness (it turned out he had a massive head injury; the boy was in a coma), and admit him to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where we could closely monitor him and help him lest any unforseen problems arise.
This morning when I checked in on little Justin, I found him in the same condidtion he was in last night. No response to painful stimuli, no response when lights were shone into his eyes, no response when we stuck him with needles or changed tubes, no response from him when we pinched various areas on his bady. He was as unresponsive as you could get, and it broke our hearts.
Here was a little boy who should have been running around, laughing, playing, as little three-year-olds should, not lying hooked up to tubes or lying unconscious and unfelling in a hospital bed, not knowing what was going on around him, or what was happening to him, us not knowing whether he was going to die--or survive as a damaged child.
I just looked in on Justin a little bit ago: no change. Still in a comatose state, still no response, even to the most painful stimuli, still no movement in his limbs, vital signs erratic at best. Breathing with the assistance of a ventilator, no voluntary breaths on own; machine doing all the work. Still the color of uncooked meat. Still very low urine output, if any, urine bloody. Time is of the essence; if little Justin survives it will be a miracle, especially if he comes through this unscathed.
How could anyone do this to an innocent little boy is beyond me. I tell you, some people don't deserve to live; they are such monstors!!
Once again you have brought attention to a much needed issue of todays society. Its a very sad truth! I often wonder why the innocents have to suffer !....M
A heart wrenching write my friend...such a sad and in too many cases a true experience for children. I've seen them come to school with black eyes and stories that didn't add up, bruises from clenched fingers around their little arms, and then the one's that are so sad, are the one's there are no visible signs of abuse, but sadness consumes them! I don't understand how anyone could hurt a child physically, verbally, mentally, or sexually. We live in a crazy mixed up world where this kind of behavior has always been around, just not as abundant as it is today! You've penned it well my friend!
Blessings,
Joyce B.
Reviewed by d. k
5/25/2007
I am appalled by the way children are still being treated today!! How very, very sad to know the young boy will probably not run around freely ever again. I will NEVER understand the minds of those who hurt the innocent. Some days I wish I could walk away from it all, then would that mean I fall into the same catagory as the father who beats his son senseless? Something to think about!!
Only evil people do awful things like this to a child. This is quite a sad write, Karen. So much awful stuff happening in our world. Yesterday in a school-hall here in Toronto, a fifteen year old boy was shot in the chest. He died. His executioner has gone missing. Cowards do criminal acts then hide instead of facing their crime like men.
Karen this happens to far to many children, one child is to many, I am sorry that we can write these kind of stories, because it means somewhere a child is really being hurt, but keep speaking out Karen, be a voice for those who do not have one
God Bless
Michelle~
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