Remembering Halloween of 2008 --Papaw to the Rescue

In 2008 Jacy broke her leg while riding on a scooter. It happened shortly before her 8th birthday on October 30th. Halloween night  her leg was in a full cast.  Originally, Jacy was going to stay home on Halloween night, passing out candy to the little kids who came to the door. That was the first plan.

When the night rolled around, Jacy changed her mind. She had a new princess outfit and wanted to go trick or treating. She was on crutches with a full leg cast from her foot to her mid thigh. That wasn't an option. It was too tricky for her to be out trying to walk around in the dark on crutches.  We didn't have a back up plan. This is where Tommy becomes the hero.  A much deserved title of 'hero.'....and a great grandpa.

 I was forced to work a double shift a the hospital.  There wasn't any way I would be able to  help.  I wouldn't get off from work until 11 p.m.  Halloween would be over when I arrived home.    

                                       
Jacy cried. She really, really wanted to go trick or treating. It is very hard to tell a little girl with a broken leg that she has to stay home.  Did I mention that she cried??? 

Tommy and Tami start racking their brains .  How could they make Halloween happen?  Tommy thought of the wheel barrow.  They would put pillows and blankets  around Jacy, then carefully place her in the wheel barrow, taking  her from house to house, on their street.  All Tommy had to do was make sure the wheel barrow didn't get off center and flip over. Tami was in charge of Logan aka the Incredible Hulk and keeping Jacy warm during this trek. It worked!!!  

Tommy slips on a warm sock over Jacy's cast. She looks almost like Cinderella trying on the glass slipper. I love this photo. 

Finally, the wheel barrow is ready.  Jacy is placed carefully inside the rolling thrown.  Off they go to trick or treat, making one little girl very happy, one grandpa very nervous and one Incredible Hulk anxious for Candy! Candy! Candy!!!     

                           
Every house they visited, the people thought the wheel barrow was part of the costume.  I think Jacy won the most original outfit. The weather was nice that night. The kids had fun and so did the adults. I was so proud of  Tommy for doing this. It is one of the nicest things he could have done.  Papaw definitely  earned his 'wings' that night.

As for my Halloween, the sixteen hours while I worked, we had a code or fight before 9 a.m.  a suicide attempt by noon and a dance, in the gym for everyone who was not ward confined from the first two occurrences, scheduled to start at  2 p.m.  Nothing out of the ordinary. It is a place where the 'ordinary' is all too often the unusual. Things are seldom what they appear to be.  Halloween night was no exception.