My Bike Accident

By: Sarah F.

In my development, my friends Evan, Shawn and I were just riding bikes, playing tag, and throwing ball. I ate chips and guacamole for lunch. Then, right after lunch we were riding bikes. It was sunny & warm around 75 degrees. I was riding my mother’s bike with no shoes and no helmet. My neighbor Shawn was recently adopted so I let him borrow my bike.

I was riding up the hill where a soon to be an accident would happen. My friends were behind me and we were going as fast as race car drivers. I screamed to the boys, “Watch out, I’m coming!” The trees brushed me as I passed. When I hit the concrete mailbox pad, the handlebars turned and I fell on them and they impaled my stomach. I put my arms out to brace my fall and at that moment, I knew I screwed up! After that, I felt nauseous, I couldn’t breathe and I was screaming for help.

Evan ran and got his dad and my mom. My mom assessed me and then I walked into the house. However, I knew I needed to go to the hospital. I had an imprint on my stomach from the handlebars. My mom rushed me to Alfred I Dupont for Children in Delaware. I walked into the ER and they took my vitals immediately. 

The ER nurse came in and called the trauma team. The trauma team examined me and took a picture of my handlebar tattoo. They took a cat scan of my stomach and an xray of my shoulder. My mom wanted to know when we were going home. The ER nurse told her “Oh no, you aren’t going home.” They came back and told me that I have a grade 3 liver laceration, duodenal hematoma, and a fractured clavicle

. I asked, “Will I be healed by next Saturday? I have a horse show.” She said, “No” and then I started crying. 

I got admitted to the surgical unit and put on bedrest for 24 hours. I could not eat or drink for 24 hours. I was on IV morphine every 2-3 hours, Tylenol every 6 hours and vitals every 4 hours. I could not sleep because nurses were in and out of my room but I was entertained by Childlife, the entertainment group. They gave me slime, putty, and things to build.

I was screaming in pain because I am a stomach sleeper. They were trying to help me get comfortable. The next day, I was able to sit up and walk around a little. The third day, I was able to shower and walk around the unit. I was also on a jello, juice and broth diet. Around 7pm, I was switched to oral pain medicine and no more diet restrictions. That night was very bad! Pain was extreme and I was throwing up so they switched me back to IV medicine. 

The next day, a therapy dog, Silvie, came to visit. My pain management doctor, Dr. Marcantuno, came and told me that I have a concussion. About 3pm in the afternoon, I was switched back to oral pain medicine. I was finally told that I was being discharged. After a few hours, the oral medicines kicked in and I was discharged. We started packing up our things to go home. We went home. Upon arrival at our house, people brought candy, flowers, balloons and my puppy laid with me. To this day, I have minimal pain and my doctors expect a full recovery.