Danger at the YMCA

Miles was jumping into the foam pit at the Santee Y in Tumbling class- all very normal- There was a new thing in the pit this big circular bolster thing and Miles was trying to jump on it. It was about as tall as he was so I was helping him jump on it. What I didn't see was there was a carabiner (a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate- or closed hook) hanging from the side of the bolster. (I guess they hang the bolster from something?) So he jumped in, hit the side of the bolster and his nostril somehow got caught on the clip and he was hanging suspended from the hook by his nostril.

I saw his nose stretched so far that I thought it was his lip (cartoonishly far) and I jumped in the pit trying to hoist him up and take his nose off the hook/clamp. I couldn't see his face though and I was in a panic screaming, "Someone HELP me!" over and over. All these moms jumped in but were just getting in the way, meanwhile I'm sinking in the pit and trying to hold him up so he's not hanging from the nose. Finally a Dad (just home from Iraq- Yay!) jumped in calmed me and Miles down and magically unhooked Miles. (Thank you mystery hero!)

Blood rushed from his face and the instructor got him ice and advised me to take him to Urgent Care. I took him to Urgent Care who said he needed a specialist and possibly surgery to repair the inside of his nose and referred him to an ENT. The ENT (Dr. Keefe) said it was a miracle he wasn't more tore up and we were sent home to watch for infection. That's the short end of my day. I'm glad it's over. By the way Miles was a trooper through the whole thing. I'm pretty sure I cried more than he did. :) I can't wait to see if his nose is black and blue in the morning...