She did not slice the bandage snugged about the numb toe
but tickled an end open to begin the unwinding. She
unwound the gauze slowly as she turned her head
to see where the cloth stuck to itself and how to cut it.
A surgeon had severed the toe tip, bone
and knuckle to prevent further infection
which might mean amputating the toe.
He said the cut and bone were clean.
Down at skin and scabs, she gently moistened
a cloth and the skin to avoid pulling open a scab.
Six sutures lay both over and under new skin.
With scissors from a newly opened sterile bag,
she nudged a suture from the once infected toe,
coaxed it out of the skin, cut it and laid it aside.
She repeated the nudge and snip for five more sutures.
She looked over the scabs and washed every toe
with a sterile solution and absorbent gauze.
Before she put the stocking back on the foot,
she put four Steri-Strips over the toe tip, top to bottom.
Both strips and scabs came loose scant days after
to reveal no toenail, clean skin and our great relief.
3 thoughts on “Six Sutures”
Thank you. I enjoy using specific images.
Your details paint a clear picture of the injury and the care that was given. Well done!
Thank you. I enjoy using specific images.