A (30:23)
Yeah, yeah. He's like, let's, let's take advantage of this layoff and go visit my family. And like, I love his parents to death. Like, just very, very like Southern hospitality. So. So I'm like, yeah, sure. Like, why not? Like, I'm very, I don't know, like, I'm a Sagittarius, so I'm very spontaneous and I like to travel. So like, I was like, sure, why not? Like, let. I Just go with the flow. Yeah, let's just go. So we, yeah, we. We got tickets of plane tickets. And that was the last day of March, on March 31. And it was actually pretty cool because on the plane ride there, since like Covid was like a thing, there was no one at the airport. So as me, my husband and our two boys, and I think there's like one guy on like a business trip. We're the only ones on the plane. It's wild. And the flight attendants were like, yeah, like, the kids can obviously not run around, but they're like, they can sit anywhere they want. You can pick any seat. Like, nobody else is coming here. Like, might as well, you know. So that was pretty cool. So, yeah, we get to Texas, we just. Their parents, his parents are very chill. So like, let's, you know, let's go get some food. We'll go back to the house. They have a pool. They're like, let's chill in the pool. You know, let's just relax. They're like, all the stuff that's happening in the world right now is craziness. So let's just kind of, you know, chill out, enjoy your time here, you know, like, let's just make. Make a time out of it. So, yeah, so we get to March 31st and everything's fine. So then the next day is when the accident happened, but we didn't know it happened that day. So that's April 1st. I was out grocery shopping with my mother in law and my husband was at home with the kids and my father in law. And so it's. My father in law's grandmother was living with them. So it's my husband's great grandma and then my kid's great great grandma. So she's like a little old lady. And they're like, oh, yeah, this is granny. She's living with us because I had never met her before. So she's living there. So she's there with them and they're just like playing with her and all that. So I got back from grocery shopping with my mother in law and we walk in and my husband was on the couch and he had our son just like resting on him. Like it was. That's normal. He was just napping. He's like, hey. He's like, while you were gone, he had fallen. There was like their staircase. And right next to like the staircase is the living room. So my husband was like, right there. And he's like, yeah, I heard him fall. And it was like right on the bottom Step. And he's like, I thought he may have like broken his arm because he was holding his arm or something and it sounded like he like hit like a, a bone or something. He's like. But I checked him, you know, like he cried for like a minute, like his normal cry. And then he was like, then he was fine. Like he, he cried for a minute, he got up and was fine. And now he's, you know, just laying on me and he's like, yeah, I checked everything, everything was fine. And he snapped back like he normally does. So I'm like, okay. Like, didn't think anything of it. Like, kids fall all the time. It, from what he had said, it wasn't like dramatic. Like, oh my God, he tumbled down the stairs, right? He's like, he was just at the bottom step and it looked like or sounded like he had just like maybe taken a step or tried to take a step and he had fallen. But he's like, I was right there and he's like, I, you know, he cried for a minute and then was good. So like I said, they, especially boys, they will get hurt all the time. They are crazy. So that was just normal. So we're like, okay, like he's fine. And I just shoved it to the back of my mind like I said, it happened. They fall all the time, they cry and they get back up and you're good. So we go about our day. We eat lunch, we have dinner, go to bed. Well, the boys went to bed. And then I remember my husband and I were like, oh, we're gonna go sit out in the hot tub for a minute. So I let my mother in law know. I'm like, if either of them get up, like, because some it was normal for them to like, like get up and be like, oh, I want to go lay with mom and dad. I'm like, if any of them get up, I was like, just. I'm like, I have my phone. Just like shoot me a text and we'll come right back in. I even think we had like a baby monitor outside with us because they were just right upstairs. And she's like, yeah. And she. And her room was right next to theirs too. So it's not like we were just leaving them there. So we were out there for probably like five minutes. And he started crying. My youngest son who fell, he started crying. My mother in law like texted me and she's like, hey, he's not calming down. Can like, could you please come in? So I was like, okay, sure. Sometimes he just you know, he just wants his mom or his dad. And. Yeah. And so she hands him over to me. We get inside, she hands him over to me, and he's crying. And then, you know, I just, like I said, it's kind of normal. I just calm him down. And after he calms down and we're like, laying in bed, I, like, turned to my husband and I was like, this doesn't sound like his normal cry. I'm like, it does. It sounds like he's in pain. And so my husband and I don't fault him for this at all, but he was like, you know, we traveled yesterday. We're in a new place. We did a lot today. We went swimming. A lot of new things. Maybe it's just like being in a new environment. You know, he could be just like really tired or stressed out. Like, maybe that's it. And I was like, okay, you know what? Like, maybe. Maybe that is it, you know? You know, we're just. I felt the same way. I'm like, okay, like, I'm exhausted, so I'm sure he is too. But I was just like this. Just the sound, it just doesn't sound right to me because, like, you know, as a mom, like, you know, their cries, you know, when they're hungry, you know, when they're upset, you know, when they need to be changed. Like you. It just. It comes natural to you. And so I was just. That was just like another time where I was like, I just should have listened to myself. But I'm like, you know what? Maybe he's right. Like, you know, it's just. It's been a long day, so. So, yeah, so he went to bed that night. He slept in the bed with us, perfectly fine. Slept the whole night, woke up fine because he'd always wake up before us. So then he woke up fine. And I remember we went about our day. We had breakfast. And I remember after breakfast the kids wanted to go play in the pool. And like I said, we had nothing to do. So we're like, sure, why not? It was like 9:30 in the morning. So we're like, okay, why not? So we go in the pool. And I remember our youngest son, he found out, like, he couldn't swim on his own. Obviously, he had like the little floaties. But we showed him how he could run and jump into the pool into our arms. And like, he loved it. And like, he's like my active one. Like, he is just go, go, go all the time. So it was like the funniest thing he Just kept running and, like, jumping into our arms. Like, he did that for, like, 20 minutes and just, like, laughing and having a good time. Like, everything. We were just, you know, being our normal selves, like, having fun. So later in the day. It was, like, later in the morning. Early afternoon, maybe? No, it wasn't early afternoon. Excuse me. It was late morning, and he still took naps. My son. So he fell asleep on the couch upstairs because it was, like, a loft area, and then it was the downstairs. So he fell asleep up there on the couch. And my husband was like, hey, me and my dad are gonna go grab some lunch. I'm gonna go with him, and then we'll be right back. So I was like, okay. So I don't know what I did, but, like, he fell asleep on the couch. I'm like, I'm gonna go. I don't even know what I was doing. I was just like, I'm just gonna go get some chores done or do something. Like, I'm. He'll let him take his nap. I'm not gonna move him. He looks comfortable. And so. And like, the coach. It's just like a normal couch. It was carpet like this, and I put, like, an autumn in there. So, like, in case he did roll, like, nothing would happen. Like, it wasn't like, a. He'd be falling to, like, hardwood floor and, like. Yeah, hurt himself. Like, he was. Like he was safe. Like, I felt comfortable just leaving him there. So I might have just been, like, going downstairs. My other son was down there, and I was just, like, hanging out with him. And then I remember going to do the dishes, and I heard my son crying upstairs. And so I was like, okay, let me go grab him. So I stop what I'm doing, and I go up there and, like, it looked like he had rolled off of the couch, but, like, only, like, his lower half of his body. His body was, like, on the ground. Like, he was on his knees, and his upper body was, like, resting on the couch, and he was, like, crying. So I went over to him, and I pick him up, and I'm like, okay. Like, he's. He still seems tired. Let me go try to put him back to sleep, maybe in our bed. I go into our room, and I go to lay down with him, and I'm So. He's two at the time, so he's still little. So I'm holding him on my chest, and I'm just, like, rubbing his back, and he quiets down, and I'm, like, rubbing his back, and I'm like his skin feels really cold and clammy. And I'm like, what the hell? So I like, look down and like, his skin is like discolored. Like he almost looks like he's like gray. I'm like, oh my God. So I'm like, is he breathing? So I had my rest in my hand on his back and it was like so slow. And his heartbeat was slow too, like really slow. And I'm like, oh my God, he's not breathing. So I try like, waking him up and like, he'd raise his head, not even opening his eyes. He'd cry for a minute and then his head would go down. So I'm like, holy shit. Like, I need. We need to get help. So I'm panicking. So I immediately, I jump up, I grab my phone and I call my husband. I'm like, I don't even say hi, hello? Nothing. I'm like, you need to get back here now. We need to bring him to the hospital. Something is wrong. And I hang up. I'm like, and that's it. I just left it at that. I'm like, maybe he'll take that as like, this is an emergency. Like, get the back here. So I screamed down the stairs for my mother in law. I was like, something is wrong. He's not breathing. Like, what do I do? And so obviously, like, she's coming from, like, doing whatever. And so she's like, oh, like, what's wrong? And I'm like, he's not breathing. Like, I need, we need help. We need to go to the hospital. So she's like, okay, okay, like, let's calm down. Let me see him. So she, she takes him and she's like, oh, okay. And I don't even know if, like, she saw like, what I saw, but I think she was just trying to like, be the calm person in the situation because I was like, we need to go. Like, there's an emergency. And she's like, okay, like, let's, let's figure this out. Like, let's take a step back and like, look. So she takes him from me. She's like, let's go next door. Because the next door neighbor, she's a retired pediatrician. She's like, let's see if she has like any advice. Like, because at this point I have 911, like ready to call. Or I'm like, we didn't need to do that or go to the hospital ourselves because the hospital from their house was like a five minute drive, like, not far at all. So I knew we could get there really fast and I figured we could get there faster than calling an ambulance and waiting for them. So she still has him. She's like, let's go next door and ask her, the pediatrician what she thinks. So we walk outside and just as we're walking outside, the neighbor's husband was like on a bike ride and he walks up and he like takes one look at us and he's like, hey, like, like, what's up? She's like, hey, like, do you mind just grabbing your wife? Like, we just want to ask her a question about her son. He's like, yeah, sure. So he like runs in and she comes out, she's like eating her lunch. She's like, hey, what's up? And my mother in law's like, hey, like, what's your opinion? Like, does he look okay? Like, do we need to bring him to the hospital? And she took one look at him and she's like, I don't like the way he looks. You need to get him to an hos a hospital immediately. Like, I. She's like, yeah. She's like, nope, I do not like the way he looks. Like, you need to go right now. And as she's saying that, I see the truck my father in law is driving and they're coming down the street. So I'm like telling them, I'm like signaling them to like, come on, like, hurry up. So I have my son now. They pull in, I like hand him over immediately to my husband. I like whip the door open, I hand him. I said, I need a graph. I don't know what I was thinking. I was like, I need to grab my shoes and his diaper bag because his diaper bag had my wallet in it and like all our medical information and all that stuff. So I'm like, I don't know what was happening, like in my head, but I'm like, and I didn't have shoes. I'm like, I'm not walking in a hospital without shoes. Like. And also, we didn't know how serious this was. I just knew that, like he wasn't breathing. Obviously that's very serious. But I'm like, I let me just grab my stuff. Yeah, and it was right there. So I grabbed my stuff and I come back out and I hop in the back seat and all. My husband, he has no idea what the hell's going on. All I said was, there's an emergency, you need to come now. So he's like holding him up in the front seat. And just like, hey, like, wake up. Come on. Like, stay with us. Wake up. And he's freaking out. Now we're on the way to the hospital and we. There's like, it's only like one turn. It's only like one set of traffic lights that you have to hit before you get to this hospital. And you have to turn, turn left. And I remember we got to the left turn and it was a red light and I screamed at my father in law, I'm like, run through the red light right now. We need to get there, like, cut everyone off. And like, he's the type of person, he's very like laid back and just like calm and quiet. So he's just like, I. I don't know what to do. And as soon as I'm like in the middle of like screaming at him, it turns green and he just like goes, but like, I felt so like, I think about that all the time. And I'm like, I go up to him, like anytime I see him. I'm like, I'm so sorry for yelling at you. He's like, I really don't care. He's like, I understand. Yeah. So we get through the light and we get to the hospital. Like I said, it's like a five minute drive. And meanwhile, like, I'm like, you need to keep him awake like our son. I was telling my husband you about our son. I'm like, you need to keep him away, keep shaking him. I'm like, I don't care what you need to do. Keep him like somewhat like awake. Because like I said, he like lift his head with his eyes closed and cry and then it would just slump down and be. He'd be like limp. So I'm like, I don't even care. Just keep doing that. I don't care that he's crying. Crying is good because he's making noise. It means he's still breathing. Like, just keep doing that. So we did that the whole way to the hospital. And then my, my father in law pulled up to the emergency room. We hop out and like I said, Covid is a thing. So like they're, they're very strict about who's there and masks and all of that. We just bolt through all of the doors we go through. We don't even go to the front desk. We just start screaming. My husband starts screaming. He's like, he's not breathing. We need help. So they might. And like, they must have seen us and been like, who the are these crazy people? Because we just like, bolted in. Like, we were breaking into the place. So they're like. A nurse was, like, right there, and she's like, oh, okay. And she, like, scans her little badge and, like, lets us back into, like, where the rooms are. And she, like, had us lay him down on the hospital bed. And at that point, like, I don't even remember, like, what was going on. I just remember, like, a million people rushed in. I don't even know who they were, what their job titles were. Like, nothing. And, like, they hooked. They did a little finger thing and hooked him up, and it had, like, his vitals and stuff. Thank God. I don't know what any of that meant at the time, because I'm sure the numbers were really low and really bad. And if I had known what they were saying, I probably. It probably would have, like, made me spiral just because of the state that he was in. But, yeah, I, like. I guarantee, like, every hospital staff was that was working in that emergency room then had been in that room. Like, that's what it felt like. And I had backed up and was letting them do their thing and, like, sat down. And then there was, like, one staff member being like, okay, like, what happened? And I'm like, I don't know. He woke up from a nap. He wasn't breathing very well, and now we're here. Like, I don't know what happened. And then he's like. It's like, okay, well, he's like, did he fall or, like, get hurt or anything? I was like, no. Like, nothing. Like, nothing happened. We had a normal day. Like, he's good. But they just kept asking, like, okay, like, are you sure he didn't fall? I'm like, no. Like. Like I said, like, the fall before the. The day before, it just, like, didn't come to mind. No, because it was such a normal thing. Like, kids fall. They get up. Like I said, they get up in their fall. Fine. But then I'm like, oh. I was like, well, when I found him up, like, when I found him, when he first woke up from his nap, he had. Was, like, half rolled off of the couch. I'm like. But it didn't look like he had fallen far. Like, it was. It was literally just, like, kneeling on the carpet. I'm like, and it's carpet. It's not hardwood. Like, he didn't hit anything. Like, I'm like, he might have rolled off the couch during his nap, but, like, it's not. Like, the couch is very close to the ground. Like, it. It wouldn't Cause anything. So in my mind, that's what I was thinking. I was like, okay. So I'm like, yeah, that he had that fall, maybe that's it. And they were like, oh, okay. And I just like, at that point, like, we didn't know the severity of it. So I just remember sitting in the chair and I'm like thinking, I'm like, okay, well, like we're in a hospital. They know what they're doing, they're going to make him better. And then we're going to go about our day. Like, I don't know what's causing this, but they're going to figure it out and they're going to help us and everything's going to be fine. So after like a few minutes of asking us just like basic questions about everything that had happened, they're like, okay, we're going to send him up to get a CT scan. It'll be like a couple minutes, but we're going to go do that. You can't come with us because like, you only, like certain people can go, like in those rooms. So like, you just got. You guys just wait here. We'll be back in a minute. So they go and do that and then like, I don't even remember who it was, but someone had come in and they're like, okay, let's go wait in the waiting room. Because like, for whatever reason, they're like, let's just go wait out there instead of in here. So we go to the waiting room and like in the waiting room, it's like the area where like it's. There's like the barrier. It's like a see through barrier and there's a door and you need a badge to get into like the patient rooms. So we were like, just in the regular waiting room area. There's people there. It's just a typical like emergency room waiting room. And so we were sitting, I was sitting in the chair and my husband, I don't even know like what was going through his head, but he was just kind of like pacing. And all of a sudden we see them roll our son. Because we can see that room that we were adjusting because it's right across from us. And we see them roll him in and they shut the curtains and my husband like loses his mind and he's like, what are they doing with our son? Why can't we see him? Why won't they let us in there? Like, we need to go in there and see what's wrong, like, what's going on. Screaming in this waiting room, and I don't know what to think. And I'm like, holy. Like, I'm literally like. I just remember sitting there, like, staring at the ground, like, oh, my God. Like, I. I don't know what to do. So he's losing his mind. And one of the front desk ladies comes and she's like, sir, you need to calm down. If you don't call calm down, I'm going to call security on you. He's like, call security. I don't care. That, like, let us see our son. Something's wrong and they're not telling us what's wrong. Like, we're his parents. We need to figure out what's wrong. So obviously she calls security. And the security dude comes and it's just like this wicked show. He's like, hey, like, what's going on? And my husband, like, loses it. He's like, they won't let us see our child. Like, what is going on? And he's like, hey. He's like, I'm sure there's a reason why they're doing their thing. They're getting him help there. He's like, you gotta calm down, though. There's people in here who are. Because there was like a full emergency, like, a full waiting room. And so. So my husband's like, okay, fine. Like, I'll calm down. Like, whatever. So he's like, okay, like, cool. So he said the security guard just kind of hung out there. So that happened. So he calms down. And then they're like, we need to admit him to the hospital since he's being taken care of here. And he had the scan. So he's like. So somebody's like, you need to come fill out all these forms. And I'm just like, my head is in the clouds. I'm like, okay. Like, I have is. I have all of, like, all our medical information and everything in, like, my little wallet. So I'm like, right down the hall and I can, like, look to. It was like, to my left and I could see the, like, where his room was. It wasn't very far. So she's asking me a million questions. And I'm like, there. I'm just, like, spitting out whatever I'm thinking. I'm like, when's his date of birth? What? Like, like all this medical information and all this, like, insurance information. I'm like, I just threw the cards at her. I threw my wallet. I'm like, take whatever you need. I'm like, I. I don't know. Okay, well, I need you to sign all these forms. And I'm literally signing and looking. Signing and looking to make sure, like, nothing's going on, because they're still in there with the curtain closed. So I'm just, like, signing whatever. And then one of the doctors, I guess, went up to my husband, was like, hey, we need to talk to you guys. And I'm, like, still signing stuff. And I didn't hear this, but my husband is like, hey, come over here. Like, they need to talk to us. And I told the lady that. I'm like, I need to go right now. She's like, no, no, take your time. Whatever. So I, like, threw the thing down, and I, like, go over, and it's like this little, like, not like a. It's like they have like, the little. The dividers. Like a seat like this and the dividers and the person across from you. And it was some lady in, like, us, like, a doctor's outfit. She's like. She's like, I need you guys to sit down. And I know from, like, movies and TV shows, like, when they tell you to sit down, like, something's wrong. Like. Like, it's like, it's serious. It's bad. So I sit down, and my husband's like, no. Like, I'm not sitting down. He's like, just. He's like, just tell me, like, give us the news. Like, what's wrong? So I remember just sitting across from her, and she was, like, looking dead at me, and she's like, so we did a CT scan of your son. He has a fractured skull, and it's causing a brain bleed, and his brain is swelling up, and that's what's causing him to, like, go in and out of consciousness right now. She's like, we're not a children's hospital, so we're gonna. We're gonna call a med flight to get him over there. Cause that's the fastest way. But she's like, we put him in a medically induced coma for right now because it's gonna slow down the swelling, and it's not gonna, like, hopefully slow it down, not make it worse. So, like, she's like, that's what we're doing right now. We called the med flight. They're on their way. They're like. But for right now, they're like, you need to. You're gonna talk to the police officer. That's like, you need to go talk to him. And so I turn around, and there was a police officer right behind us. And so I was like. And, like, so if. If I can, like, backtrack. Yeah. So, like, while she's telling me this, like, I. Like, my face was, like, literally just blank. I, like, had no emotion. I wasn't crying. I wasn't literally just nothing. I. I just remember I was, like, leaning forward and just, like, staring at her like this while she's telling me, like, it didn't feel real, like, at all. I'm like, this didn't happen. Like, this. This wouldn't. Like, this couldn't happen to me. This couldn't happen to our son. Like, he was fine. He. Like, he went to. He went and took his nap, and before that, he was fine. We were in the pool. We were. Had breakfast. Like, everything was good. And now you're telling me, like, he. This is what's wrong? And I think the only thing I asked her, I'm like, is he gonna be okay? And she was just like, I don't know. She's like, the brain is such an unknown thing. She's like, I. I can't tell you if he's gonna be okay or not. It's like, I just. I can't. She's like, I'd be lying to you. So I'm like, okay. So then she was like, yeah, you need to speak. You guys need to speak to the police officer or whatever. So I turn around, and there's a police officer just standing, like, right behind us. And he's like, okay, who. Which statement am I getting first? And I'm like, what's going on? I'm like. I was like, me. I guess, like, he's like, okay, let's step over here. Because I'm. Because at first I was like, oh, can we. Can we go with you together? Like, me and my husband? He's like, no, I need to talk to you guys separately. So in my head, I'm thinking, oh, my God. Like, he's here because my husband was freaking out in the. The waiting room, and now we caused the scene, and people are probably complaining. And I'm like, they called the police on us. Because he, like, didn't stop. And that's what I was thinking. Something. Okay, great. So I go, and. And he's like, okay, so, like, tell me everything that happened. So I start saying, like, oh, like, you know, they took him away, and he started freaking out, and he's like, no, no. He's like, what. What happened with your son? How did this happen? So I was like, oh. So I gave him the whole rundown, everything that happened. He woke up from his nap Wasn't really breathing. We came straight here. And he's like, okay, well, what caused him to be like this? And I'm like, I have no idea. We don't know. He was like, okay. He's like. And that's it. So he's like, you can. I'll talk to your husband now. And I'm like, oh. I'm like, is. I'm like, is that it? Like, what's going on? Like, why. Why do you need this statement? And he kind of just sat there and sighed. He's like, okay, well, he's like, the doctor who did your. Did your son's CT scan had seen that there was past trauma on his right side of his brain. So we believe that this is a case of child abuse. And I'm like, what the. Like, like, never in my life did I think that I would ever be, like, accused of, like, child abuse, because that's, like, not who I am. Like, that's not how I was raised. That's not how I'm, like, raising my kids.
