My daughter has just turned 1
About 6 months ago I get a phone call at work with my missus in a right state at the local accident and emergency. Turns out some idiot had flicked a cigarette butt in the direction of our pushchair during a wind gust. The butt had gone straight into my baby's eye and the cherry had stuck on her eyelid. It was about 1mm away from her eyeball and had burned her quite badly, the phone call was short so I didn't have time to find out how badly.

If you've ever felt nauseous for worrying about something too much, imagine the most nauseous you could probably feel, knowing your child had been harmed in such an dangerous and unfair way. Plus we had to go through all the protocol in the hospital afterwards to prove we hadn't done this ourselves on purpose.

Despite Mum and Baby having visited the Doctor ten minutes before it happened, witnesses, and her panicked attempts at the local Debenhams to get some medical assistance, the social services still had to be informed. Luckily the Dr's were understanding and believed Missus Wibbles story.

All turned out ok in the end, at least as ok as it could have been, thankfully it healed up fine without any permanent damage. and no action was taken, phew. In a weird way it's good to know the authorities are that thorough when it comes to harmed children. Although it's a horrible feeling thinking someone may be pointing the finger at you.

On a related note I was an hour away, when this happened and my Dad rushed me down to the hospital no questions asked. Dads, gotta love em.
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Thu 25 Nov 2010, 16:13, 5 replies)

some people are just careless pricks
with not a thought for others.
glad your little one's ok
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 18:09, closed)

The thing is
All it took for all of this mayhem, worry and hurt, was one tiny movement of one persons finger, one slight flick and everything changed. It's kinda like the butterfly - earthquake theory. For days I just thought, if only his/her finger had been pointing slightly more left and it may not have happened. But like you say, careless prick. I like the 'cigarette butt fines' the rozzers issue.
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Fri 26 Nov 2010, 10:15, closed)

glad to hear everything's ok
Since having twins almost 2 years ago I can probably imagine what it must have felt like when you got the news, there's nothing worse than that sinking feeling when something happens to one of your kids.
( flapmeister knows where your mum lives, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 22:41, closed)

Cheers.
I thought I was going to be sick, I was worried that I might do it in the street. Horrible feeling!
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Fri 26 Nov 2010, 10:12, closed)

Hell I thought i was gonna be sick just reading that :(
Our littleun had a trip to A&E for a brief breathing difficulty whilst he had a bout of croup. That was bad enough.

We could do with a way of changing the text for clicks when you post, so rather than having "i like this" you can chose "i feel your pain, bro", or "ouch!" etc. ILT just feels wrong but have a click anyway...
( bluemeat has been best of all the animals since, Fri 26 Nov 2010, 12:48, closed)