Of Teeth and Temerity
February 10, 2009 | My Jottings
On a frigid fall night in 1984, I was playing tag in the house with my three young daughters. Daddy was on his way home from a fishing trip. Sharon was seven, Carolyn was five, and Sara was two and a half years old. Soon I sat on the couch to rest and watch them chase each other and giggle. Within seconds our fun turned to near-tragedy when my youngest daughter Sara slipped on the carpet as she rounded a corner, and came crashing down on the edge of the coffee table with nothing to cushion the blow but her front teeth. Blood poured from her mouth and she screamed for me. I quickly looked in her mouth and her four upper front teeth were gone. In just a few seconds her upper lip began to swell.
I clawed the carpet in hopes of finding the teeth, but to no avail. I grabbed a kitchen towel with ice to apply to her mouth, directed my other two daughters to keep the doors locked and to tell Daddy what had happened, and then I rushed out into the cold Minnesota night to drive Sara to the emergency room a few blocks away.
Inside the hospital Sara was calmer and the bleeding had stopped, but I was heartbroken over her missing teeth. I thought, she is only two! Will other children make fun of her as she grows up without her front teeth? I mentally kicked myself for allowing the girls to run in the house.
After checking in and giving our insurance information, I was told that all the doctors were occupied, so we were encouraged to go to the waiting area where several people were seated. It was a busy night in the ER. I stood against a wall and held Sara on one hip, and she laid her head on my shoulder while we waited.
By then I was composed enough to finally notice what surely everyone else had observed by now. In my panic and haste to locate Sara’s missing teeth and transport her quickly to the hospital, I never thought about my own appearance. Now, in the emergency room of our local hospital, I looked down at myself and blanched.
Not only was I barefoot and without a coat on a very chilly night, but I was dressed in an old, thin, torn nightgown, with nothing on underneath. Being of the buxom variety of female, I realized with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that anyone who had seen me that night had caught an eyeful. I had run out of my house carrying Sara to the car, parked down the street from the ER, and run to the entrance. I had spoken to two receptionists and now I was standing inappropriately dressed in front of several strangers, not to mention that I would soon have to see a physician about my daughter’s missing teeth.
I made a lightning-fast decision right then in the ER waiting area. My daughter was most important. Her health came before my vanity. I would lift my chin, focus on why we were there, and pretend that I was fully dressed. I would not even apologize to the doctor for the way I was (or was not) attired. I would be the Empress in her new clothes and I would not concern myself with what the peasants were thinking.
Thankfully, Sara’s suffering was short and her little teeth were not gone forever. They had been shoved up into her gums, but in time all four of them re-emerged, strong and undamaged.
Today she is a lovely 27-year old with perfectly straight teeth and a captivating smile…
…and the bottom drawer of my dresser is crammed with ankle-length, thick flannel nightgowns. 🙂
I remember that well. I was working at the Colony Kitchen and Kacie called from home to say that you had called for me to pray about Sara’s teeth. I was so concerned and your dad and I prayed. Sara was only 8 years old when she flew to Calif. by herself to see her Grandpa. What a special time that was as were all of the trips the three of the girls made to come and visit. I was always so proud of you Julie, you raised your daughters with such love and discipline. You taught them how to be self sufficient and strong in their beliefs. Julie, you have been an exceptional mother and your dad was so very proud of you. Love you, Dorothy
I laughed not very loudly as I read this. From early grade school through college graduation I was plagued with dreams of showing up at school improperly dressed (or not dressed!) For some reason, through my early first 8 years in catholic school, I was always dreaming that I was standing in the school line or walking up the stairs….in line….in my shortie pajamas. This is humerous now but was not at that time. And oh my gosh! Does anyone other than myself remember going into class in a line? Maybe it’s true…..I AM an antique. Even in my college years, I had dreams of sitting in class all of a sudden aware that I was missing certain articles of clothing. So Julie, that is a very funny, not so funny story and Sara is absolutely beautiful and I’m sure very appreciative that she has all of her teeth.
I must be an antique then too, Christy – I remember lining up all the time in school, lining up to go to lunch, lining up to wait for the bus, lining up to walk to an assembly. I have heard other people share about similar dreams as yours too – it must be pretty common…thank God they’re just dreams. 🙂
I can recall bits and pieces of that evening. Running around the square coffee table with Sharon and Carolyn; screaming and crying, you holding me, the reddish dishtowel you held to my mouth to absorb the blood.
I laughed when I read this, Mom. I remember some of your nightgowns!! Thank you for what you did. You are the best Mama!
All I can say is thank you God, because I have always loved Sara’s smile 🙂
Thanks Lar! I will tell her that, and it will make her smile. 🙂