Sharing a little story (long read)

[CaliCreole]

not sure how relevent this is to traditional shooting but i thought i would share with you guys what archery has done for me.
Sunday morning my son was playing on his bunk bed and fell off, He landed directly on his head and had to be taken to the ER, once there i found out that he had 2 small fractures in the back of is skull behind his left ear. He was vomitting and bleeding from his nose and ear. I was absolutely terrified. They transfered him to Loma Linda medical center (the best childrens hospital that i know of)and he was on 24/7 watch from sunday until Monday evening. I never left his side and I did not sleep this was a very stressful time for me. He was allowed to come home monday evening and I spent the night with him in his room again i didnt sleep a wink. Tuesday I spent with him the entire day making sure he was still speaking clearly and had all of his motor skills and trying to make him sit still (he is five years old so any of you with young children know how hard it is to convince a 5 year he cant go out and play) taht night my mom came by and said she will take care of him because she was worried that I was not sleeping or eating, I decided instead to go to work, my boss took one look at me and sent me home. I was still a mess and was unable to close my eyes even for a minute, so My cousin suggested we go to riverside archers and get some excersise. We walked around and shot a few arrows and chatted withaone of the other members. Doing this was the first time in days that i was able to think about anything else other than my sons injury, dave and i spent about 3 hours down inthe canyon walking the range shooting at the various targets trying our luck at the 70 yard target range and playing with the moving calf target. It was beautiful day. Once i got home I laid down to watch some tv and I finally slept for the first time in days I was able to get some sleep. When my wife got home I told her what happened and now she insist that I shoot down in the canyon at least 3 times a week. With everything going on she saw that i was finally able to calm down and re focus.
F.Y.I My son is doing much better, he saw his normal doctor and he said everything looks good considering, we just have to be extra careful with him, he cant play baseball this year cant ride his bike or skateboard, he was really bummed when i told him he couldnt play ball this year so I told him I would buy him a bow and he can come to the range with me and shoot whenever he wants, he was very excited and happy to heare that  
Thanks for reading

[adeeden]

Glad your son is doing ok! And yes, I too get the same relaxed feeling when shooting my bow! It's amazing how well stress can leave my mind with the simple flight of an arrow.

[DesertDude]

Ray,  call me

[ron w]

Hope he gets feeling good to do the things he likes, take him shooting and enjoy every moment. They grow up way to fast. My little girl is going to be 29 in April and now lives a 1000 miles away. You also have to take care of yourself, get some rest and take care.........ron w

[jonathan creason]

Glad to hear your son's doing well.  I've got a 5 yo, too, and I couldn't imagine what I would do if I were in your shoes.  Probably react much the same way you did.  Glad you were able to find some peace, too.

[Bjorn]

Wow! What a scary experience-glad to hear things are working out for you and the archery bonus.

[Rick Butler]

Glad to hear your son is okay.

[straitera]

Over the top Ray. You handled it well. God Bless your family especially your son.

[CaliCreole]

Thaks guys, it was honestly the scariest thing i have ever gone through, the toughest part was putting on a strong face in front of him, i refused to let him see that i wsa afraid. I couldnt beleive how much archery calmed me down.
Mark,
Ill give you a call on my next break should be soon.

[scbowhnter]

My little guy is only 14 months and I could not imagine the stress you must have been feeling. Glad to hear your son doing fine now.

Hopefully you will never have to go through something like that again!!

[sou-pawbowhunter]

I'm really glad to hear that your son is doing well.

[CaliCreole]

I have a question, Im going to get my boy a bow and not really sure wha tto get him (size, weight etc) like i said he is 5 Im guessing he needs something under 20 #'s and I only have about $50 2 spend here are the ones i found so far.
 http://www.3riversarchery.com/Youth+Archery+Bow+Sets++1st+Shot+Junior+Set_c16_s234_p0_i2379_product.html

 http://www.fsdiscountarchery.com/bearpawrobinhoodbowsstartingat4395.aspx

 http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/Robin-Hood-Bow/productinfo/4751/

any suggestions

[sleepingbear]

I am glad to hear your son is ok.  No one should experience a hurt child.  Get him shooting and he'll probably outshoot all of us.

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

I have a daughter that is 6 and a baby boy on the way in June. There are nights I can't sleep just worrying about what MIGHT happen, what life would be like without my loved ones. It's torture and I don't know why my head goes there, but one thing is for sure, I hold 'em a little tighter the next morning...

I can only imagine what you just went through and hopefully will never know. I can, however, relate with your experience regarding the way archery calms the mind. In fact, just yesterday I was reflecting on how my best shooting occurs ONLY when there are no thoughts going through my head, especially second-guessing where my bow arm comes up when I anchor. The only thought that seems to help is the one reminding me to breath and pick a spot.

God speed to your son's recovery, and my you be flinging arrows side by side in no time!

[Jerry Wald]

Great to hear he is ok - that's scary - i would be a mess too. I always try to be the rock (and I am pretty good at it0, but it always eats me up inside.

Jer

[CaliCreole]

yeah jerry it was tough not showing lil man that dad had any fear, but we got through that part. He has to see neurologist again in a couple of weeks to verufy that there is no post swelling.
NCH,
I hear you on waking up with those thoughts it is my one weakness, i never been one to be scared of much but this incident took some life out of me for sure. I told my cousin yesterday that i wished i could stay at the bottom of that canyon and shoot all day

[Mohillbilly]

Glad to hear it is turning out well.  I can tell that you are a man of love and passion for your family.....that is great.  Keep shooting, be strong!!

Bret

[xroadshunter]

Ray kids will make your hair grey and then cause it to fallout.  The important thing is that he's ok.  I have 3 very active kids and have managed night seizures for 5 years, broken elows, broken knees, concussions, and stiches (some of which I do myself).  It always seems to take more out of the parents than the kids.  Just hang in there and spend as much time as you can with him.  Good luck George

[lpcjon2]

Glad to hear that your boy s ok,Kids are amazing and tough,he will be all over the place in no time.Now you can handle the pre-teen years like a seasoned veteran.

[CaliCreole]

thanks again guys, like i told grey if the whole worl were like folks here it would be a much better place. I dont know how my dad did it, he raised 3 of us and still has a head full of black hair, ill be bald at 32 at this rate.
the problem is he is already trying to be all over the place LOL. hard to make a 5 yea old understand he cant run jump climb or wrestle. after this incident I cant wait for puberty, girl problems and acne issues thats gonna be a breeze