Neglect ?

I know that it has been quite a while since I have posted - we have been so very busy!

Ok - Damon went to his Dad's house on a Friday for visitation. Well, they were at the courts playing Tennis when Damon tripped and fell. He twisted and hit the outside of his ankle up against the pole that holds the net AND he hit the back of his head on the concrete when he fell. (This was Friday night)

Well, Damon continued to complain about his ankle hurting all weekend - but did DAD take him to the ER or even just CALL the Dr? NOOOOOOOO - can we all say "DUH!!!!"

So, Damon comes home Sunday night barely able to walk on his ankle and continued to complain about it all day on Monday. I took him to get some crutches since he obviously didn't need to be on the ankle. I asked if DAD took him to the Dr and he said "No, he just poured water on it." - WHAT?!?!?! Whatever . . . . .that makes no sense to me -

THEN, over the next day, he was acting very fussy, lethargic and spaced-out . . . VERY MUCH SO - in addition to his ankle. So, I made doctor appointments with both his pediatrician and his psychiatrist. . . . I thought his behavior may have been a problem with his ADHD medicine, since we had recently made adjustments. So, first, I took him to his Psychiatrist at Medical City Children's. She determined that it was not his meds, but may have been a CONCUSION!!!! So, she sent us down to the Pediatric ER and sure enough, he had a CONCUSION and they DID find the cracked ankle - his growth plate, no less.

So, he was suffering post-concussion-syndrome, because by this time, it had healed, but the effects were still remaining - AND a cracked growth plate in his ankle.

And DAD didn't do ANYTHING?!?!?!?! And WHY couldn't DAD have done this? It costs like $10 to see the Dr. . . . . can anyone say "Stupidity"?

I "questioned" his Dad about all this and his lack of interest in the situation - he said "Well, I didn't know what to do. . . . " Well, DUMB ASS - Let's see - how about just call the nurse to ask if you need to bring him in if you're not sure - or better yet, call his MOTHER and ask how to take care of the child.

Come to find out, if the crack in his growth plate doesn't heal correctly, his leg could grow incorrectly for the rest of his "growing years" . . he could have a limp or something to that effect for the rest of his life. . . . OMG!!!!!

So, Damon is now sporting a nice cast up to his knee on his left leg, and is suppose to get it taken off next week - IF the crack has healed already. He will have been in the cast for 5 weeks at that point.

I was so infuriated - I send him to his "FATHER" and this is what happens? Now, I know that accidents happen - but you are suppose to TAKE CARE OF HIM and take him to the Dr. just to be SAFE. But, "Uncle Dad" has no inkling of what it REALLY means to be a father - just a playmate. I guess taking him to the Dr. would have interfered with playtime.

We're lucky that he ever woke up from falling asleep over the weekend - you know - the whole "wake the concussion sufferer up every 2 hours. . . . "

And to put the icing on the cake, I had to send him BACK to his Dad's that following weekend! ARGH!!!!

NEGLECT???? You Bet. And don't think for a minute that I didn't make note of this one for future use.