Thank you so much for reading my story, I hope that you enjoy it. I love to receive feedback and hear what you liked or didn't. xx Mica
As always, everyone is over 18
Josh, my son, had an accident at work. Nearly serious, but bad enough. I was waiting at Casualty to collect him and take him to his home. We could then pick up the things he needed, and then take him back to our house, he would have to stay with us until his stitches were out in about ten days' time, then, depending on how it went, he would either stay with us a bit longer or go back to his.
"Hi mum." Josh walked out through the automatic doors to the waiting area where I was.
"How are the hands?"
"Numb mum, they are full of local anaesthetic, which reminds me, we have to go to the hospital pharmacy to pick up my meds. They said it was to the left out of A&E."
I looked at the signage over the door, and yes, it was that way.
"Right then baby, lets go. Have you go everything? Do you need to go to work and pick stuff up?"
"No mum, but my car is there, I need to collect that before I can get mobile again. Everything else I need is at home."
"Okay, well me and your dad will sort your car out later, let's get your meds."
There was an irritatingly long wait at the Pharmacy whilst they sorted out his drugs. He also had a letter to give to the GP, and an instruction to make an appointment with them when we got home. Whilst we waited Josh explained what had happened. He had been in the warehouse walking up an aisle and he heard a creak. Looking up he saw the shelving moving. He managed to jump back as it all came crashing down.
"Luckily, I heard it move, otherwise it would have landed on my head and that would have been game over. I doubt the hard hat would have saved me."
"You are very, very lucky."
"Yes mum. Something also cut my chest, again, easily could have gone in and done damage."
"I suspect the Health and Safety people are going to have something to say."
"Probably mum. We will see what happens, I hope I don't lose my job over this."
"Well, if you do, you can sue them for damages."
When we finally got home after a diversion to pick up some of his clothes, I got the bloody and torn shirt off, no messing, I just cut it off with the kitchen scissors. I might hang on to it in case there is a court case. A tight waterproof dressing covered a cut on his left breast. Close to his heart. Yes, it could have been much worse.
"Right then. This is going to be awkward as you can't do anything."
"What do you mean mum, I am okay. Just got bandaged hands is all."
"Okay. How are you going to go to the loo?"
"Well, I'll... I see what you mean."
"I have a solution. Wait here."
I went to our wardrobe and sorted out one of Phil's nightshirts.
"Right then Josh. You can wear this, it is your dad's nightshirt. No need for anything else, it keeps everything covered. When you want the loo, you can use your bandaged hands to pull your nightshirt up, sit on the loo, and do what you need."
"A nightie mum? Really?"
"Yes."
"Dad actually wears a nightie?" He laughed.
"Stop it. It is either that or you are naked. How will that make you feel?"
"Yes mum. Er, mum, what about if I poo?"
"Just call me and I will wipe your bottom. You can lean forward and I can just use a wet wipe. It will be fine. Let's just avoid curries for a while."
"Okay mum. I suppose."
I put the nightshirt over his head, we managed to get his bandaged hands through the sleeves, and then it was time for the rest of his clothes.
"Sit on the edge of the bed, I'll get your socks and shoes."
He sat and I undid the laces on his trainers and pulled them off, and then his socks.
"Right, stand up, let's get the rest off. You turn away from me and hold your night shirt up, I will reach around and undo your trousers and pull them down."
"God this is so annoying mum."
"Maybe, but you are alive to be annoyed." I reached around, undid the belt, then the waistband, grabbed his trousers and pants and pulled them down in one movement. He stepped out of them.
"Right. You are decently covered. You can do much for yourself. Your dad or me will have to feed you. Cold drinks and a straw will be okay. You can use Alexa to control the TV and lights, so, pretty much we should be okay. I can liquidise your food and give you a big straw if you prefer."
"God no mum, I'm not a baby."
Getting a doctor's appointment proved impossible. Since the pandemic they hardly ever saw anyone face to face. They gave me an appointment to see the nurse in a weeks time to change his dressings and check his stitches. If Josh started having issues then I could phone back and they would re-evaluate. The health service in this country had gone to the dogs I decided, although the hospital did a fine job looking after Josh.
Josh's boss phoned me, she said he absolutely had nothing to worry about, one hundred percent not his fault. They would keep paying his full salary whilst he was off, they were all so pleased that he had not been more seriously hurt. They were investigating the causes and would implement whatever to make sure it couldn't happen again.
Life went on slow for a few days. Josh's medication made him quite sleepy, and Paul and I took it in turns to help him eat, the toilet situation was not an issue, I had to use the wet wipes once and it was just methodical.
Some girls from his office popped in to see him, I left them to it in the front room, there was a degree of giggling and what sounded a bit like banter. My mum came over and sat with him for a while, I took that opportunity to nip to the supermarket and get some much needed food. I got minced meats, I could do easy things to eat like Cottage pie, Shepherds pie, Spaghetti Bolognese, that sort of thing, easy to spoon up and feed Josh with.
Paul had checked in with Josh, "he wants a chat with you about something, no idea what." Paul had said as he ate his toast before going into the office.
"Fair enough. I'll take him a flask of coffee up when you've gone, he can talk to me then if he wants."
With much trial and effort, I had discovered a drinks flask that we could make work. It had a top that popped up, and he could open that with his chin or nose. It then revealed a drinking spout, Josh could grip the flask with his arms and get himself a hot drink. He could shut it again with his chin. It gave him a warm drink throughout the morning. In the afternoons he preferred cold drinks.
I gave Paul a kiss and a cuddle and he went off to work. I made Paul his flask and took it into him, I would go and get showered and dressed later, but first I wanted to know what he wanted to see me about.
"I have a problem mum. A real problem."
"Okay, well, tell me."
"It is difficult mum, honestly I have been wanting to say something for days, but, I can't. It is too embarrassing mum."
"Don't be silly Josh, I am your mum, you can say anything to me, and your dad. Anything, to either of us."
"God mum, no, not dad, not this."
I was getting worried, what could it possibly be that he needed to talk to me about rather than his dad.
