Birthday Party Gone Bad

Well, it sure was a memorable birthday for Jordan.

Everything went quite fine all through the pizza eating, cake cuttting and present opening.

Then we released the big kids to play in the attached room (we had a private party room at a fun center in our town....you can see into one of the indoor play areas from our room) while we cleaned up the mess and told them we'd take them out to the golf and stuff after a bit.

They were the cutest thing ever as they all trotted off in a line of excited kids. We remarked how cute they all looked since they were all wearing a different colored plain shirt....like a rainbow of kids. The dads and toddlers trailed along and everyone rode bumper cars while we cleaned up.

By the time we finished, the kids all decided to ride the spinny teacup ride. Everyone piled on (including Chris and Celia and another dad and his toddler).

But midway through the ride the door on one of the teacups flew open. The little boy closest to the door felt like he was going to fall out and grabbed the door opening. One of the other boys in the cup reached across and pulled the door shut (thank goodness) but it slammed on our little friend's fingers. His index finger was almost severed completely and his middle finger was cut to the bone.

He was a real trooper. He cried some as we applied ice and towels, but once we got him in the ambulance he didn't even sniffle...just asked me if he would still have his fingers for his beach trip next month. He was so brave the whole time. His mom met us at the hospital and his dad made it in shortly after. He went to the best hospital in our area and received great care.

I just spoke with his dad....they are on their way home. The doctors were able to re-attach everything and think he will have no lasting effects. It may take a few weeks to regain sensation, but they think it will come back.

The owners of the fun center are just distraught. They know it was their employee's (a high school kid) fault because he didn't even check the doors of the ride to be sure they latched. They have the whole thing on tape and took statements from some of the dads that saw everything. I know that they plan on making amends with the family (they told us we didn't have to pay for the party...which I think is a little silly because that doesn't really help the little boy and his family any).

Most of the other kids really didn't know what was happening. Chris wisked them away pretty quickly. A few were upset, but after we left Chris, my mom, and some of the other parents kept the party going.

Please be in prayer for our little friend....that he regain all sensation in his fingers and that his recovery be as pain-free as possible.