So, we decided to take the kids up north for a long weekend for Easter Break. We left Thursday afternoon and stayed in Mackinaw City. Kids had fun, swam in the pool, played, etc. Left early Friday and got to the cabin around 2:00. Got unpacked, semi settled in and took the kids outside to play. Almost instantly, they wanted to go for an ATV ride. So we loaded them up and headed out for a quick ride. On the way back, the wife hits some gravel on a turn, catches an edge and rolls the machine with our 4 year old with her. I see she’s not behind me and turn around with our 7 year old daughter to see what’s up. Come around the curve and see her waving me down. Needless to say, I feared the worst. That was the longest 100 yard ride of my life. Got to them and see her standing up and crying and my son lying on his back in the weeds. I got things situated as best I could and raced back to get the truck, loaded them up and headed to L’anse at full speed.
Got there and they immediately immobilized both of them, took x rays and the worst was confirmed. Michael has 3 broken ribs and a broken collar bone. Doctor gets on the phone with the medivac team to fly him to Green Bay. At this point, I’m freaking out but I had to keep it together for all of them. Then I realized I had to make some phone calls. This was the hardest call I’ve ever had to make which was to Grandma and Grandpa who are 500 miles away. Without knowing what was about to transpire over the next few days, they packed up and headed north.
In the mean time, the doc calls back from Marquette and agrees to take him there. So, instead of a helicopter ride to Green Bay, they got a lights and sirens ride to Marquette. My daughter Lindsey and I head back to Sidnaw to gather up as much as we could and drive back to Marquette not knowing what was in store for us. We get to the hospital at about 9:30, they were transferred to a room and we stayed at a hotel down the street.
I pretty much slept zero that night and got back to the hospital about 9:00 the next morning. The doc had already been in and said he was free to go as long as we were comfortable taking him. By 10:00, (being the tough guy he is) he was across the hall playing in the play room so we decided to go.
We got back to the cabin about 1:00 Saturday with Papa and Grandma there. Michael pretty much adjusted instantly to his injuries and hasn’t missed a beat since. My daughter has emotionally recovered well and the wife is full of scratches and bruises and will be more sore than him for a couple of weeks. The machine has $2,400 in damage and is being fixed.
Overall, we had a good weekend. Got to do some fun subdued stuff with the kids, hang out with Papa and Grandma, did the whole Easter thing and even got to stop by and hang with the Running Bears for a while.
This whole experience has been a huge slap of reality in my face. To pull up and see the condition of the machine, see the condition of my wife and to see my son lying flat on his back on the ground was the most gut wrenching things I’ve ever felt. To see him stand up and just want his daddy, knowing the pain he must be in, was the best feeling I’ve ever felt.
Fortunately, everything worked out for the best and we are all back home doing well.
I’m posting this, not just to share my experience, but to remind all those who have kids and like to include them in playing with our toys please remember things can go sideways. Even the things we have all done countless times before, never take for granted the possibility of a mishap because it can, and does, happen in an instant.
Anyways, we did have a good vacation overall and we’ll be back as soon as we can.
Take care!
Dave
Got there and they immediately immobilized both of them, took x rays and the worst was confirmed. Michael has 3 broken ribs and a broken collar bone. Doctor gets on the phone with the medivac team to fly him to Green Bay. At this point, I’m freaking out but I had to keep it together for all of them. Then I realized I had to make some phone calls. This was the hardest call I’ve ever had to make which was to Grandma and Grandpa who are 500 miles away. Without knowing what was about to transpire over the next few days, they packed up and headed north.
In the mean time, the doc calls back from Marquette and agrees to take him there. So, instead of a helicopter ride to Green Bay, they got a lights and sirens ride to Marquette. My daughter Lindsey and I head back to Sidnaw to gather up as much as we could and drive back to Marquette not knowing what was in store for us. We get to the hospital at about 9:30, they were transferred to a room and we stayed at a hotel down the street.
I pretty much slept zero that night and got back to the hospital about 9:00 the next morning. The doc had already been in and said he was free to go as long as we were comfortable taking him. By 10:00, (being the tough guy he is) he was across the hall playing in the play room so we decided to go.
We got back to the cabin about 1:00 Saturday with Papa and Grandma there. Michael pretty much adjusted instantly to his injuries and hasn’t missed a beat since. My daughter has emotionally recovered well and the wife is full of scratches and bruises and will be more sore than him for a couple of weeks. The machine has $2,400 in damage and is being fixed.
Overall, we had a good weekend. Got to do some fun subdued stuff with the kids, hang out with Papa and Grandma, did the whole Easter thing and even got to stop by and hang with the Running Bears for a while.
This whole experience has been a huge slap of reality in my face. To pull up and see the condition of the machine, see the condition of my wife and to see my son lying flat on his back on the ground was the most gut wrenching things I’ve ever felt. To see him stand up and just want his daddy, knowing the pain he must be in, was the best feeling I’ve ever felt.
Fortunately, everything worked out for the best and we are all back home doing well.
I’m posting this, not just to share my experience, but to remind all those who have kids and like to include them in playing with our toys please remember things can go sideways. Even the things we have all done countless times before, never take for granted the possibility of a mishap because it can, and does, happen in an instant.
Anyways, we did have a good vacation overall and we’ll be back as soon as we can.
Take care!
Dave