Mum’s urgent warning over common playground activity for kids after toddler’s leg breaks on slide
A MUM has warned other parents about common playground mishaps after her kid met with an accident.
Amelia Zamora, 33, slid down with her two-year-old daughter Scarlett on her lap which resulted in the toddler breaking her leg.
Amelia from Sacramento, California, said she was wracked with “mum guilt” – and she is now warning other parents to never ride a slide with a child on their lap.
The accident took place in April 2018 when Scarlett begged her mum to join her on the slide.
Listening to her kid’s innocent plea, Amelia agreed to take her on her lap while riding the slide.
However, what happened next was a nightmare the mum still can’t get out of her head.
Their combined weight saw the toddler travel down the steep slope at excessive speed – more than if she was alone – and they shot off the end with extra force.
The two-year-old smashed into the concrete ground and her thigh bone was snapped in half.
She had to wear a full-body cast and had to re-learn to walk.
Amelia, full of regret, said: “After Scarlett broke her leg she was crying so much from the pain.
“She couldn’t move or sleep because of it.
“I had such bad mum guilt.
“I blamed myself – I should have told her ‘no’ when she asked to go down the slide with me.”
“It was a lot mentally and emotionally for me as well as her.
Scarlett was crying and screaming and scared, but her injury didn’t look broken until it started swelling.
“It wasn’t until we got home that day that I spoke to my husband and we decided we’d get it checked out, for our peace of mind,” the mum said.
She added she and her husband were quizzed at the hospital because the bone is so difficult to break it is often associated with abuse.
The next day Scarlett was put in a cast from her ribcage to her ankle on one side, and to her knee on her good leg.
She had to be pulled around in a wagon until it was removed a month later.
Amelia described how heartbreaking it was for her to see Scarlett in a full-body cast.
She expressed: “Once she got the cast on she would ask ‘Why do I have to wear this mummy?’
“Day to day was exhausting. She would get frustrated because she couldn’t move and play like she used to.”
Six years on, Scarlett, now eight, barely remembers the traumatic experience.
However, Amelia still remembers the event as if it happened just yesterday.
She said parents worry about their kid’s legs getting stuck during joint rides – but not about other dangers, like speed.
“I want to warn other parents now – don’t go down the slide with them and don’t think it won’t happen to you.
“Let your child have a tantrum at the park – I’d rather break my kid’s heart than their leg.
“I shared our story to show it’s not worth it. Even if you think you can ensure your child’s leg won’t get caught it can still cause an injury.
“They’ll get over not riding the slide – it’s not worth having to watch your kid in that much pain.”
