My Son Fell Off a Cliff & Remedies Used Post-Op
John Isaac (17yo) was biking on a hiking trail at Pinnacle Visitors Center. He was going too fast and lost control and went careening over the side. I’ve been told it was a 40 foot drop. He told us he was scratching, grabbing, trying desperately to find something to break the fall. He was wearing a helmet and knee pads. He landed on a ledge — and if he had not, there was another 100 foot drop to a body of water.
His best friend, Jett Herrington was close behind, called 911 and stayed with him till late that night at the hospital. It took 2 hours for EMS to extract him.
My husband was in Kentucky. I called friends to stay with our younger kids then rushed to the hospital to meet the ambulance. Then waited 90 minutes in the parking lot. I didn’t know he had fallen so far; I was simply told he had a head wound and “was in a tricky spot.” The Lord was gracious to quell my fears. I was at complete peace waiting for them.
Later one of the emergency workers posted on Facebook that it was the most dangerous situation he had responded to “high angle extraction on a steep incline.”
The ER gave him 23 stitches in his face. He broke all the bones on the left side of his face yet no significant damage to his eye. He will need annual exams to keep glaucoma at bay and will be a candidate for retinal tears and sinus infections. He also fractured his elbow; as of now it doesn’t need surgery. And sheared a molar that will need a crown. There’s a great likelihood he could loose other teeth later in life from trauma to the roots but we can’t know that now.
No concussions or spinal injuries. The Lord sent angels to carry him down that cliff!
On the third day after the accident, the otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat doctor) did reconstructive surgery and added 3 titanium plates in his face. The swelling and pain he experienced the first week was intense.
It could have been so much worse! Coming home to his messy room the day after the accident gave me a new perspective on every piece of clothing on the floor.
I am glad he is alive. He played drums last night at church, two weeks after the accident. I was undone when the band played Great is Your Faithfulness to Me.
Thank you to all who have prayed for this child. I don’t understand the mercies of God. Especially when a man fell half as far this week in Arkansas and died. I am weepy everyday.
Home Remedies in the Hospital
When I began my crunchy food journey, it wasn’t long before I began learning about home remedies and other non-western medicine ways for healing. I shared on Instagram some of the things I did to help him after the accident and thought I would record here as well.
Arnica
One of the first additions to my new first aid kit years ago was a small vial of arnica montana. I have carried it in my purse anticipating accidents like this — as well as minor playground mishaps. Arnica helps reduce bruising and swelling. You can find it at natural food stores in gel/lotion form as well.
Within minutes of seeing my son on the gurney in the ER with a neck brace, I was dropping the small pills in his mouth. I didn’t ask the doctor or nurse. He had acute swelling on his face and the sooner arnica is administered after the trauma, the more effective it is. If you are having surgery, take it days in advance. Mommas of littles, get some for your purse!
First Food
It should be an embarrassment to nutritionists everywhere that his first food offered at the hospital was artificially colored, flavored and sugar-free jello. Gross. Where’s the real food for healing?!
I brought him nutrient dense and easy to digest raw milk egg nog made with a pasture raised egg yolk sweetened lightly with maple syrup. The nurse was happy for him to drink that instead. He didn’t eat much in the hospital. He drank kombucha and Body Armor (like Gatorade but no artificial colors or sweeteners). I brought goulash made with homemade broth in a travel mug.
Once home I made him smoothies with kefir, collagen, egg yolks and frozen fruit. Kefir is a powerhouse of probiotics; his gut was wiped clean with mighty antibiotics in the hospital. Kefir not only helps to restore gut flora but also works as a laxative.
Laxatives
Pain pills are one of the greatest advancements of modern medicine but anyone who has taken narcotics knows they can ahem, slow the system. I learned this the hard way post-delivery of my first child. I didn’t get hemorrhoids from childbirth but from straining to go to the bathroom days later - even though I had been diligent to take stool softeners and laxatives.
Armed with this knowledge, I was diligent to make sure he was hydrated and walking on the hour to the bathroom. Laying in bed can cause many problems.
Along with the kefir smoothie, mentioned above, once home and with a steady blood pressure, I started giving him high doses of magnesium. We keep Bio-Cleanse on hand from Plexus. It’s a magnesium supplement with vitamin C and proven quite effective for getting things moving.
The piece de resistance was prune juice. Go slow with the prune juice! He drank about a cup every 8-12 hours. After the third cup (day 6) he pronounced we no longer needed prune juice and we began backing off the magnesium until he was completely off the narcotics.
*he did not take laxatives or stool softeners. I do not recommend either.
Probiotics
I also gave him a double dose of ProBio5, a probiotic pill we take on a daily basis. He was given high doses of antibiotics in the ER as well as surgery. He has backed off to one a day now.
Sore Throat
He slept with his mouth open for most of the first week. Especially after the intubation of surgery, his throat was sore. My kids will ask for what we call a Sweet and Sour when they have a sore throat or cough. I use equal parts raw local honey (about 3T each, depending on mug size) and raw apple cider vinegar with a pinch of salt in a mug of warm/hot water. Honey is very soothing for an irritated throat and vinegar is antiseptic.
We have moved and are staying with friends. While there was raw honey here, the apple cider vinegar was in a plastic bottle. I don’t prefer consuming vinegar from plastic because the acidic vinegar leaches chemicals in the plastic. We had fresh lemons in the kitchen so I made him warm lemonade, substituting lemon juice for ACV.
Bromelain
Bromelain was a new to me supplement recommended by a friend.
NCCIH website says: Bromelain is promoted as a dietary supplement for reducing pain and swelling, especially of the nose and sinuses, gums, and other body parts after surgery or injury. It is also promoted for osteoarthritis, cancer, digestive problems, and muscle soreness. Topical bromelain is promoted for burns.
Turns out I had it already in my arsenal and wasn’t aware until reading the ingredients in a supplement called Ease, also from Plexus. I knew Ease was anti-inflammatory because it also has turmeric in it. My mom took Ease after her knee surgeries.
The friend who recommended bromelain takes it daily and said it was recommended to her by a surgeon for post-op recovery. That same surgeon also recommended she start taking arnica two weeks before surgery. Sounds like smart surgeon!
What I Refused
In the ER I watched the doctors and nurses like a hawk and asked questions. Though it can be intimidating, don’t be afraid to ask questions and insert yourself in the situation. No one cares for your health like you do! Multiple times during our stay both my husband I asked questions and offered alternatives along the way. This is not to say we could have replaced doctors or nurses but our involvement gave better care for our son.
He was given IV antibiotics before I really thought about it. If I could go back in time I would have respectfully asked if we could skip the antibiotics and wait and see how his body responds without them. Quite possibly they would have pushed back and I would have consented. He was covered in blood and dirt.
The doctor was reaching to administer a new vial and I asked, “What’s that one?” She told me tetanus, then I said, “I don’t want him to have it.”
There wasn’t even a second question from the doctor. She put the vial down and went on.
Days later our floor nurse was very open to our natural remedies. In fact, her mother was well versed in homeopathy and welcomed the use of arnica and probiotics.
I’m not always pro-medicine yet after an accident like his, I am thankful for modern medicine and all the advancements over the years.
What He Said
Earlier this week a friend texted me:
The Beautycounter sunscreen is worth every penny they charge for it. Love the stuff! Doesn’t run in my eyes. It’s not goopy going on. Best of all it doesn’t burn my face. Thanks for posting about it. You have ended my 3 year search for face sunscreen.
— Trey Rosenbaum, 32 yo man who works outside and daily sunscreen user
Get 20% off your first order with code CLEANFORALL20.
On the Menu
After the accident a friend started a MealTrain. It was such a blessing in those crazy days of being in the hospital and resettling afterwards. Now we’re back in the saddle and here’s what I’m making:
Make ahead breakfast burritos (inspired from someone bringing us a big batch the first morning after the accident). Brown a pound of sausage with an onion, set aside. Scramble 8-12 eggs. Mix together in a large container and sprinkle cheese over all. Reheat and eat in flour tortillas. Add salsa and avocado if ya want.
Egg Roll in a Bowl or try this saucy twist with Moroccan flare.
Sheet pan chicken - easy and yum. Added frozen green beans to the pan this time.
Burgers on the grill last night.
Mediterranean Meatball Bowls - one of my all time favs.
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be,
Julie