Over on my older parent blog today I've posted about beach time in Seychelles and some innocuous happenings while wallowing. As a balance, and for those who may think all things are rosy, peachy and sunny all the time here, I'm dredging up an old post. This one quakes me to my bones ... now, if you'll excuse me for just a moment, I need to hug my son.

Okay. I'm back. This was a personal blog entry for December 04, 2005:

From the Australian Museum Fish Site:
The Reef Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world. It has thirteen stout spines in the dorsal fin which can inject a highly toxic venom. The venom causes intense pain and is believed to have killed many Pacific and Indian Ocean islanders. No deaths have been recorded in Australia since European arrival (Underhill, 1987). An antivenom developed in 1959 further reduces the likelihood of death. Despite this, many people suffer the agony of a sting every year. Very hot water (not scalding) can be used to relieve the pain, but medical treatment should be sought.

Reef Stonefish grow to 35 cm in length, although 50 cm 'monsters' have been reported. They are extremely well camouflaged, looking like an encrusted rock or lump of coral. Reef Stonefish are usually brown or grey and may have patches of yellow, orange or red. They usually live on rubble or coral bottoms, often under rocks or ledges, but are also known to be able to bury in sand using their large pectoral fins.

The Reef Stonefish is widely distributed throughout tropical, marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

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That’s the marine biology lesson. The life lesson is much, much harder.

Sam jumped into a shallow tide pool to scatter the millions of tiny fish hovering there too quickly for me to stop. When he looked up at me and said, "Mom, something hurt me", an icicle pierced my heart. Grabbing him up, I looked down and saw the stone fish, then the blood coming from his foot.

This was Friday, the 2nd of December. It’s now Sunday, and I still can’t think on this for long.

He’s fine. Really fine. The spines just grazed the side of his foot and very little poison was transferred, just enough to swell the area a bit and cause pain. He spent the rest of the day in hospital with an IV line in place...just in case. But he was fine. A fraction of an inch difference, however, and he most likely would not be with us now. A fraction of an inch! We’re 30 minutes from the nearest doctor, and there’s no anti-venom anyway.

What this Sunday afternoon could have been like. I shudder.

I’m now in the market for one of those old fashioned, Jules Verne-type diving suits in a size 4T, complete with lead boots and bronze helmet. That’s the only way he’ll be going to the beach any time soon! The photo at the top of this used to be one of my favorites…now it just scares me.

We have returned to the beach, although every time I relive this episode I get sick to my stomach and could burst into tears. These days we stay out of pools when bait is around and wear shoes when tide pooling. I'm far less relaxed and even more vigilant, and never go without another adult.

An amazingly lucky break like that should teach a thing or two.