Not a recommended competition

Brian still holds the family record, but I do need to give a little shout out to Kid #2 today.

 

As many of you have followed Wendy's journey, I know you will appreciate how far she's come. I've told her before that in time of immediate need, I truly believe she's capable of managing a gruesome, adrenalin filled, situation. She proved that when her and Kirk came home for Easter, and - despite my multiple warnings (!!!), Kirk sliced off the top of his finger with our mandolin. Our new mandolin. Wendy got him all bandaged up before she got the shakes.

Yesterday it was her turn. She got cut at work.

She's got a summer job that required getting her scuba diving license. She cleans the lilly pads and yuck out private ponds and lakes. Or, as I like to say, she cleans the muck of the rich.

 

Yesterday she slipped on some rocks and one got her good. The water was so swampy, she couldn't see the wound when she pulled her leg out of the water, but all she saw was blood. Lots and lots of blood.

 

She wrapped it tightly in a towel, and we talked while she was waiting for a ride to her car. (They ride out to job sights together in a work vehicle). She was doing fantastic.

 

Back at her car, and on the phone with me again, she verbally contemplated switching out the wrap before going to get it checked, but - too vividly remembering her history, I advised her not to since I had no way of knowing how bad it really was and because she was alone. She drove herself to the clinic, got a tetanus shot, and TEN stitches. While Brian still holds the house record at 16, I'm pretty impressed that she managed all that without blacking out, and then managed to drive herself to McDonalds for a kick of sodium (doctor recommended ages ago when we were working on eliminating her empathy/blood induced blackouts) and back home again. 

Sometimes it'll hit her hours or a day or so later, but so far so good. The doctor we had seen at the Children's Hospital in Detroit did tell us she'd outgrow it someday. 

 

It's been a long road of many appointments, counseling, worries/concerns and even a 504 Plan, so it's a very huge "Man, that feels good" moment. She can wear those ten stitches as a badge of honor.

 

And yes - I have before and after photos - but knowing how easily she was triggered will always be with me, therefore I don't have any intention of sharing wound pictures publically. 

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In other news - I'm really enjoying summer this year and I WILL get those Nordhouse stories posted. Soon. 

Comments

[JLMP]

So sorry to hear about the wound but great story of growth and achievement, glad to hear!

[Carol Eskola]

Congrats to Wendy for making it through a major owie with no blackouts!!

[Deb Wisker]

Wendy! You’ve developed the heart of a lion! You go girl!