Free Room Service

In an attempt to get some alone time with Paul, I enrolled Crosby in a couple summer camps. I was pushing for drama camp - as Crosby is a performer. But, he was more interested in Parkour. 

Day 1 of Parkour Camp

A good day of camp proceeded by a late night of lice combing after close contact with an infested camp friend. The combing process was slowed as our comber in residence couldn't stop watching Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse. The first Spider-verse movie was amazing and this second might even top it.

Day 2 of Parkour Camp

2:45 pm Call from Camp Counselor: "Crosby fell on the mat on his elbow. It doesn't appear serious but he wants to be picked up."

Crosby was indeed in rough shape. In addition to being injured, he was hot and tired. There was neither swelling nor bruising around his elbow. I figured he was just generally cooked and not really hurt.

He slept fine that night but the next day when given the option of going back to camp or the doctor he picked the later. I managed to find an appointment with an orthopedic doctor who said he needed a Röntgen. Crosby and I both looked at each other confused until the assistant said "x-ray". The practice had a machine in some special office in the back courtyard. Within 20 minutes the doctor told us Crosby's elbow was broken on the growth plate and would need surgery. Thankfully Fraktur (fracture) is a cognate.

What came next was confusing. The doctor told us to go to the hospital. My brother Connor also broke a bone on the growth plate, albeit 30+ years ago, and there was lag-time between the break and repair. As Crosby wasn't in pain, I figured it wouldn't be that urgent. But, just in case, I had Paul meet Crosby at the bubble tea place near the doctor's office while I ran home to pack our bags.

This time Crosby was in the bike:

Clearly I was in charge of photography. The photos are just going to get worse from here.

Rammie practically rides itself to Vivantes Friedrichshain after its most famous voyage:

We did a couple of hours of musical chairs - kids' waiting room, adults' waiting room, x-ray room, some random hospital room, hallway, recovery room, etc. until we got the plan of surgery events. The same doctor who glued Crosby's head recognized us and helped put in Crosby's port. The anesthesiologist even asked what Netflix show Crosby wanted to watch while getting ready for surgery. 

One of my doctor friends, Agata, told me that the operating room schedules at big hospitals are jammed full. As such, even non-life threatening surgeries happen after business hours. It isn't a great deal for doctors, but for Crosby it was pretty perfect. Crosby got ready for bed and then he could just keep sleeping. The surgeon said the operation would take 30 minutes and then an hour to come out of anesthesia. He said not to worry if it took longer. There were three plans in place depending on how his bones responded. 

I took the opportunity to visit a new friend, Victoria, in the neighborhood when the doctor called after 45 minutes to tell me to come pick-up Crosby. Thankfully Victoria had Shanni's bike so I could just jump on it to get back to the hospital. Once back, I couldn't figure out the entrance to the operating theater.

I know I'm not the best at directions, but there is kind of a lot going on here.

When Crosby and I were finally reunited back on the recovery wing, he wasn't missing me:

The surgeon said he was able to put the bones back in place without pins. (Thanks for your prayers ladies!) When Crosby came to, he asked why he didn't get to watch Netflix or have surgery. So yeah, he got some good drugs. 

The ninja nurses came in our room a couple times during the night but didn't wake us up. There weren't a bunch of beeping monitors or weird blow-up beds. We were able to rest undisturbed. Well, relatively undisturbed; I had to close the window because apparently Tom Jones was giving an outdoor concert nearby late into the night. There are generally noise ordinances in Germany, but apparently not when Tom Jones is involved.  

The nurses came in around 7:30 am, a totally respectable hour, and then brought us breakfast. Crosby and I shared laughter that the only thing under the meal dome was a single piece of cheese. It wasn't a farmers breakfast, but the price was right. Also, the attendant came back with Nutella especially for Cros.

I'll head back on Monday with Crosby for a follow-up appointment and to replace his cast. He won't be able to use the arm for bike riding, climbing, etc for the next five weeks. He'll follow-up with the doctor every couple weeks for the first few months and then every three months for the next two years. 

We left the hospital around 10:30 am like this:

Rammie can haul anything from newborns to adult sized bicycles.

At some point during the whole process, someone bandaged up the little stuffed animal hospital gift. 

Was it the night ninja nurses?

I wasn't expecting to wake up on my 40th birthday in the hospital. But, this experience was another reminder of how thankful I am to be in a country with affordable, humane health care. Our life is more complicated and confusing here; but it's working. I'm hopeful there will be an opportunity to appropriately celebrate the start of a new decade, but for now we'll focus on recovery.