Our 2nd Trip to the Hospital

Don't be worried, everything is fine but we had to make our 2nd trip to the hospital yesterday, this time by way of the ER. We were excited because this was to be the first Saturday since we've been living in Thailand that Mark wasn't going to go into work. We had planned a morning of tennis with our neighbors, which you are never going to believe where I found a tennis court, more on that later. We started our tennis match at 9:15 and by 10:15 we were drenched with sweat and exhausted. Have I mentioned that it's hot over here? Dustin was at All-Star basketball practice so he had to be picked up and then we were going to lunch with our neighbors. Mark dropped me off at the house while Songran and he went to get Dustin. Nathan decided to take apart his air-soft rifle and do some repairs on it, the repairs required the use of one of his knives. Shortly, the neighbors and Mark arrived. Mark sent our driver home for the afternoon because we could ride with Lee and Sheryl to the lunch destination. As we're getting prepared to leave Nathan calls out that he needs a band-aid. I'm trying to find a band-aid while Mark is assessing the damage. After washing off the tip of the cut finger it's assessed that this accident will require a trip to the ER for a few stitches. Nathan had cut the end of his finger pretty badly. It was reminiscent of the hatchet episode. When Nathan was 7 and Ethan 3 1/2 they were digging a hole in the ground and Nathan decided that a hatchet would help break up the soil a lot better. While he was chopping up the ground, Ethan was supposed to be excavating the soil, somehow Ethan's finger got in the way of the hatchet. Nathan ran to the door saying, "We need a band-aid." After washing away the blood and seeing the end of Ethan's finger dangling by a piece of skin I determined that it would also require a trip to the ER. So we have had experience with end of fingers that require stitches.

We had to call Songran back to drive us to the hospital, he was back within 5 minutes. Not knowing how long our trip to the hospital might take we didn't want to inconvenience our neighbors since it wasn't a huge emergency. Poor Sonran's schedule changed again, I really want him to have some time with his family too. He seemed concerned for Nathan and eager to get us to the hospital. I've read and heard that Thai people don't like conflict or problems of any kind. Our pastor has talked about how the Thai people can be like pressure cookers. Always smiling, never facing conflict, dislike confrontation and then everything eventually gets to the surface and they explode. Songran had already been in an awkward situation with me earlier in the week. Ethan has a new puppy (another story for later) who was very near death this week. I was crying as we were trying to get this little one to the doggy hospital-it's been an eventful week! You can imagine the uncomfortable air in the car, me holding an almost dead dog, crying-he with his eyes straight ahead mumbling, "I hurry."

We are about 10 minutes from the hospital and were quickly escorted into a treatment room. I think it helps to have a bloody rag wrapped around a body part, they just lead you right in! Within an hour Nathan had his 5 stitches and we were having lunch with our neighbors in the hospital cafeteria. Nathan was very brave, the Dr. did a nerve block at the base of the finger and after that it was a piece of cake. Again, we were very happy with the level of care received at the hospital. Two weeks ago each of the boys were given accidental insurance coverage by the school. I was told that it included all accidents not just ones that happen on school property. I showed them my card and they processed the fees without problems. I did see the summary of charges-4200Baht ($126 roughly) for nerve block, 5 stitches, Dr. fees, antibiotics and pain medicine.

Our neighbors decided to go with us to the hospital. You might think they were just being thoughtful but really some of their incentive was the cafeteria food. I'm not joking, they had already mentioned to us that was one of their favorite places to eat as well as one of the cheapest. It was really delicious and our whole family ate lunch for $12. I laughed because I told them we made a memory together and also gave them an excuse to eat at the hospital cafeteria. Sheryl is embarrassed to just go out to dinner at the hospital, she thinks it's a little strange.

Nathan seems to be fine just feels "stupid" slicing into his finger with his knife. Boys and their knives!