As the Easter holidays drew to a close and outside spaces began to open up, our daughter decided to treat the three younger boys to a day at their favourite zoo. They love it so much that they have annual passes, which due to the pandemic have, sadly, been gathering dust in the drawer.

However as they have been closed for so long, the zoo have very kindly, extended the passes expiry date and with the sun shining, a picnic packed, off they went for a day of fun, leaving me at home with some peace and quiet.

After meeting their cousins, they set off to find their favourite animals around the zoo. Through the reptile enclosure, slooowly passed the tortoises and sloths to reach the variety of curious marmosets. There’s a farmyard, birds of all types from flamingos balancing on one leg to kookaburras squawking from the trees and penguins, cooling off in their watery enclosure.

After their picnic lunch it was time to enjoy the huge play park, with swings and slides and roundabouts. Just what’s needed for the boys to burn off some energy and their mums to have a rest.

Then as they were thinking about rounding up the little cherubs for the journey home, twin one called to his mum as he’d hurt his wrist, falling off the “hamster wheel” in the play park.

Unfortunately it seemed as though he’d broken it and the zoos first aider was called to assist. Ambulances rarely attend children with broken limbs, instead asking the parent to take them to hospital. I received a fraught call from my daughter letting me know what was happening, then I had a long wait till they got to the hospital.

The zoo is just over 20 miles from home, but in the busy traffic took her nearly 3/4 of an hour to get back, trying not to hit too many pot holes along the way as the little man was in a bit of pain. Fortunately her cousin has sufficient seats in her car to bring the other boys home, enabling my daughter to head straight to A&E.

The X-ray showed it to be a very bad break. The doctor attempted a manipulation to straighten the bones, then he had a temporary cast put on before another X-ray. Once reviewed by the consultant, sadly  revealed he was going to need surgery 😢.

He was so brave and didn’t shed any tears until he realised about the surgery. He had a little battle with the theatre staff as they tried to place the mask over his face, but once under, he had metal wires inserted to hold the bones in place whilst they heal and before too long, he was back on the ward, smiling 💙 being discharged later that day in a temporary cast and a sling, to be reunited with his twin.

A visit to the fracture clinic on Monday, revealed the swelling has reduced and the bones are looking pretty good. The temporary cast was removed and he saw the metal wires poking through his skin. I had had a little chat with him before he went for his appointment, explaining what would happen and he might not want to look, but my daughter said he was unperturbed when he saw them. It might be a slightly different story when he goes to have them removed 😳.

He now has a solid, lime green (his favourite colour) cast on for the next three weeks. All being well, at his next hospital visit, the cast and wires will be removed, under local anaesthetic, and he can continue life as normal, obviously avoiding the “hamster wheel” at all costs 😂.

It wasn’t quite the Easter Break, we were hoping for, but he’s a brave little soldier and he will fortunately make a full recovery.