Lessons from Mad Dog

Several years ago, when Mad Dog was six years old or so, she popped a few quarters into one of those grocery store prize machines and got a shiny silver necklace. After wearing it for a few days, she developed a raised red, itchy rash around the back of her neck.

It was clear that the cheap, trinkety necklace was to blame so she took it off and after a few treatments with hydrocortisone, the rash disappeared.

When she asked why the necklace gave her a rash, I said it was because it was cheap, costume jewelery and it irritated her sensitive skin.

So, for the past four years, Mad Dog has avoided wearing coin-dispensed jewelery and the rash has yet to return.

- - -

Fast forward to The Worst Day of My Life EVER...

- - -

One day last December, I was out doing some last-minute holiday shopping while the kids were at school when my cell phone rang. It was the elementary school office.

"Your daughter fell during recess and she can't move her legs. We've called 9-1-1 and the ambulance is on its way."

My heart stopped and my mind raced. Was she paralyzed? Was she conscious? Was she crying for me?

Over the receiver, I could hear the school secretary talking by walkie-talkie to the nurse who was out on the playground with Mad Dog. I could hear the nurse comforting her, telling her that help was on the way.

I began to sob.

The secretary shared what she knew: Mad Dog had fallen off a huge mound of snow and landed on her tailbone. She was conscious and coherent, but didn't have any feeling in her legs. The nurse, who volunteers for our local rescue squad, was with her and was telling her what to expect during the ambulance ride.

She advised me the paramedics were en route (I could hear the siren over the phone) and that I should head straight to the hospital to meet them.

I don't remember much of my drive to the hospital other than repeating, "Please, God," over and over. I beat the ambulance there and was waiting when they wheeled Mad Dog into the ER on a backboard, wearing a neck brace.

Nothing can prepare a mother for a sight like that.

I was pleased to see that Mad Dog was calm. It was only when she saw me that she began to cry. I held her hand as the ER doctors got her vitals from the paramedics. I heard them say that during transport she began moving her toes.

A good sign.

They began asking Mad Dog questions. "What happened? Does anything hurt? Are you taking any medications?"

Then they asked about allergies.

"Are you allergic to anything?" asked a nurse.

"Cheap jewelery," Mad Dog said.

The ER staff paused a second and exchanged curious glances.

"What did you say?" asked the nurse.

"Cheap jewelery," Mad Dog repeated. "You know, bracelets and necklaces. The cheap stuff gives me a rash."

Everyone looked at me. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I quickly told them about the rash from the coin-machine necklace incident so many years earlier. The nurse looked to Mad Dog.

"Me too, honey," she said. "Only accept the good stuff."

Laughter erupted in ER exam room #7.

Within the hour, Mad Dog regained feeling in her legs. An x-ray revealed her tailbone was intact. The doctor explained that she must've compressed or pinched a nerve when she fell and that while she'd be sore for a bit, she was going to be fine.

- - -

I'm beyond relieved that Mad Dog is okay. It's cliche, but oh so true that your life can change in an instant. Life's short and we need to value every second we get to spend with the ones we love.

You just never know when you'll get that call.

And if I've learned anything else from Mad Dog, my precious, first-born daughter, it's that life is also too short to wear cheap jewelery.