Sunday 28 May 2006

Inside a Sicilian hospital

After dinner on our final evening we headed to the resort's piazza for some dancing. There was a kid disco, and adult dancing afterwards. Cameron was doing some dancing, when he slipped over and landed on his wrist. 

Crying out in pain, Phil took a look at it and says "I think it is broken" I said, "Give it awhile, he will forget about it, and it is probably only sprained." 

Cameron fell asleep for awhile, but at about 11.30 he woke up, he was crying out in pain. So, Phil took him to the hospital in the next town.....with our handy European language electronic translator in tow. The resort called a taxi, and Cameron and Phil set off into the Sicilian night. The hospital was very quiet and there was no one around. Phil was not impressed. The taxi driver was very friendly, and stayed with Phil and Cameron to try and help out. Although the taxi driver and the graveyard shift staff didn't speak any English, and all our Italian relates to food and "piccola" it became a game of international charades.

Cameron was examined. With the right sign language, it was made clear that Cameron may have fractured his wrist and was sent to X-Ray. Luckily Phil has dealt with these a lot at work, and was able to get Cameron all set up so the X-Ray could be taken (how do you tell a 5 year old to stay still whilst everyone else runs from the room to avoid radiation, when he doesn't speak the same language?) 

Phil and the radiographer checked the films and it was clear that there was a small hairline fracture. Cameron and Phil were sent back to emergency, where the staff were not too keen to plaster it they wanted Cameron to go to Palermo to have it set the next day. Phil was not all that unhappy with this, and got them to wrap it tightly as Cameron would be back in Berlin where he could get it set the next day. The taxi driver stayed with them the whole time. Phil was really grateful, he wasn't much help, but at least he tried! They finally made it back to the resort at about 3 am. 














From rested and relaxed to stressed and sleep deprived in one Italian dance move!
Cameron is no John Travolta.

1 comment:

francesca said...

How is the kid? Has he recovered? I am really sorry to hear what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Waiting for you in the green and sunshine Tuscany!
Fran