Kemptons: October 2013

So it was a Thursday night, March 14, 2013. I had just sat down after cleaning and preparing all day for Steven and I to leave the next day for a 3 day getaway with a week family vacation following the day we returned. I had just taken a bite of my salad when I heard Steven start yelling. I knew something was really wrong because I was not familiar with that yell. I could hear him yelling NO over and over again. As I started to get up to see what was wrong the back door flew opened and Steven yelled call 911. I turn to see Steven holding Briggs and blood everywhere. At first sight my heat sunk and I began to go in panic mode as my first thoughts were Briggs got hit by a car (which is my biggest fear when he is outside) when the next thing I hear is Steven yell his fingers are gone. I immediately went into shock thinking what... What do you mean his fingers are gone. In so many jumbled words given by Steven I was told that his fingers were cut off by the lawn mower. I ran outside yelling at our other kids to get home (they were playing down the street) and Steven went to look for his fingers in the grass. With no luck finding his fingers and scarring our kids half to death with panicked parents and blood everywhere, Steven and I left in the car and sped like demons to the hospital. I drove about 90 miles and hour on surface streets almost running some red lights. I witnessed my baby screaming and crying and my sweet husband completely distraught holding his hand over Briggs mangled fingers to slow the bleeding. Steven kept repeating their gone, his fingers are gone, I am so sorry baby, so sorry. It broke my heart. It took all my strength to not completely loose it. I called my parents on the way to the hospital to have them tend to our kids at home. When they got to our home we had them look for his fingers. We got to the hospital in record timing although it seemed like forever. I dropped Steven off at the emergency room and he went in saying my sons fingers are cut off. I got in there as they were slowly guiding them back to a room. So the nurses were like alright calm down, lets see what happened. Steven took his hand off Briggs and immediately the nurses started to freak out rushing saying we need a doctor stat we have an emergency. Mean while I had been on the phone with my parents hoping they could find his fingers. We were moved to another room in the ER and the room was instantly filled with about 10 doctors and nurses wrapping his hand, giving him IV's, shots, taking his vitals, arranging a helicopter transfer, etc. My parents called us with good news that they found his fingers in the grass under the lawn mower, in the dark with flashlights. (if that wasn't a miracle. (FYI if you ever find yourself having to transport fingers you wrap them in a wet cloth and then put that on ice. Do not put fingers directly on ice) They wanted to air flight us to Phoenix Children's Hospital but at this point Seven and I thought about insurance and got them to arrange an ambulance transport.We had no idea that this whole ordeal would greatly exceed our deductible. My sweet dad made it to the hospital just in time with Briggs fingers (he did his own 90 miles an hour to get there) Off we went in ambulance to Phoenix Children's. By the time we got there the pain meds had finally kicked in and Briggs was able to calm down somewhat which helped Steven and I calm down and think a little clearer. The doctors there had to unwrap his hand to assess the situation which is where I accidentally got a look at his hand for the first time. Up to this point I had avoided seeing it. I knew I couldn't handle that. And I couldn't. For the first time I lost it. All I could think about is how painful it was and how my perfect little baby was missing 3 of his precious little fingers. The doctors had to redo his IV's and up his pain meds. My father in law and 2 brother in laws, John and Robert, came down to be there for Briggs and us and to administer priesthood blessings to all of us. Those blessings are dear to my heart and from that moment on I was able to put my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father that he would take care of my baby and that we could handle whatever was to follow. They stayed with us and made sure that we were taken care of and brought us some dinner that was very much appreciated. We waited in the ER for about an hour. The doctors there told us that there was not a good chance that they would be able to save his fingers. Steven and I began to come to terms that our boy would live his life without 3 of his fingers. The surgeon got to the hospital and took us to prep Briggs for surgery. My father in law and brother in laws left and we were then greeted by my parents. We met the surgeon, Dr. Allen Lou and he told us about the surgery and that he would do the best he could to save his fingers. So off Briggs went to surgery.(that was so hard to let him go for so many reasons) My 2 sisters, Kristy and Nacole, showed up to be there for us which made me want to cry. I was so grateful for family and all the love and support they gave. We all waited in the waiting room and 4 hours later he was out of surgery. The surgeon came out and told us that he reattached all 3 fingers, but that it was no guarantee that they would survive. He told us we would be there for a couple of days while he had leech therapy and he said that time would tell the outcome. They led us to the ICU where he was. My heart broke seeing him laying there so still with so many wires and lines and machines surrounding him. You never think you'll see your baby that way. My parents and sisters were able to come back and see him and then they left and Steven and I sat there starring at our boy. The next 6 days were the longest days of our lives. Briggs woke up and we had trouble managing his pain. He was just this little baby that couldn't understand what was going on. I couldn't leave him for a second. All I wanted to do was cuddle him and sing songs to him and comfort him. We couldn't hold him for a while and when I finally was able to it was the best moment ever. We got all tangled in his wires but they let me hold him as long as I wanted to. The leech therapy was the most disgusting/interesting thing ever. They would put a leech on his finger and the gross worm thing would attach and suck out blood. Then they would detach themselves when they were full and most of the time we would have to find them somewhere in his bed. It was seriously so gross. In fact there was one leech that we never found. Briggs lost so much blood which was supposed to happen. He ended up getting 6 blood transfusions. It was a week of good news bad news, no sleep, lots of doctors and nurses, take out food, walks in the wagon, cartoons, surgeries, needles, medicines, card games, trying to keep a baby trapped in a crib, no sunlight or fresh air, a week of craziness is exactly what it was. We stayed sane with all the wonderful visitors that came. The love and concern we received from phone calls, texts and visitors kept us going. It was the greatest day when the surgeon came in and told us that the leeches had done their job and that it looked like the finger was going to take. The other 2 fingers which didn't need leeches were still questionable if they would live or not. Dr. Lou gave us the green light to go home and we could have never been more excited. We were discharged and the at home care began. Briggs had one last surgery before we left the hospital which they put a splint type thing all around his hand up to his shoulder. Well the day after we got home Briggs woke up from his nap and he was missing his splint. We freaked out, took him to 3 different urgent care places where they refused to treat him because of the injury. We took him to our pediatrician and they also refused to treat him. So Steven had to wrap it up the best he could and we had to wait 2 days to get into our surgeon. I drove down to Phoenix to the surgeons office where they put a real cast on him. Then 2 days later Mr. Magic Man Briggs somehow managed to take his cast off again. I got a phone call from Steven saying get home now, I was sitting here with Briggs and one moment he had his cast on and the next it was off. This time our pediatrician got instructions to recast him and we made sure he did it in a way that would be impossible to get out of. And he did. For the next 8 weeks I had to drive to phoenix, saw off the cast, see the surgeon, check everything out, and then drive to my pediatrician to recast him. It was so interesting to see the progress of his fingers. It is truly amazing. His pinkie finger wasn't looking to great and the bone was still sticking out so Briggs had to have another surgery but it went well and Dr. Lou was able to shave the bone and fix it without having to remove it. Just too many blessings to count. The whole ordeal went on for about 3 1/2 months but it was all so worth it. He has his fingers and they are functional. Time will tell the true outcome. There are still so many variables that could happen but the bottom line is that they are there. I am so grateful for modern medicine and great doctors. Dr. Lou has a special place in my heart for all that he did for Briggs. Briggs was a fascinating case for the whole practice. Every time I would go to hte office so many doctors would come in to check out the baby that had 3 fingers successfully reattached. Apparently Briggs was the youngest person that had 3 reattachment's in that practice, which is a nationally known practice for hand surgery. The small and mighty miracles that happened all along this journey with Briggs are ones that I will never forget. It was clear to me that my Heavenly Father is very aware of each of us individually. He blesses you with what you need and gives you trials to make you a better person. I have no doubt that my Heavenly Father was with Briggs and us the whole way through this.

Briggs finding comfort in his daddy's arms.

Yes his fingers are in there

Getting settled with our boy in the ICU

It was so hard to see all the wires and lines going into our baby

First time I got to hold him since his initial surgery. Words could not explain how it felt to hold my precious baby boy.

Grandma came by and got some smiles out of him. So nice to see him up and playing.

The kids couldn't go and see Briggs because he was in the ICU but they wanted to get as close as they could. They missed their baby brother. Steven treated them to some yummy hospital food in the cafeteria (Ha) and I came and joined them.

Briggs loved to go on rides in the wagon. I cant tell you how many times I circled that ICU. But it kept him happy and still so around and around we went.

It was tough seeing him under like this. This is after his second surgery and he took a while to come out of the anesthesia.

Aunt Christy Pico came by and brought him this. He LOVED it!

These sweet moments of Loving my Boy made me so grateful that he was there to hold. Being in that ICU and seeing what others families were going through made me count my blessings every day.

So many organizations would come around and drop off goodies, books, toys, etc. This lady came by and dropped off a few pair of silly socks. They were so cute.

After a few days at the hospital I finally went home and took a real shower and spent a few hours with my kids. It was a really nice break from the four walls I was confined to.

After 5 days of a hospital room and crib this boy was finally able to see the sun light. It was so refreshing to be outside. So nice to watch our boy walk around so happy.