Tad's Life

I know that it’s been almost a month. And starting up again with this particular topic is a bit inane, but… there you have it. Blogging is an emotionally driven activity for me. I’m coming to the conclusion that it is an indicator of my mental state. Too much stress or discouragement and you wont’ hear from me. Sorry.

The end of school and a team visiting for 10 days and trying to move (yes, we’re still in the middle of it) and all that just swamped me again.

Anyway, for the story and the photos (WARNING: close up of stitches below!). Monday was the last day for a team of a dozen plus one, from College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. This is the Duttweilers church from the last couple of furloughs and college. Caleb and Jessica knew several of the team members and many of the others were teens. They really bonded with them and Jonathan got included in all of that. So, on Monday afternoon they headed to the beach.

When Caleb and Jonathan came back up they got separated from the group somehow and ended up locked out in the north alley. (Hey, it’s being paved, by the way!) They decided to climb the wall to avoid the long walk around to the main gate. Caleb had to help Jonathan up, but they managed to get over the thing and hop down on the inside. They told us with pride, but all I could think of was how easily burglars could get over, too! Jane, however, assures me that she gave them a serious rebuke for taking risks. But, of course, that what mothers always say. But if Dad doesn't get too worked up...

Wednesday, Jonathan had three buddies over. Late in the afternoon they asked to go down to the beach to join another friend and his dad who were down there. We said sure, but I was out at the eye doctor and Jane was occupied with talibé stuff. The boys didn’t have a key to the alley gate, so they decided to use the new technique: hop the wall!

Going out was just fine, but with slippery suits and bodies, on the way back in, Jonathan lost control. Normally such a fall would mean a bruise or a twist, but they were using the corner near the dorm where we put rebar stubs in anticipating an extension of the building. There are 5 inch long rods of steel that were sticking out of the wall at about three feet off the ground. Jonathan managed to spear himself on one.

I got a quick call in the office from Jane saying, “Come home.” I ran across the parking lot to find Jonathan in pain lying on the floor bleeding from a inch hole in his side and complaining of general abdominal pain. We didn’t panic, but it was close!

Jane drove the boy to the doctor while I stayed with his three friends who were quite naturally wondering what to do with themselves. The doctor saw Jonathan fairly soon, pronouncing him free of internal injuries, but sending them to an emergency service place for stitches. He got his first two stitches ever and told Jane that this was a big disappointment. He had set a life goal to avoid stitches and broken bones while growing up! I stayed in contact with the cell phone (thank you again, Gretchen!) and was able to quit worrying at about the same time Jane and Jonathan did.

Jonathan walked around like an old man with humped shoulders and a stiff gait for a couple days while the bruising worked itself out. But last night he was at a birthday sleepover for one of those other boys from Wednesday and today he and another friend helped me move a load of stuff to the new apartment.

We think that he'll be just fine!