Big Bad Bike Day

Parker had tried to ride his bike to Grandma’s house to go swimming with Lande, our sitter. He fell off his bike on the way there and scrapped up his knee and elbow, and scuffed his hand. I had to run after them and get him cleaned up and fetch the bicycles. After getting him all settled and bandaged it was almost time to prepare for dinner and to leave for VBS.

Since I was teaching VBS, I needed to leave early to arrange my classroom and get organized. Barry would drop Parker off later. VBS was fun and very entertaining as always. Once it was over, Parker and I were just going to walk home and I would walk my bike too. He complained a little about walking and I offered to call his father to come get him. Then it dawned on me we might be able to ride double on my bike [bad idea!].

I had him sit on my bike seat holding my shoulder, while I stood on the foot pegs and pedaled. It was working until my bike came to a screeching halt! Parker’s foot was mangled in the spokes and bike frame. Instant adrenaline!

I tried reversing the direction of the tire to release his foot. He is screaming! And I am realizing - This is not working! A neighbor came to help. I then remembered that my tires have a release mechanism to remove the tire to transport the bike. This freed the foot and we were able to get in the neighbors car and go home. We decided a trip to the ER was necessary and we drove to the hospital. I feel horrible for suggesting we ride double on my bike.

An X-ray and radiologist report confirmed that Parker broke the very tip of his big toe! His first broken bone, but I am very thankful it was just the tip of his toe injured and not the entire foot.