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Sunday, May 03, 2009
A funny moment (on an otherwise dismal night]
This past Thursday night Gilad called from his Taekwondo practice (he's a red belt) to tell me he'd hurt his shoulder. While holding a kick target for one of the other students, he'd gotten an extra strong jolt that knocked his left arm out of the socket where it meets the shoulder.
Apparently this is not a terribly uncommon injury as the instructor had managed to pop the arm/shoulder back into the socket (don't ask... I'm not happy about this either!). But Gilad was still in a lot of discomfort, so I told him to come home and I'd take him to 'Terem' in Jerusalem to have the shoulder looked at.
For those outside of Israel, 'Terem' is a wonderful mid-ground between doctor's office and emergency room that allows treatment of common injuries/wounds, while keeping all but the most emergent patients out of the hospitals (where it is much more expensive to treat them). 'Terem' centers have most of the necessary diagnostic tools (such as X-rays, monitors, etc.) and are able to deal with broken bones and other 'moderate' injuries and illnesses.
Anyway, it was after 11:00 PM when we finally arrived at Terem and I was pleasantly surprised to find the place almost empty. I gave the desk clerk Gilad's magnetic health fund card and we were told that somebody would be right with us.
Sure enough, within 30 seconds a pretty young religious woman (identifiable by her long skirt and sleeves) called us in to see the doctor. The doctor quickly established that the arm was indeed 'in the socket', but he wanted an x-ray to make sure nothing had been damaged in the initial injury (or the subsequent 'reduction' by the coach). The film was taken quickly, and as expected everything looked fine. Like me, the doctor was also bothered by the idea of the coach popping things back into place, but conceded that at least he'd apparently done the job correctly.
But to make sure it didn't pop out again, and to give the shoulder a chance to fully recover from the trauma (swelling, etc.), the doc said he wanted to have Gilad wear his arm in a sling for a few days. He printed out his instructions, handed us the computer disc with the x-rays on it, and told us that if the discomfort continued after a few days, that we should use the referral to an orthopedist he had included in the packet of papers.
Before he said good night and walked off to see his next patient, he instructed the pretty girl who had escorted us in, to put Gilad's arm in a sling. This is where the funny moment occurred.
I'm sure this attractive young woman has put slings on hundreds of patients of all ages and genders. So in a very business-like manner, she faced my 13 year old son, put the sling under his arm and began tying it behind his neck. This deft little maneuver placed her arms around him, and her face perhaps an inch from his. And for the few moments it took her to secure the knot, Gilad blushed a deep crimson... all the while trying to act nonchalant.
When the sling was in place, and Gilad and I were alone in the elevator going down to the parking lot, I couldn't resist a little dig:
Me: "She was pretty, huh?"
Gilad: "Huh? Oh, um, I didn't notice.... I mean, yeah, I guess... I mean... oh shut up!"
Totally worth the two hours sleep I lost.
Posted by David Bogner on May 3, 2009 | Permalink
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and he's going to be soooo happy you blogged about it!
glad he's ok.
and i assumed you had been so quiet recently because you were busy purelling your home.
Posted by: debbie | May 3, 2009 3:23:28 PM
debbie ... Well, his English teacher has been telling us to try to get him to read more. Maybe this will be an incentive. :-) Oh, and don't get me started. You have no idea how unhappy I was to be going to 'Terem' in the midst of a Swine Flu outbreak. I took a long hot shower when I got home.
Posted by: David Bogner | May 3, 2009 3:36:46 PM
Thanks for the early morning laugh!
Posted by: Marsha in Englewood | May 3, 2009 3:40:35 PM
You are so mean, David! :-P
Posted by: tnspr569 | May 3, 2009 4:13:46 PM
you. are. so. mean.
Posted by: fred | May 3, 2009 4:14:14 PM
Cute! BTW, having had recurrent shoulder dislocations, it's really important to keep it in the sling. If you have a friend that is a physical therapist, you may want to consider asking for appropriate exercises to build strength in the shoulder girdle. The exercises can vary depending on what way it separated. If the health care covers it, an MRI see muscle damage is a good idea too. Once the shoulder pops out, it can easily (and painfully) come out at inopportune times. Refuah Shelaimah!
Posted by: Lakewood Falling Down | May 3, 2009 4:16:20 PM
ugh i hATE when my dad calls me out like that!
Posted by: Drakesan | May 3, 2009 4:49:16 PM
LOL awesome!! :)
Posted by: Ezzie | May 3, 2009 7:55:30 PM
You realize don't you that he will get you back for this?
Posted by: QuietusLeo | May 3, 2009 7:57:00 PM
Evil. Totally evil. And a wonderful moment. The Dearly Beloved wouldn't have been able to pass it up either. The best part: you are raising a a fine young man, who has not allowed modern sophistication to steal his blush.
Posted by: rutimizrachi | May 3, 2009 8:55:01 PM
First off, glad that Gilad is fine.
Secondly, wicked evil dad you are.
Thirdly, my husband just remarked that it's weird to realize that your son is 13, since we've been reading your blog for 4 something years now. It'll really be freaky when we're reading about Yonah being 13...
Posted by: Alissa | May 3, 2009 10:39:35 PM
Hee hee hee
Posted by: SaraK | May 3, 2009 10:45:24 PM
Your boy is growing up. Beshaah Tovah! :-)
Posted by: Mark | May 4, 2009 2:37:07 AM
which terem in jerusalem?
we took my son a few years ago. the doctors were very nice, but the nurse was . . . quite israeli. i smiled when he threw up in the waiting room and then all over the exam room, and she had to clean it up.
Posted by: Lion of Zion | May 4, 2009 7:48:14 AM
Marsha in Englewood... Don't thank me... I'm a giver. :-)
tnspr569... I don't consider it mean. It's a moment I will remember forever but I won't be around forever. That's the whole reason for this blog... to record things that need remembering.
fred... See my previous response.
Lakewood Falling Down ... I doubt they will authorize an MRI at this stage, but I'll file your advice away for a rainy day. Thanks.
Drakesan... At least I did it in private. :-)
Ezzie... It really was a special moment. :-)
QuietusLeo luckily it will probably be Ariella that picks my nursing home. Oh wait, I've embarrassed her here too. Crap! :-)
rutimizrachi ... See, I knew Ruti would get it!
Alissa ... Wow, that's quite a streak! Thanks for sticking around. :-)
SaraK... Glad you liked. :-)
Mark ... Oh yeah.
Lion of Zion... It was the one that is in the shadow of the Bridge of Strings (near the entrance to Jerusalem). And don't be so hard on Nurses. They are paid for their professionalism, not their bedside manner (although that's a nice bonus when both come in the same package). When you stop to compare the knowledge that nurses have to possess in order to do their own job (and keep the docs from screwing up), it is a bit degrading that they also have to clean up vomit, poop and other unspeakable messes as part of their regular duties. Compare what they have to know to the basic knowledge requirement of an ultrasound technician. Now when was the last time you saw an ultrasound technician touch a bedpan. Nuff said.
Posted by: treppenwitz | May 4, 2009 10:55:07 AM
Haha :)
I remember, though, how you nearly freaked out when you suspected A. of having a crush on someone (whom she crocheted the kippah for, as you thought). That wasn't so funny for you then... ;)
Posted by: a. | May 4, 2009 3:40:23 PM
cute story
They grow up at the strangest times.
I have to ask my son if he got his xrays on a disk, too, when he broke his hand at the afi finals. It sure beats carrying around delicate xrays.
Posted by: Batya | May 4, 2009 4:32:22 PM
Terem was founded by Dr. David Applebaum z"l, who was killed by a terrorist along with his daughter Nava, the day before she was supposed to be married.
Posted by: soccer dad | May 4, 2009 6:53:40 PM
I had a recurrent problem with my shoulder popping out when I was an older teen. However, it would always pop right back in again. I almost had surgery until I met a guy on the ski-lift who had had surgery and also had major problems with both shoulders after said surgery. I'm so glad I didn't now. I haven't had problems with my shoulders for years now, until 1 minor incident last summer. I would definitely have Gilad take care for awhile.
Thanks for the chuckle. I'm glad my Dad wasn't a blogger.
Posted by: Dave | May 5, 2009 5:27:09 PM
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