Danielle N. Calhoun

NURSEMAID

Just when I thought that nothing could go wrong

There you were with a sling on your arm
I dreaded the day we took you to the ER

Nana and I could not bear to look on

Pop-Pop and I were there for the x-rays
The doctor assured us it was not even a sprain

They told us it was nursemaid and it was quite common
But Nana felt bad and I felt like a bad Mother

They put you in a sling and you showed off to the world

That you are just a typical wild little boy
Next time I hear that you fall to the ground

I hope there’s no reason to take you there again
I hate the hospitals I’ve been to so many
I fear that one day I will never get to see you again

The day that I go and I need an operation
I fear for you most as you are my baby
I miss the days when I had no cares

I look past the days where I had great fear
They told us it was nursemaid and it was quite common
I saw you in the sling and I felt like a Mommy

Note: Nursemaid elbow is a common injury among preschool-aged children. It refers to a condition (medically called a radial head subluxation) in which a child’s elbow bones get partially pulled out of joint and do not line up normally. The injury can occur innocently from swinging a young child by the arms or pulling a child’s arm while in a hurry.