I am so angry right now I could spit sparks.  We just returned home from the hospital.  Josh was cleaning my ice shaver after he and Courtney made snow cones.  He cut his thumb badly enough he needed stitches.  His father was too drunk to be bothered to come with us.  Josh talked a lot while we were waiting for the doctor to come in and stitch him up.  He’s had cuts worse than this one before.  He showed me the scar on his ring finger.  He said he washed it off and wrapped toilet paper around it.  He doesn’t know if he’s allergic to any medication.  He doesn’t know when he had his last tetanus shot  He said his dad did all the talking whenever Josh has to go to the doctor.

Josh is CAH.  He’s been "going with" my granddaughter for about 18 months.  (They’re both 17.)  He told me about his meds the first time he spent the night a year ago.  When I asked what they were for, he had to ask his father what was wrong with him.

 

I’ve done some research on CAH and I read the messages here often.  No one seems to be in the same "category" as Josh.   He doesn’t remember any episodes or having been in the hospital.

 

I had him take his meds with him when we went to the emergency room.  We were lucky.  He’s spending the night and had the pills in his backpack.  Fortunately, he appears to be alright.  I talked at length with the doctor who seemed to at least know what CAH meant. 

 

I’d appreciate any web sites that explain what to watch for and what to do in cases like this.   I know the basics, but after tonight, I need more education.  When I think of the things we’ve done and the places we’ve gone (that Josh has never been to or done before) where he could have been seriously injured...horseback riding for the first time in his life (which I didn’t know until they returned from their trail ride) I get sick.  It’s useless trying to talk to his father.