Close to people | Stories from Bethel
Paul and the bus
It was going to be a lovely day. Mum took us to her great-grandmother's house. She was already waving from the window. Then what is every parent's worst nightmare happened to little Paul*: he had a terrible road accident. A car stopped on one side of the road, but nobody saw the bus coming from the other direction in time. Paul was run over. His whole leg was caught under the huge tyre. When his mother Vanessa W. talks about it, her voice stops and tears well up in her eyes. Excruciating hours passed as the paediatric surgery team in Bethel fought for the boy's life. With success. Paul had to be operated on a total of 15 times in just a few weeks. The result is a miracle.
"Mummy! I'm climbing up the slide now!" shouts Paul. He happily whizzes down the slide. He immediately gets up and runs on to the climbing net. It can even spin like a merry-go-round. The four-year-old explores the adventure playground without a care in the world. Paul can run, jump and laugh again. He plays football at the club with his friend Hannes. He will retain a weak foot. That's why he wears a supportive splint. A support stocking is also important. "His leg is very scarred. He has had several skin grafts. It now has to be moisturised every day. And we regularly go to the Bethel Children's Centre for check-ups," says his mother.
Many scars still need to heal
It will be a long time before all the scars have healed, including the psychological ones. Sometimes the boy wakes up at night and screams: "The bus has to go!" And then Vanessa W. immediately has these terrible images in her head again. She will never forget them. But she has never lost her courage. "Paul always remained so cheerful. And all the doctors and staff at Bethel, our family and friends supported us," says Vanessa W. gratefully. "Dad! Give me a boost," Paul shouts from the swing. He wants to go high. And now that he can move again, everything in life is open to him.
*Name changed.
Text: Heike Lepkojis | Photos: Christian Wesiche
This story simply told
Little Paul had a terrible accident. He was hit by a bus in front of his mother and great-grandmother. A huge tyre rolled over his leg. The doctors at Bethel fought for his life. And after 15 operations, a miracle was achieved. Paul can play football again.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact
Children's Centre at EvKB / Gilead House I
Burgsteig 13
33617 Bielefeld
To the annual donation project "New Bethel Children's Centre"
Offers & services
The Children's Centre at the Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB) covers the entire spectrum for young patients aged 0 to 18 years. Whether illness or injury, acute or chronic, physical (somatic) or psychiatric - the EvKB offers the right individual treatment concept for all medical requirements with its outpatient, day-care and inpatient services.
