This is a long, and true, story.
One of my first thoughts when arriving in the London and walking across her old, stone roads, was that I must not trip. I have been very cautious on stairs and when crossing the street. But I must have become too relaxed by Wednesday.
I was walking down the sidewalk from our hotel towards the tube (subway). It is a distance that I travel several times a day. However, on this very day, I managed to catch my shoe on the curb and I tripped on landed straight on my stomach. I tried to grab hold of something, anything, but there was nothing nearby.
Several people immediately came to my aide and called an ambulance. Not only was I terrified, more terrified than I have ever been in my entire life, but I was alone and without a way to contact my husband who I was on my way to meet.
A very kind lady held my hand while I waited for the ambulance and feared the absolute worst. My little boy was not moving and had hidden himself way towards my back, which made my abdomen feel very soft, not its usual hard self. I was shaking with fear.
The ambulance arrived and the EMS men checked me out. I was fine except for a terribly bruised knee. They were unable to find a heartbeat with the stethoscope; so they recommended that I head to the hospital to be checked out. Since the baby wasn’t moving at all, despite my poking him constantly, we decided to try to find my husband via ambulance and then go to the ER.
I was to meet my husband at Westminster Cathedral for the 5:30pm service. We waited in the courtyard in front of the church for about 20 minutes, during which time, my precious boy began to move and sneak out of his corner. I was so relieved I almost began to cry.
My husband never showed up. It turns out that his train was stuck underground and a trip that should have taken 10-15 minutes took 45. He arrived at the church to find me absent and immediately started calling the hotel. Fortunately, a passerby at the time of my accident had gone to the hotel with information about where I was going, as did the Police a little while later.
All this time, I was at the hospital being checked by a doctor. Everything was fine. The baby’s heartrate was steady and strong, and my BP was in good range. I was sent home with advice to come back if anything changed. Besides being incredibly sore in my abdomen, nothing has changed.
At this point, I was alone in a strange area of London without any way to contact my husband who was terrified that something horrible had happened to his wife and child. All he knew was that I had had an accident and had been taken to the hospital.
He arrived at the hospital only to find that they had no record of me in the ER (I had gone straight to the OB). Just as I was about to give up hope of finding him, I went to the ER for a second time and there he was on the phone with our hotel. We reunited, and I told him that that baby and I are fine. Slowly, during the evening, I relayed parts of the story as I could remember them. I was still very shaken up and on the verge of tears much of the night.
We enjoyed a lovely French dinner, during which I had a tiny glass of wine, advised by the doctor for my nerves. Then we came back to the hotel. The following day was actually the hardest for me. I think I had been so strong that previous evening that I hadn’t had a chance to deal with my emotions. All the time that the baby was not moving, I could only think that I had killed him. Terrible, terrible thoughts passed through my mind. Every time I feel him move, which he does very often, I am reminded that we could have lost him. But God protected my beautiful child, and for that I am beyond thankful.
I cannot imagine the pain that a mother feels when she loses a child. The pain that I felt imagining that it could be happening to me was beyond any type of grief I have felt before. Then hearing his heartbeat brought me greater relief that I have ever known. My precious child is safe and growing stronger each moment. I have been taking slow and steady steps where ever I go. But, to be honest, I am quite terrified of tripping again. It feels like what I have heard happens after you are in a car accident and are afraid to get behind the wheel again. That is how I felt yesterday. I was afraid that I would venture out alone and trip again.
Times like this make me miss my children even more. That night, we were able to call my family and talk to both of the kids. It was so comforting to her them say “I love you”, even if Spunky called me “papa” at first instead of “mommy.” And Punky’s “see ya soon” brought a huge smile to my face.
We have a busy few days ahead of us and then we head back home. I look forward to sharing this time with my husband, but I am also anticipating hugging my little ones again.
I am so glad you and the baby are OK!!!!
Thank God you are both okay! Hope your last few days are joyful!
Glad you and baby are all right. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
I miss my “kids” when we go to Greece, and they are all 3 over 30!!!
I think there is something about that attachment that just doesnt let a mother feel comfortable without her babies near. At least this mother:)
Blessings on a safe journey home!
Wow, I would have been so scared! I am so glad that you are okay though and that it all ended well! I bet the kids will be so glad to see you too!
Thank God you are okay! That would feel scary… Do not let fear stop you though, from venturing forth again. My love to you this day!
Thank goodness for kind strangers and doctors in foreign countries, huh? So glad God sent you some guardian angels to get you and the baby checked out asap!
Yikes! What a scare/
I agree with Amanda, you had Guardian Angels with you. Hugs.
So sorry you had to go through that. Thanks be to God for his protection over your little one! Can’t wait to see you guys again.
So glad you are all safe!!! Praying that you will be able to relax and enjoy the rest of your trip. <3
That is what guradian angels are for, right? Take care and I hope your trip is less ‘eventful’! Enjoy the remainder of your time together!
I’m so glad that you and your baby boy are ok!! How wonderful that the local Londoners were so kind and helpful, too.
I am so glad that you are both okay! Thank God!
Aren’t we so wonderfully built, so our babes in the womb are so well protected!
Glory to God for His mercy to you, and I’m sorry this happened in the midst of an otherwise glorious trip.
I was going to add, hurry home, but no, enjoy it there all you can, while you can, and there’ll be plenty of time to enjoy home afterwards, too.
Keep posting those pictures!
Thank God for His tender mercies. I’m so relieved you are okay. I know that horrified feeling too. We almost lost our youngest about a week ago to a choking accident. All those “what ifs…” flood your mind afterwards. Prayers for peace for you.
Hope you have a safe trip home.
I was in tears just reading and thinking about this. Truly a horrifying incident, but glad to hear all is well.
Wow! I been away for a while and am now catching up to find that you have been not just on a trip but having a fall….sorry, couldn’t resist that silly kids thing…have a nice trip etc. Sorry for the pun and really sorry about your accident. Glad everything is well . Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Oh my goodness! I am SOOOO thankful everything is alright!!!
WOW that is so scary! I’m so glad you and baby are ok! Nathaniel must have been terrified not knowing what was going on! That is truly a dramatic story!