AsIwasbusyworkingonmyworkplaninmybedroomIcouldhearmyfourchildrenplayingupstairs.SuddenlyIheardthechildrenrunningdownthestairsandshouting“FreddieFreddie.”Iheardtheword“window”andrushedoutsideheartinmouth.Mythree-yearoldsonFreddiewaslyingonhissideontheground.IcriedformyhusbandSimontodial999andwithinminutestheairambulancearrived.Theyquicklytookhiminthehelicopter.DuringtheflightFreddiewaslookingatmeandIrememberthinkingwasagoodsignbutthenhiseyesbegantoroll.Asthedoctorstriedtostabilize(稳定)himIcouldn’tbelievewhatwashappening.

WhenwearrivedatthehospitalinPortsmouththereweresomedoctorsandnurseswaitingforusandtheyimmediatelysettoworkonFreddie.IwashopelesslywishingeverythingwouldbealrightbutFreddiehadbrokenhisskullintwoplacesandbloodclotswereforminginhisbrain.Heneededsurgery(外科手术)andonlyasurgeonatanotherhospitalinBristolcoulddoit.Thismeantanotherhelicopterridebutwecouldn’tgowithFreddiebecausetherewasnoenoughspace.SimonandIdrovethelong130milesfromourhomeinnorthDevoninsilence.Neitherofusdaredsaywhatwewerethinking“Whatifwegetthereandhe’sdead?”“Ishegoingtobebrain-damaged?”

Freddiewasjustcomingoutofsurgerywhenwearrived.Thesurgeonsaidithadgonewell.WhenIfinallysawhimIhardlyrecognizemychild—hewascoveredintubesandtherewerewirescomingoutofhishead.

OnthethirddaySimonwenthometoseeourthreegirlsandtopickupsomecleanclothesforus.WhilehewasgonethepressureinFreddie’sbrainsuddenlyincreased.HewastakenintotheateragainandthistimeIfellapart.LuckilythesurgerymanagedtostabilizeFreddie.AfteralmostaweekFreddiewasfinallywokenup.Whenheopenedhiseyeshelookedatme.Hedidn’tsayanythingbutIknewstraightawaythatitwasmyoldFreddieandthathewasgoingtobealright.Overthenexttwoweekshisrecoverywentwell.AfterhelpwithlearningtoswallowagainandencouragementwithspeakinghewassoonplayingwithhisGruffalocardsandeatingmealsbyhimself.

Istilldon’tknowhowtheaccidenthappenedbutwegotsomeideafromourgirls.ClearlyFreddieandMinniehadbeensittingonthewindowledgeandFreddiemusthaveopenedittolookoutandfal