Help Needed! Child with broken arm (and broken heart!) Any advice/encouragement?

[NurseGodwin]

Our 7 year old broke her arm 3 days before our scheduled weeklong trip - we had to cancel the first 4 days until her arm could be casted. This would have been the first trip that she was tall enough to do ALL the rides, and she is devastated. (Our 13 year old graciously pledged not to ride Splash Mountain until her injured sister can ride on our return trip, but I don't want her to miss out) Of course that still leaves the other "mountains", Kali River, Test Track, etc. Her doctor stressed absolutely no roller coasters, jerky rides, or anything that she would have to hold on or brace herself (if the bones move, she'll need surgery/pins!) We will return in a few months once her arm is healed, but does anyone have any advice or experience with this situation - How can we make the best of this situation for her?

 

[Minerva]

I'm very sorry about your daughter's arm. Since you're planning to go back anyway why not make this trip a slower, smell the roses kind of trip. Make sure you hit all the shows, visit some resorts to look around, hunt for hidden Mickeys, collect as many pressed pennies as you can,explore the countries in Epcot, ride the tamer rides and then next time you can concentrate on the ones she won't be able to go on this time.

 

[Meezers]

Can you get a gortex cast? They are waterproof and she could do alot of water stuff....

I know she must be heartbroken...but hey....she won't have to carry an autograph book....just a pen for everyone to sign the cast!

 

[CA Disney Fans]

I'm sorry to hear about your DD's arm. Poor thing. Maybe you can get the characters to sign her cast.

 

[kilee]

I am in a similar situation. We are in a holding pattern. 2 weeks ago DS (12)broke his tibia and knee in a dirt bike accident. Anyhow, we were trying to throw together a quick trip sometime in the remainder of this year. His ortho is still contemplating surgery and he has a cast from his ankle to his upper thigh that will be on anywhere from another 2-12 weeks depending. For us personally we have decided we won't take a trip until he's better. However, an arm is a hair different. At least she can still get around- we have transfer issues and everything. Either way, it really throws a wrench into everything. Lets just be happy they're okay.

Needless to say you're going to have to skip anything that the doctor recommended skipping. Just to much of a risk. If this isn't really the trip idea you had in mind, then I'd reschedule.

 

[kesha]

I remember years ago when I was in 3rd grade and I had broke my arm. I also had to miss out on something that I looked so forward to. I was suppose to be in a play having one of the lead parts. I hate to say how long ago that was but I have never forgotten it. So I can say I defiantly know how your daughter feels. The good thing is there is a lot of things at Disney that she can still do this time. Then start planning the next trip for when her arm is healed.

 

[BroganMc]

(Our 13 year old graciously pledged not to ride Splash Mountain until her injured sister can ride on our return trip, but I don't want her to miss out) Of course that still leaves the other "mountains", Kali River, Test Track, etc. Her doctor stressed absolutely no roller coasters, jerky rides, or anything that she would have to hold on or brace herself (if the bones move, she'll need surgery/pins!) We will return in a few months once her arm is healed, but does anyone have any advice or experience with this situation - How can we make the best of this situation for her?

Oh don't sweat your 13 yr old vowing not to ride. If you're going again soon this is only a temporary wait for her. And years to come the sisters will have that bond where both remember waiting to do rides together. Trust me, that is much more important in the long run than a few fleeting minutes of spiraling down a mountain while poor sis waits.

I agree you should try to make this a trip where you can stop and smell the roses. Disney is not all about the thrill rides. In fact, it's more about the roses than any other park.

There are a lot of rides I can never do due to my arthritis (had it in my toddler years through my now young 30's). I've never ridden Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, Space Mountain or any of the roller coasters. my body just doesn't get in and out of those ride vehicles easily or safely. But I can still remember the "thrill" of watching my older and healthier siblings waving goodbye to me as they boarded Space Mountain without me. Boy did that make me feel awful. I was 8 at the time and the memory sticks. My best memory was 20-some years later when we all waited to ride Small World together, me with my wheelchair and us in two boats acting like 8 yr olds splashing and teasing each other.

I'll be there this weekend for a two week long trip, just me and my dad. (My sibs already had our week long trip with the next gen in March. They can't make it now so it's a bit sad.) But while we won't be doing any mountains, we're looking forward to Soarin' and just strolling through the parks soaking up the atmosphere.

 

[Nancyg56]

How sad for your DD. Perhaps you could do as others have suggested
and have a different type of trip that is more adventure and mickey hunting rather that one that focuses on the rides. I'm sure that she can be made to feel special if the characters sign her cast. I know that it is hard as a parent when a child misses out on something that has been long awaited. Years ago, my DS was the lead trumpet in the concert band and jazz band in school. The evening before the final spring concert he fell off a fence and dislocated his shoulder. He had been chosen for a special solo performance and the only one who could play this piece was his teacher. He sat next to him, but it was not the same.....but then there were other concerts that were special. Your dd will experience other trips and special happenings will occur.

 

[seashoreCM]

I do not recommend water activities. Although there are waterproof cast protectors, they are not foolproof. Use one for Kali River Rapids or on a rainy day, but don't go to Blizzard Beach with it.

Go easy on your child. Fewer expectations. Fewer chores. I want to say, no scolding. Unkind words break children's hearts more than broken bones.

Once you are at Disney, don't expect a hurt child to keep up with you. Walk slower instead.

Feel free to split the famiily apart so other kids can ride more aggressive rides. The injured child is less likely to object when the other children are out of sight out of mind. Unconditionally do not have the injured child wait in a standby line for something he cannot do.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

oh the poor dear.
I've experienced the broken arm thing with one child (my son ofcourse... he's the only one that has had stitches and broken arm out of all my kids- and he's not even the oldest, he's just ALL boy and doesn't take care LOL... fearless is the word for it) and it happened in May right before summer. Not quite the same as right before a WDW trip ofcourse, but it sure was a NOT FUN summer for all of us since none of us could do the things we're used to doing (me and the kids while DH at work)- like water parks, Six Flags and such. It was a hard summer, so I can sorta imagine what it's like to happen right before a WDW trip also- and it's worse that she was finally tall enough to ride rides! This last trip in June my now 7yr old son was finally tall enough for almost all rides and he would have been devastated if something like this happened right before the trip.

I hope she is still able to have a good time though! That was so sweet of her older sister to give up Splash! *sniff sniff*

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

We went to WDW when my 1-year-old was in a cast. If you can get a waterproof cast, it is wonderful. You can submerge it in water so swimming is no problem. We tried the Aquasox (?) cast cover but it was pretty awkward.

On the plus side, however, my daughter got lots of attention from the characters because of her "boo boo" and Minnie signed it.

I hope your daughter is not feeling any more pain or discomfort. It's really not the end of the world. Just think, you'll look back at these pictures and always remember the trip to Disney when your daughter had the cast.

Good luck.

 

[HopperFan]

I almost would love an excuse to do all those small adventures that we never have time for.....Hidden Mickeys.....explore EVERY store....see the shows we always skip......Epcot has so much to do and so little time.....pressed penny, passport and kidcot.......add in some extra character time and meals they are bound to raise her spirits......have her and her wonderful sis plan some things you have never done, and maybe wouldn't have done without this gift of time.......

 

[buzz2400]

I am sorry to hear this. She must have really done a job on her arm because we went a few years back when my son had a cast on and the doctor said he could go on any ride that the parks would let him on. We had no problem riding any of them. There was one time when we were riding dueling dragons at IOA for the second time that they actually stopped the ride before it went and told him that he couldn't ride it because the cast would hit me. When I told them that we had already been on it and I was his mother, they let the ride go. The only thing that we did not do was a water park, which is something we love to do. I felt it was too dangerous. When we went on water rides, like kali and splash mountain, we wrapped his cast with our rain poncho. He did go swimming with this rubber thing that was waterproof.

 

[barkley]

i feel for your daughter (and you as well). in may my dd (10) fell off her bike and broke her arm, during the course of xrays we learned that she had a bone cyst in that arm and literaly no bone mass in the the humerus. as a result she had to have surgery (biopsy and bone grafts). she was very disappointed because her recovery time was estimated to be 6 months. we had to cancel her summer sleepaway camp, no sports for the rest of the school year (and this summer and just released a couple of weeks ago), no activities that could jog her arm and impede the healing. she was so disappointed-but we had to find other things for her to do.

i would reconsider letting your daughter do test track or kali-when the doctors say no jerky rides they realy mean it (and a moment of fun can result in having to end the entire vacation then and there for emergency treatment as well as months of recovery). also you may want to check with disney on restrictions they place on cast wearers-alot of theme parks severly limit what they can ride on due to their need to be able to enter and exit in an emergency evacuation, as well as liability (she will be less upset if you know what to expect ahead of time).

best wishes

 

[SueM in MN]

The rides that are jerky or she may need to brace herslf are all the ones marked on the park map with an icon of a little red triangle.
Test Track and Kali River Rapids and all the mountains are among those with warnings.
WDW won't stop you from riding anything while wearing a cast; they put the warning out and it's up to you to decide whether or not it's appropriaite. I

f the doctor said no jerking rides or rides where she might need to brace herself, I would not ride any of those with warnings. Test Track has a part where you go over some bumpy brick/blocks (they stick up about as much as speed bumps, but there are lots of them) and parts where you come to a fast stop - if she braces herself there, she might have a problem.
Kali River Rapids is pretty smooth, but you may get wet or you may get completly soaked.

 

[liveforthemagic]

I'm wondering if you are able to get a character dining experience, maybe you could clue them in before you show up that your DD has had to curtail her ride choices and maybe they could help cheer her up. My DD is 7 and is still young enough that she would cherish extra attention from the characters.

Also--if you go on DisneyDirect.com, they used to have little stuffed Mickey's you could personalize and mail. I'm sure there was a get better Mickey--maybe you could get that delivered before she leaves and then it would cheer her up a bit?

And on the practical side, bring some Tylenol with you--that arm sounds like it might start pounding after a busy day.

Have fun!

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Maybe you could do the Family Magic Tour? It is supposed to be a fun time with a guide and you do silly things all around the MK. From what I understand, it is sort of a scavenger hunt with some silly instructions thrown in. There is private time with a character at the end.

Maybe this is the trip to do special things you don't normally get to do on regular trips.

 

[heatherfeather24]

On the upside, think how cool it will be for her to get back from her trip and show her classmates where Mickey, Cinderella, etc. signed her cast!

 

[MissVesper]

Don't know what your daughter's preferences are in the parks, but when I was hmm, 10? 11? I had finally convinced my folks to take us to Disney World, and as we sat in MK waiting for the parade on our first day, I started feeling ill.

Of course, I couldn't say anything, we were finally in Disney World! I didn't want to leave! So we watched the parade, and then got up and walked to a nearby store where I passed out.

When I came to, it turned out I had an inner ear infection bad enough that I couldn't stand up without passing out -- my balance was all kinds of off. I thought the trip was ruined, but my mom rented a wheelchair for me and I spent the rest of the trip on wheels. I was upset -- same ride restrictions were in place for me on the "fun" rides like Space Mountain and anything with too much motion, but I got a lot of really great character interation time which meant the world to me. At the Characters on Holiday, a cast memeber went and collected all the autographs for me in my autograph book, since a lot of kids were just pushing past the girl in a wheelchair and I wasn't very proficient at steering yet. Lots of characters stopped and made time for me, and there was still a lot to do at Disney.

If your daughter likes Characters, having the visible cast will probably help her get extra time with them -- I know they were the highlight of that trip for me. Hope this helps, and that you have a wonderful trip!