How did my 22 year old son end up in a Flagstaff, Arizona hospital with his toenails painted green? It all started with a houseboat trip to Lake Powell with some dear family friends. It was a large houseboat and I believe the total number of people on board ended up being somewhere around 20. My son had been playing hard on the lake for several days, he was tired and decided to take a quick “power nap” to recharge.
When he woke up he discovered his toenails had been painted with green nail polish. Because nail polish remover was no where to be found he decided not to worry about it, instead he went back out on the lake to perfect his wakeboarding “back flip”. I am told he was “killing it” right up until he missed the landing on his last flip. His spectacular wipe out resulted in his left pelvis being dislocated. I knew something was wrong when my friend called me and I listened to her say “your son is OK, but….”. She then went on to explain what had happened. After my sons fall he was in too much pain to be lifted and placed back into the ski boat. Our friends stabilized him in the water with additional life vests while the other ski boat was sent back to the house boat to retrieve Kay, (a family member who is a physical therapist). Kay was able to instruct those on the boat how to lift my son out of the water and onto the boat’s back platform safely while causing him as little discomfort as possible. Kay monitored my son on the slow ride back to the houseboat and the hour before the life line helicopter arrived with the paramedics. Thank you Kay!!!!!
My son received emergency medical treatment from 2 wonderful Life Line paramedics. He was then life lined to the Medical Center Hospital in Flagstaff in Arizona where he received excellent medial care by their ER staff. I will be FOREVER grateful to each individual who treated and cared for my son. Mere words are not enough to express my sincere gratitude!
Because this was an extremely painful injury my son was given a significant amount of pain medication to get him to a near pain free state. Being nearly pain free also meant he was extremely LOOPY by the time they landed at the hospital. What do you think my son was most concerned about in his loopy state of mind? Providing an explanation to each member of the medical staff who treated him why his toenails had been painted green! The Dr. and staff who treated my son thoroughly enjoyed both his concerns and explanation as to why he was sporting green toenails.
His left pelvis was reset that morning and he was released later that afternoon. Fortunately my wonderful niece (Deb’s oldest daughter) happens to live 3 hours away. I gave my niece a call and she immediately dropped everything to drive to Flagstaff where she retrieved my son, turned around and got right back in her car and drove another 3 hours to return home. My son spent the night in her home under her watchful eye. The next morning she fed him breakfast, drove him to the airport and put on a plane bound for home. Oh, how I love my family!!!
My son is now resting peacefully on our living room couch. I’m thrilled to have him home where I can smother care for him until he is recovered enough to return to his college life at BYU. What was the first to do item on my list? Nail polish remover! Second, there is only one other thing I can do to help him feel better, feed him some fabulous comfort food like these divine Brown Sugar Glazed Ham and Pineapple Kabobs. You do not need a reason like green painted toenails or a huge life changing event like dislocating your pelvis to make these kabobs. Just make them, because……
This Pin Totally Rocks!
Before I sign off both my husband and I want to take a moment to once again express our deepest appreciation to those of you who cared for and treated our son. He is a 22 year old young man in his own right, but to us he will always be our “boy”. It is moments like these where you realize how much you appreciate people you do not know who step in to care for your child in your absence. I have found that quite often those who are in the medical field tend to be very modest about the service and care they provide for others. Many times when thanked I have heard them say “I was just doing my job” or “that’s what we are hear for”. Well, thank you again to the staff at the Medical Center Hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona for “being there” and “doing your job”. My husband and I are hard pressed to find the words that can adequately convey our gratitude for the care and treatment you provided for our boy.
This recipe is actually a combination of two pins. The recipe for the kabobs comes from Cris at Goodness Gracious and the The Brown Sugar Coconut Glaze is from Nikki at the Chef in Training. Both Cris and Nikki’s blogs are full of amazing recipes that you will love!
Glazed Ham and Pineapple Kabobs
Ingredients
- Fresh or canned pineapple chunks
- Ham slices cut into squares
- Kabob sticks
- 1 Pineapple trimmed and cut into wedges
- ½ cup butter melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 teaspoon imitation coconut extract
Instructions
- If using wooden kabob sticks, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes before barbecuing.
- Alternate ham squares and pineapple chunks on your kabob sticks.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine melted butter, brown sugar, honey and coconut extract. Warm the glaze in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then lather it over the warm barbecued pineapple and ham kabobs.
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Toni says
Hi Tracy! How wonderful that your son had such great family and friends to get him such excellent care! Glad to hear that he is back under “Mom’s watchful eye”; think of the mileage you will get out of this experience next time you tell him to be careful. But just because I’m nosy, how DID he get the green nailpolish on his toes? 😉 God bless!
Tracy says
Hey Toni!
While he was taking his power nap a darling young adult gal painted his toenails mint green and hid the nail polish remover! Quite the day of “firsts” for my son. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Tracy
Lynn says
It is a wonderful world when you stop to realize how the kindness of strangers and family too – can ease the angst of our loved ones. (and our own as well) I love the story of the green toenails……the doctors and nurses are probably still laughing at that one.
Blessing to you and yours
Tracy says
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your kind words! I think the doctors and nurses will be laughing about the green toenails for awhile! The news and media are usually filled with so much negativity, it is so refreshing when you have experiences like these that redeem your belief in the goodness and kindness of others. Have a great day, Tracy
Sue Farmer says
Tracy, So happy your son is ok!! How scary and hard for you to not be there with him. Glad he is home safe!!
My daughter is 38 with two boys of her own, but she is still my baby!!!
Tracy says
Hi Sue!
Thank you, it’s so, true we never stop being a “mother” to our children! It’s amazing how having children can bring the greatest worry and sorrow along with the greatest peace and joy. Thanks for commenting, Tracy
Wendy Barnes Macfarlane says
Tracy, What a heart stopping moment that must have been when you got the call! So glad he is okay. It’s amazing that he could be on a plane in such a short time! Hope the rest of his recovery goes as well. Wendy
Tracy says
Hi Wendy!
So great to hear from you! It was surprising to hear he was released from the hospital the same day. We are waiting to hear results back from his CT scan and we are hoping for the best case scenario. Hope your family is doing well! Thanks, Tracy
Mariel @ Or so she says... says
These look AWESOME, friends. I’ll have to try them, for sure! Pinned!
Tracy says
Mariel,
Thanks! And thanks again for pinning to your board! Here’s to a great football season, Tracy
Laura says
Made these tonight and they were delicious!! I added onions and bell peppers to the skewers, and served with coconut jasmine rice. We had a lot of glaze leftover, which I will save for next time.
Tracy says
Hey Laura,
I’m so happy you enjoyed my Glazed Ham and Pineapple Kabobs! Adding onions and peppers is a great idea. Thanks for following us and leaving your kind comment, Tracy