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The day started calm enough and it was a beautiful fall bluebird day. We were getting an early start because I wanted to stop in Carrollton to get an adjustment and we were going to stop at Peter's Orchard to get some apples. Debra had made some arrangements with the college bookstore to open up before the 1:00 game so we could get some CMU apparel. The bookstore is not normally open on weekends and is always closed through the week by the time we get to campus for games so it was very nice for the lady to open up just for us. It was interesting that there was a steady stream of customers while we were there and they made several sales besides Debra's. At least Debra found something, I wanted a light jacket, or a zippered hoody, or a long sleeve polo, or a hat. So I thought at least with that wide of a variety of wants that I could find something. They had a large inventory of clothing but nothing was in a style that I could live with. I guess they buy inventory with a younger person in mind. Oh they did have a ball hat that I liked but not $30.00 worth. I guess I will just wear my Iowa Central stuff to the CMU games.
Anyway the game started at 1:00 and Meredith had worked her way back into the starting line up so we were set to enjoy the day and the game. The center referee was an old friend so I had hoped to observe him officiate along with watching Meredith. The game did not start well with MNU scoring off a cross through the goal box in the 4th minute. The player was unmarked and the goalie should own the goal box and either stop the cross or make the save. I know that it unnerved Meredith but she played on. The CMU players stepped up the pressure and then the referee kind of went nuts about the 14th minute by pulling a player over in front of the players bench and fans and yelling at her loud enough that everyone could hear. I have sat in this referee's class several times and heard him say that "the referee should not draw attention to himself when officiating" and that to control a game that "a quiet word only heard by the player" is the best technique. His officiating conduct was an embarrassment to all referees and only served to alienate players, fans and coaches and raise questions concerning any calls made after that. MNU scored again in about the 20th minute although CMU was moving the ball better and had many more scoring attacks, but was unable to put the ball into the net. With about 5 minutes left in the first half a MNU player had slipped past her defensive mark and Meredith came out hard for a sliding save. The MNU player collided with her and that is when the story gets more intense. It was obvious that she was hurt and it appeared that she was knocked out, however she made the save. The referee called for the trainer to come on to the field and from the early treatment I could tell that they were trying to stop some bleeding. Debra and I went to the corner of the field to wait. The trainers got the bleeding stopped and assessed for neck injuries and got Meredith up to the point that she was able to walk to the bench with assistance. We went over to the bench and the trainer Kim Bell skillfuly finished applying butterfly strips to close the wound and cleaning Meredith up. Meredith had about a 10 minute lapse in memory but was sort of answering coherently but was not exactly with it. We knew that the cut would require stitches and from the location and severity I thought that it would be better if a plastic surgeon did the initial repair work. I consulted with the mother of another CMU player that was a nurse in Columbia to see where she would suggest that we take Meredith. She recommended that we take her to the University Hospital ER where there would be a plastic surgeon on duty or at least on call. They placed Meredith in the Gator where she could lay down to take her to our car for the trip to Columbia. When we got to the parking lot and attempted to transfer her to the car she became "shocky" and was passing in and out of consciousness. At that point we all came to an unanimous decision that the trip would be better in an ambulance considering her head injury. The ambulance was called an was there in just a few minutes. We loaded Meredith up and I rode in the ambulance and Debra, Natalie Hughes (Mere's friend who came to watch her play) Kim Bell (trainer) and her goalkeeper coach Robbie Murray all headed to Columbia in their cars. I believe we arrived about 2:30, got her checked in at ER and then began the wait. It was about 2 hours and 30 minutes before she was put into a room so that a doctor could see her. The nurse arrived promptly and removed the bandage and immediately decided that it needed to be stitched up by a plastic surgeon and that Meredith would need a CT to check out her head. The resident came in and agreed and wrote up the orders. Things moved steadily along and the plastic surgeon came in about 6:00 and it took about 45 minutes to put in the 15 or so stitches. Another 30 minute wait and then she was taken to radiology for the CT. About 10 or 15 minutes there and back to the room to wait for the report. The nurses had a shift change at 7:00 and somehow the report got lost in the transition. Finally I caught the attention of the resident and they got it tracked down. We had the report and dismissal consultation and then just as we were to leave the nurse brought some Tylenol for Meredith's monster headache. Everyone was hungry and cranky, especially me, but recovered nicely with some food at Noodles and Co. We made a couple of stops after eating that Meredith thought were important (Hot Box Cookies) and her friends the Robbs to show off the stitches. Then to Fayette and get Mere's clothes, car and most important the dirty laundry. Uneventful trip home and arrived about 12:45. It took a while to unwind and settle down but I think everyone except Zoey was asleep by 2:00. Here is the Recap and the Box Score from the game.
Warning I have placed these pictures in a file that you will need to click the link to see because they are pretty graphic. If you think that you might be disturbed by viewing them DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. Before and After Pictures
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