Saturday, April 14
Broken Nose Angst...
I posted on March 21st about my 17 year old son’s encounter with an elbow at a soccer game. His nose was broken in two places by a vicious, intentional elbow. I shared my ‘parental rage’ toward the situation and toward those involved. (Yes, Blogging apparently serves as some sort of therapeutic release)It was interesting to me the response I got to the post, both with posted comments and even more so by people mentioning it to me. Evidently, there’s something encouraging to others in sharing the dark side of your soul.
Well, some of the anger (not all, just some) has subsided in the following weeks. Michael missed only one game and then began playing with a mask. (Think ‘huge piece of hard plastic with a lot of padding that restricts most of your peripheral vision’)
You would think my angst (a feeling of deep anxiety or dread) would subside a little with that big chunk of plastic guarding his nose…you would think.
Each game since he’s heading the ball numerous times in the game (angst) and at least once in each of those games the ball has hit the top of the mask and pushed it down onto the bridge of his nose (cringe). I haven’t sit down at a game for more than 30 seconds total in a month.
Well, last night…just before game time we decided if he wanted to leave the mask on the sideline he could. (The trainer had recommended 4 weeks with the mask, our doctor said 6 weeks, and it’s been 5 ½ so I guess it was time.)
It was only 4 minutes into the game until he took an elbow to the side of the nose. I went over and spoke to him on the sideline and told him it was his call, mask or no mask, he had to do what was comfortable and right for him. He reentered about 10 minutes later ‘sans mask’.
He survived. My wife and I barely did. (He actually scored twice as his team beat a major rival, 4-0. The second goal was a beautiful header off a corner kick that took my breath away for multiple reasons.)
I’m pretty sure I’m going to need therapy or sedatives to make it through the season…
Mark Nelson at 10:07 AM 0comments