Friday, September 16, 2011

Almost... disaster

I like to nap. I try to take a nap every day... and Sunday afternoon is my favorite time to nap. This past Sunday, Tom was watching football, the big kids were off doing their own thing, and the littles were playing nicely outside... perfect time for a nap.

Except that sometime during my nap on Sunday, disaster almost struck. Thankfully, mercifully almost.

A frantic Candace came running into the house to get Tom; desperate for help and not very coherent. Tom runs outside to the swing set to find Thomas, crying hard, with a very frightened Sarah and... a jump rope. A jump rope that for some inexplicable reason, Sarah thought she would attach to the top of the slide. Then it seemed like it might be fun to tie it around her neck and slide down. According to Sarah, she "fell asleep for a little" while she was hanging face down on the slide, her body weight stretching the rope taut. Candace said "her eyes did this" and demonstrated by flickering her eyelids and rolling her eyes back. She was unconscious. Thomas and Candace saved their sister's life by untying the rope; Thomas at Sarah's neck and Candace at the top of the slide. Candace then ran for help. Our beautiful daughter could be gone if they hadn't thought quickly.

We have been a little nervous about letting the littles go out back to play since then. What other dangers are lurking; things we never even thought we would have to explain? We also feel terribly guilty that neither one of us was supervising at the time. Bruises, scrapes and maybe even broken bones I would expect from playing on a swing set... possible death? Never even entered my mind.

We feel very grateful that it all ended up with nothing more serious than a rope burn and a bruise. Thank you, God, for watching over our beloved child.

8 comments:

Sha Zam- said...

Praise and prayer. Oh my goodness. Talk about traumatic. Thank you God everyone is ok.

Emily said...

Wow, how scary. So thankful she is okay.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is scary. Our boys also use their jump rope to tie things up and one time Simon started tying it around his neck but I stopped him. Now they tie up sticks and drag them around the house. So glad that everyone is OK.

Carmen

Unknown said...

Praise God everyone is safe! Must've been a pretty scary ordeal for you and the kiddos!

alainaw30 said...

Absolutely terrifying. So proud of your kids for their quick thinking and courage. Glad God was watching out for her.

Unknown said...

YAY Thomas & Candace's quick thinking!! There were a few years when I'd have sworn my boys literally went out searching for a way to hurt themselves...it was a rather tense time for me. Thank God it turned out ok for you all!

Andrea said...

Thanks be to God.

Jennifer said...

oh my gosh.......that is heart-stopping scary.....thank GOD she is okay.