On Wednesday June 24th my 13 year old son Gage came home after falling off a bicycle and hitting his head (No helmet). When I began questioning him as to what exactly happened he told me that he could not remember and that he had lost consciousness at the time of the impact. Immediately I rushed him to the Kaiser emergency room and told them what had happened.

After performing a CT scan they told us that Gage had an epidural hematoma and that he would have to remain under observation in order to tell the extent of the injury. It didn't take long before my son began going down hill fast becoming extremely confused and lethargic and ultimately he lost consciousness.

The doctors out him on a respirator and told me that immediate brain surgery was needed and that he (the tending ER doctor) was making calls to hospitals that would be able to treat him. This was at 9:00 p.m. and at 12:30 a.m. they had still not found a place for my son as he lay dying slipping into a comma.

Finally at 1:00 he was rushed to the Oakland children's hospital to have emergency brain surgery to stop the bleeding and remove a blood colt. After 2 hours the doctor came out of the room and said they had saved my sons life. I asked what his prognosis was and he had said that it was too early to tell anything and to be thankful he was still with us.

After a few days my son woke up and eventually could breath on his own and now is eating and walking around. He has regained his memory and it appears that there will be no lasting effects from his injury.

Over the last couple days I have been questioning different people in order to find out why my son had to wait so long to find a place to go in order to have the surgery. I am told that this issue has caused allot of concern and it is currently being investigated. Had they have waited an hour more my son might not be alive today. Should I contact an attorney over this apparent debacle or just move on and be grateful for having my son? The ER doctor also stated that my son needed have the surgery by Peter Sun, MD, a leader in the field of pediatric neurosurgery at Oakland Children's hopital and that Kaiser did not want to do the surgery themselves due to the extent of the injury.

damn, that story is scary. hope he recovers fast!

Wow man, I always look forward to your posts but seriously hate you have gone through this. Most important is that your boy will be ok and seems that will have no ill effects, that is GREAT news.

The other stuff? No background for me to give, but GL to you and I hope you get this straightened out. Head injuries are never something to play with, thank god you did not have another horror story here that unfortunately is not entirely uncommon now.

wow. great thinking on your part to get to the hospital. you saved his life.

holy shit! so glad he was up front with you. Had that been me, Im sure I would have just said im fine. Glad things turned out for the better.

Thank you all for the well wishes. Believe me the whole attorney thing was not my idea. Some relatives have been crying foul over this. I am just happy to have my boy. The doctor saved two lives that day. My mind is just scattered right now and I am trying to sort things out. Thanks again and God Bless.

 

Originally Posted by shotmang

thats crazy. i would have to say just be glad you have your son still. but if you think money will make you feel better than go for it...

Yeah you guys are definately right. I'm an idiot for even considering that sort of crap.

Thank you for your response. I think the wait may have indeed been a blessing as the doctor we did get was the best in the area from what I am told. Here is the hero that saved my sons life.

http://www.childrenshospitaloakland....s/news_sun.asp

As someone who has had two basilear skull fractures and had surgery on my brain, its a traumatizing experience to go through and I would suggest regular weekly or monthly check ups for the first 6 months afterwards. I was diagnosed okay but later on found out I lost my sense of smell and taste completely, after about a year I've regained a little but its not anywhere where it use to be. Hope your son heals and everything goes well!

 

Originally Posted by cizastro

 

Originally Posted by udflyer

I am very glad things seem to have worked out for your son. Above all, that is what is important.

As far as contacting an attorney (an I am a personal injury attorney), I'd let that go.

It seems to me that Kaiser may have been negligent for not ensuring your son received treatment sooner and perhaps endangering his life. But only a review of all records by an MD can confirm that.

However, the good folks at Oakland Children's Hospital saved his life -- and fortunately -- your son has no apparent ill affects. Therefore, even if Kaiser was negligent, their negligence did not cause your son any real injuries.

While you and your family were undoubtedly put through agony while you waited, that's just not an appropriate reason for a lawsuit.

Again, you should be very thankful things turned out, and even though I am a PI attorney, believe me, count your blessings and live your lives -- pass on the lawsuit.

Well said.

Oh, and your relatives are greedy assholes.

Count your blessings good sir.

Thank you for taking the time to answer this. I was told that Kaiser had been discussing my sons case at length by a nurse. What I could not wrap my mind around was the fact that there apparently were no bed available. I still can't seem to understand what exactly that means. I could see the entire staff at the ER was wondering what the hold up was as well. The Ambulance driver was pacing back and forth and apologized saying he was ready to go when they would give the word as to where he was going. I started to really lose it while waiting and may have said a few things I shouldn't have. They had around 4 security guards come after I started screaming.

I am not going for any monetary gain but I am going to pursue a more satisfactory reason as to what exactly happened.

I absolutely cannot say enough about the ER doctor and his staff as well as ALL of the people at the Oakland's children hospital. They are truly fantastic, and we are so very lucky and blessed to have an apparently great outcome out of this whole ordeal. As sick as it may sound, I could not and would not survive the death of one of my children. They are the only good thing on this planet that have came from my existence.

If you do have children, PLEASE make them put on the helmet. And if you ride yourself, put one on. The majority of head injuries in the children's trauma unit are from skate boards and bikes. And I was told by the doctor that it is a miracle that Gage recovered so well with the amount of bleeding he had. There are many who are not so fortunate and remain permanently impaired, God help them. No parent should ever have to feel that fear and it is one that I will not soon forget.

The exact thinking thats wrong with our country. Why can't you just be happy your son is alive and no lasting side effects. Why you are at it, why don't you sue the bike manufacturer and the city you live in too for road conditions that may have caused the accident! And maybe your son should sue you for not supplying him with a helmet or making him wear the helmet he already has?

 

Originally Posted by KingPariah

 

Originally Posted by (oIo)

wow. great thinking on your part to get to the hospital. you saved his life.

LOL @ great thinking..thats about as great of thinking as "I'm hungry, I should eat". Glad your son is okay and hopefully everything works out well in the long-term!

ummm sooo not this, do you know how many injuries go untreated/unnoticed with kids?

Sue--so ir doenst happen to another child in the same situation.

Take the money and run, then blow it on craps

fkking loser

 

Originally Posted by moscow01

Money > health of son

I'm not being mean here but fuck me man - how can you even think about $$$ when your son is ill?

Sue and pay for his college with it.

Fuck bog govt