Imagine the expression on your kids face when he/she is in pain. You know that feeling you get when they are crying and it is as if you feel their pain. Now, imagine how you would feel if you suddenly realized that you caused the pain your child is experiencing?

I was in a coffee shop and overheard a story that brought a tear to my eye. As sad as it sounds I can really understand how it could happen. I approached the dad telling the story and asked if we could publish it here so that other dads can learn from his experience.

Here is a true story of this Dad's ordeal in a pharmacy when his energetic toddler wanted to go exploring in the store. I am withholding the man's personal information for his own privacy and protection ...

-Editor

Know your strength - or rather, your kid's!

"I have two boys, one 6 years old and the other 1 1/2. Our oldest boy had been having stomach pains for a few days with no other symptoms, so we decided to take him to the doctor. He orders an x-ray and finds the kid is "a little backed up", even though he's been going to bathroom regularly. The doctor tells us to make sure he's drinking plenty of water and getting enough fiber in his diet, but gives us a list of a few items to pick up at the pharmacy top help him out of his little problem."

"While at the drug store I was waiting with the toddler while my wife got the supplies. I have to hold his hand or else he just runs away and pulls things off of shelves or whatever else he find to do to cause havoc. As I'm holding his hand firmly, but not too firmly, he begins squirming as he usually does so he can break free to go on his run. So, I held his hand a little tighter and suddenly he starts screaming. I figured that he was getting frustrated that I wasn't letting him go. Then he starts REALLY screaming and so I quickly take him out side to try to calm him down. When we get outside and I examine him, everything with him looks fine but he's in obvious pain. He look up at me with these huge tears and I knew that something was seriously wrong. Back to the emergency."

"An x-ray shows the little guy's elbow is dislocated. The doctor "pops" it back in place and the screaming instantly stops. The doctor asked me some questions about how it happened and explained to me that even though the little ones seem to be strong and hearty, their joints and ligaments are still very immature and sometimes their muscles are much stronger than the joints holding things in place. I now must be extremely careful that if he pulls away, to just let him go and pick him up by his waist so we don't have a reoccurrence."

Name withheld

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