Aspie Daughter injured on Dream!

[tinkslite]

So the outside decks were being power washed on disembarkation morning. The later breakfast time we were given was of concern to us as we thought our flight was at 10:30! So we were making our way back to Cabanas, when Jessi slipped on the wet (from powerwashing) stairs between decks 12 and 11! We initially thought it was just a sprained ankle, but her leg is broken. We see the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday.......I have always loved disney, but I am pretty beside myself right now........My special needs daughter is having severe pain, darn it.

 

[bedogged]

So the outside decks were being power washed on disembarkation morning. The later breakfast time we were given was of concern to us as we thought our flight was at 10:30! So we were making our way back to Cabanas, when Jessi slipped on the wet (from powerwashing) stairs between decks 12 and 11! We initially thought it was just a sprained ankle, but her leg is broken. We see the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday.......I have always loved disney, but I am pretty beside myself right now........My special needs daughter is having severe pain, darn it.

So sorry this happened! I would be very upset.

 

[tinkslite]

I am pretty upset. The medical center cast member was there right away, and was very gentle with her. Disney did a great job of making sure we had wheelchair help from ship to home (3 different airports so kind of complex).
But the powerwashed/still drying stairs should have been well designated and roped off......Obviously. They were not.
I love disney, and I will hope to return. But I also hope they will help us out, somehow (medical deductible, or something)......This obviously left a bad taste in her/my mouth.
As a sidenote, she is having a very difficult time using crutches at all. I am considering renting a wheelchair for now.....Any recomendations?

 

[disney david]

So the outside decks were being power washed on disembarkation morning. The later breakfast time we were given was of concern to us as we thought our flight was at 10:30! So we were making our way back to Cabanas, when Jessi slipped on the wet (from powerwashing) stairs between decks 12 and 11! We initially thought it was just a sprained ankle, but her leg is broken. We see the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday.......I have always loved disney, but I am pretty beside myself right now........My special needs daughter is having severe pain, darn it.

I am really sorry to hear about this and hope she will be okay and get better really quick.

 

[disney david]

I am pretty upset. The medical center cast member was there right away, and was very gentle with her. Disney did a great job of making sure we had wheelchair help from ship to home (3 different airports so kind of complex).
But the powerwashed/still drying stairs should have been well designated and roped off......Obviously. They were not.
I love disney, and I will hope to return. But I also hope they will help us out, somehow (medical deductible, or something)......This obviously left a bad taste in her/my mouth.
As a sidenote, she is having a very difficult time using crutches at all. I am considering renting a wheelchair for now.....Any recomendations?

Disney will help out they know they did wrong your right they should of roped it off or put a sign up. They love to power wash but they need to go behind and make sure it safe for guest to walk after they get done.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I am pretty upset. The medical center cast member was there right away, and was very gentle with her. Disney did a great job of making sure we had wheelchair help from ship to home (3 different airports so kind of complex).
But the powerwashed/still drying stairs should have been well designated and roped off......Obviously. They were not.
I love disney, and I will hope to return. But I also hope they will help us out, somehow (medical deductible, or something)......This obviously left a bad taste in her/my mouth.
As a sidenote, she is having a very difficult time using crutches at all. I am considering renting a wheelchair for now.....Any recomendations?[/COLOR]

Your orthopedist could make a better recommendation for her needs and what's available locally than we could. If you need a wheelchair before your appointment, call their office.

Sorry this happened -- DCL usually puts up caution warnings in the wet areas.

 

[tinkslite]

I know that Disney usually does put up warnings and ropes off dangerous areas (including wet ones). I had only just reminded a couple of little girls not to run barefooted down marble halls the night before. Because I have a special needs child, and am the team mom for a special needs cheerleading team, I am on the lookout for roped off areas, and am not one to "just duck under this rope and cut through." My kids have always been taught to respect safety rules and instructions. Skipping the roping off and signs part of this was not ok.
I hope we don't have to have surgery, and I am still waiting to hear from Disney.

 

[thesaurinis]

So sorry to hear about your daughters accident upon the Dream. I am glad I read your post because we go next week on the Dream and our son has some special needs and his at very high risk of fracture (he has brittle bone disease) and I will be on the look out for this. He has fallen many times and broken his femur so I know how you feel.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to hear about it.
Some people don't get the hang of crutches. I agree with the recommendation to call the doctor's office for recommendations. They probably get asked a lot and will know what is available in your area.

Also, check with your medical insurance. They often have a 'preferred provider' arrangement with one company and you may have smaller copay or be 'in network' if you go with that company.

 

[tinkslite]

She will need surgery. It was a "twisting" break to the lower shin (her fibula), which also tore through ligaments and tendons. They will place a metal plate and a couple of screws upon surgery.........If not she won't walk normally, limpy.
She will be on crutches for 6-9 weeks, not able to bear weight. Then 4-6 weeks of physical therapy.
Our deductible is pretty high (think more than I paid for the whole cruise for the whole family of 5).......
She hollered from her room around an hour and a half ago, "Moooooom! I need medicine! It hurts!!"
This from a kid who NEVER complains of pain. The day her appendix nearly ruptured I thought she had period cramps. She is in a LOT of pain......
__________________

 

[of2dbeach]

wow so sad to hear this. Autistic kids have a very high thresh hold for pain. I would think Disney would help you and her both out. Sending her a gift would be a nice thing to do too. Sorry she is in so much pain, I just cant imagine it. I hope she can heal quickly and will send up prayers for all of you !

 

[ccgirl]

She will need surgery. It was a "twisting" break to the lower shin (her fibula), which also tore through ligaments and tendons. They will place a metal plate and a couple of screws upon surgery.........If not she won't walk normally, limpy.
She will be on crutches for 6-9 weeks, not able to bear weight. Then 4-6 weeks of physical therapy.
Our deductible is pretty high (think more than I paid for the whole cruise for the whole family of 5).......
She hollered from her room around an hour and a half ago, "Moooooom! I need medicine! It hurts!!"
This from a kid who NEVER complains of pain. The day her appendix nearly ruptured I thought she had period cramps. She is in a LOT of pain......
__________________

I am sure Disney would do something. It was their fault for not roping off the area. You will probably hear from them once they have all of their ducks in a row. I would be prepared to give them what your deductible is. The insurance company might also go after them too for their negligence. Did you happen to get a copy of the accident report? Good luck to your DD. Sounds like this could have happened to anyone since the wet floor was not clearly marked.

 

[tinkslite]

It absolutely could have happened to anyone. My dd is not impaired re. normal physical mobility (she walks up and down stairs everyday in our two story house and participates in a special needs cheerleading team). Her disability is cognitive, social, and emotional.....
She has always had a high pain tolerance, but this is clearly giving her a LOT of pain.
Disney is "investigating."
I did not get photos or copies of reports (all are discoverable, though) as I was not thinking about all that I was trying to care for my daughter who was howling about pain. She never ever "howls" like that. Even when she had her appendix out it was a quiet sleepy, "it just hurts." I was focused on the kid.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Bummer . . . Have you submitted a claim to your trip insurance?

 

[tinkslite]

We always always always paid for the trip insurance as my youngest was so very ill, when younger-we expected trip would be interupted at some point due to an allergic reaction or sudden infection. NEVER HAPPENED.

Didn't pay for it this time as son is so well in recent years.

Now there is an accident on ship.

They didn't treat her (just wrapped her ankle and gave us ibuprofen) so no medical charges on ship. They didn't have to remove her since it was disembarkation morning. Not sure the trip insurance would have helped other than I might have pushed to stay and have her treated a bit sooner. Our regular medical ins. is picking up (after deductible) but I think they'll have something to say to Disney re. liability here too....

 

[jmartinez1895]

Your insurance company will more than likely call Disney's insurance company, but they will only work to get the money that they have payed, not your copays, out of pocket or pain and suffering. You will have to stay on top of things to make sure you and your child are made whole. Also, be very cautious of talking to anyone of the phone or signing anything or accepting any form of payments. I was bitten by a neighbors dog a few years ago and had to fight with the insurance company to get my bills paid. One point the even told me they would send me a check to cover what I had paid out of pocket so far, just to help me out until everything was setteled. When I got the check it had tiny print that said that this was payment in full and that I agreed to drop any future claims against them. I sent the check back to them. I don't know how Disney and there teams work, but I just wanted to caution you that many insurance companies will try to get you to take a small amount and I would hate for you to not get back the money that you have spent. I might be worth giving an attorney a call.

 

[Schmeck]

^

 

[leebee]

Your poor daughter! How did you ever manage to get from Florida to Nevada with her so broken and in pain? I can't imagine all you must have gone through. Good luck to both of you over the coming weeks.

 

[buckeev]

Sooooo sorry for your daughter's pain and yours too. I can only imagine how hard this is on you to.
Best wishes for speedy healin'!



Parent of a 14 y/o brilliant Autistic spoiled brat!

 

[KPeveler]

Definitely write to Disney and at least tell them the situation. I don't know what they will do fr you in terms of money, but they should at least be made aware of the situations.

Also, minor request - can you avoid using the bold, random colors fonts? It is really hard to read (ADD person here : )... Sorry if I missed something you already said in one of those posts...