Sean and I met in in April of 2005
By August, he was a staple in my life – and was becoming so
with my family as well
He cemented his relationship with my Dad by volunteering at the American Folk Festival in Bangor, ME that summer
He has returned almost every summer since then
Almost every summer
My Dad’s involvement with the AFF started in 2002 when Bangor was chosen by the NEA to host The National Folk Festival for three years
In 2005, The American Folk Festival was borne of the National Folk Festival in an effort to continue the Festival tradition
It is a three-day celebration of multi-cultural tradition arts, music, crafting, food and storytelling
My Dad, and Sean, are so terribly proud of it
And they love the week plus they work setting up and striking the stages, dance floors and tents
They are outside working from early morning until after 10pm at night
And they start looking forward to the next year as soon as this year’s Festival ends
Sean usually goes up the Tuesday before the Festival starts and stays there until Sunday
Sunday, he drags himself home tired, sunburned, and with
cuts and scrapes all over his hands, arms and legs
But he is rejuvenated and full of stories about the crew he works with and the shenanigans they got into
Sean has been every year from 2005 through 2014
See how 2015 is missing
In what would have been his 11th Festival, August 2015, there a catastrophic event that prevented Sean from attending
The date was August 22, 2015, a beautiful sunny picture perfect Saturday…mere days before Sean was set to leave for the Festival
Sean, Lucy and I were out front poking around in our little flower beds discussing our schedules and travel plans for the next week and a half:
Sean was headed to Maine on Tuesday the 25 for the Festival which was scheduled to start on Friday August the 28th
Lucy and I would stay in Woburn for her last week of Camp and I had to work
On Saturday the 29th, Lucy and I were catching flight to Dallas, to visit my brother, sister-in-law and my three nephews
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:15am and if all went according to plan, we’d be arriving just in time to have lunch with them
But if you know me, you know nothing ever goes according to plan
On Monday afternoon, August 31st, Sean would fly to Dallas and spend the rest of the week with us
We’d fly home September 6th and Lucy would start school on Wednesday September the 9th
You know, if all went according to plan
Which it did not
For in those moments during which we were determining what should be packed, who should take what car where, and watching the clock as we were meeting some friends in a couple hours to go pick peaches, I somehow stabbed myself in the left hand with a pair of gardening shears
Everything went weirdly silent in my head
I legit saw stars and possibly a planet or two
I remember pulling the shears out of my thumb where they were standing at attention
I am not sure if I fell or fainted but I was on the ground
I heard Sean speaking sharply to me trying to get my attention
I believe Motherfucker was the first word I uttered
Followed by that fucking hurt…fuck, fuck, fuck…..
The pain was excruciating and I was light headed
I couldn’t standup and my blood was running cold
I crawled into the house and into the kitchen thinking if I just put my hand in cold water, it would feel better
My entire hand and forearm were numb
I could not move or feel my fingers
Nor could I stand up
Sean followed me trying help to but I kept brushing him off
I was on my knees in a vain attempt to keep my hand under the flow of cold water but finally gave up and laid on the floor
I think something is wrong I said
We ended up at Urgent Care for the next three hours
Lucy went peach picking, I did not
And my left hand/arm was rendered useless as I had cut the tendon in my thumb
Saturday, after the incident, I was on some great pain pills
I spent most of Sunday in tears as the pain was overwhelming
On Monday, we decided Sean would delay his departure to Maine a day or two as I was convinced my hand would be fully functionally by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest
By Tuesday, I still could not use my left hand and any contact with it brought tears to my eyes
By Wednesday, when Sean should have been in Maine, it was becoming more and more apparent to us there was no way I could handle getting myself and Lucy to Dallas on our own
We based this on the fact I still could not dress myself in the morning without help
By Thursday night, it was decided Sean would forego the Festival
Friday morning, we changed his flight
And Friday evening, instead of being part of the kickoff parade for the Festival, Sean was packing the bags with the clothes I could not fold as my hand and forearm were still immobile
Sean does not ask for much
Sure, once in a while he asks if I’ll make liver and onions for him (to which I say no…apparently my love for him is not unconditional as I thought it was)
And yes, sometimes he loses his head and asks me to spread Marmite in his toast…. again, conditional love applies here
But really, all he asks is that he be able to go to the Festival each year
One year later, I still feel badly that he missed what would have been his 11th consecutive year
So it was mutually decided this year, from August 1, 2016 on, I would not be allowed to touch any gardening tools
Really, we agreed I would touch with a sharp point that could potentially cause me bodily harm to ensure Sean would in fact be able to attempt his 11th (though not consecutive) American Folk Festival
And we’ve done just fine
As it stood on August 13th, we were on target for Sean to leave for the Festival on Tuesday, August 23rd
And then it was August 14
A Sunday on which we had no plans…. except to get ice cream
We decided just after noon we should go play some mini golf then get ice cream and maybe run to the grocery store
Hey, I said as we changed and got ready to leave, how about we stop at blah blah MSPCA Shelter and see the kitties?
Lucy, who want nothing more than a kitten/another cat was over the moon
Sean loves cats almost as much as Lucy does
I just love the two of them
So we wandered around the kitties (and by kitties I mean they were all over a year old so technically, not kittens but all cats are kitties in Lucy’s world) for a bit over an hour
We spent some time with a sweet kitty called Eli but someone had already put in to adopt him
There was a big old black cat like our Ziggy Boy called Pork Chop, but he was a bit of a cranky old bugger and when we approached him, he swatted us away – and not that hey play with me swat but a get the hell away from me swat
Lucy wanted a cat to come home with us in the worst way and started just randomly running over to cages and saying this is the one! This is the one for us I know it is!
Sean and I reeled her in and reminded her we had to get a cat who liked kids and could get along with other cats
And then we saw Scampy
Scampy, a four-year-old tabby
She was quite pretty
I don’t like female cats uttered Sean for the 15th time
I know I said, but she is cute
And she was
Sean and Lucy opened the cage to meet her and she rolled on her side nestling her head into their palms
They stroked her head and started talking to her
She responded by nestling against their palms with abandon
Scampy loved the attention
Lucy was falling for Scampy
So was Sean
I was falling in love with Sean and Lucy all over again
And her little sign says she’s ok with kids Daddy! And other cats! proclaimed Lucy excitedly
Mumma! Wanna pet Scampy?
Sean moved so I too could meet Scampy
Lucy was still perched in front of the cage
I knelt down next to her and did just what she and Sean did:
I opened my hand and Scampy nestled her head into my palm and started rubbing against my hand
So I stroked her head just as Sean and Lucy had been
Lucy remained at my side with her hand on Scampy
A volunteer was standing next to us watching with a smile on her face
Has anyone given you information on Scampy yet? She asked
No Sean replied
Well, she said with a big smile as she listened to Lucy talking to Scampy, I’ll go get some
It was at that moment, as the volunteer started to walk away when Scampy decided she did not like me as much as I liked her
And she bit me
Really hard
On my right hand
Specifically, the thumb of my right hand
Not to be confused with the thumb of my left hand on which I stabbed myself a year ago with gardening shears
I pushed Lucy away from Scampy as her hand was still in there and popped up so I was standing next to Sean
Blood came rushing the surface of the puncture
I don’t think anyone but me realized what happened until I held up my hand and said, quite stupidly, surprised and somewhat shocked,
She bit me!
She what? asked Sean
The volunteer sucked in her breath
Oh dear, did it break the skin?
I turned my hand so she could see
The blood was running down from the base of my thumb and pooling in the palm of my hand
Yes, she broke the skin
Can we get her Mumma? Piped up Lucy all excited, She’s so cute!
Honey, we need to go
But can we get her Mumma
Sean bent down and explained to Lucy what happened
Her face fell
We walked to the front desk with the volunteer
You need to fill out an incident report she said
Ok, no problem, sorry about this I replied
As we walked to the desk, I looked down at my hand
It was swelling at an oddly rapid rate
My fingers and thumb were going numb and my forearm was aching
A young woman, who appeared to be in charge redirected me to the bathroom to wash it then asked me to come back and fill out an incident report
By the time we got to the bathroom, my hand was bigger
By the time I washed it, my thumb was at a weird angle and looked distorted
I could not straighten my thumb and my fingers were still numb
I stepped out of the bathroom and said to Sean I think we need to go get this looked at
I was fighting the tears that kept springing to my eyes as I did not want Lucy to get upset
We filled out the incident report in less than two minutes
The young woman looked down at my swelling hand and said yeah, I if I were you, I’d go somewhere….
Thanks for that pearl of wisdom I thought in my head
But aloud I simply said yes, I probably should
She apologized again and in typical fashion, I apologized back
Its ok I said, I know it can be stressful on the cats
We hopped in the car, a very sullen Lucy dragging her feet behind us, and headed south on 93
A couple times, I thought I would pass out
My hand was so swollen the skin was tight and the throbbing was resonating in my ears
Honey, maybe if we just go home and wash it, the swelling will stop
Sean glanced over at my hand
Umm, no we’re going to the clinic
We arrived at Urgent Care within 20 minutes after the bite
The doctor took one look at my hand and called out to a nurse to get an IV of antibiotics
ready
Cat bites can be really dangerous she said, and based on the way your hand is reacting, we’re treating you for cellulitis
Oh right, ok I said sure
She poked and touched my hand some more
Hey can you not do that I asked, it hurts
I know she said, sorry
The Doctor pulled me over to the sink and started scrubbing my hand clean with a medicated sponge
The pain intensified and I tried not to yelp
I need to sit down I said to her
Not yet, she said, we really need to get this cleaned out, cat bites can be bad
I think I should down I said, I don’t feel so good
She looked at me and pulled the chair over with her foot still scrubbing and sort of pushed me down into it
I closed my eyes
My fingers were numb and when she moved them, the pain shot up my forearm
After cleaning my hand, she started applying pressure asking me to rate the pain
When she moved my fingers and thumb, I swore at her
Sorry I said, that hurts
So that’s a ten? she asked
I grimaced
It hurt so much I could not even bring myself to crack the standard Spinal Tap turn it up to 11 joke
When was your last tetanus shot? she asked
A year ago, I replied, when I stabbed myself with garden shears on this hand
I picked up my left hand and pointed to the puncture scar on my thumb
Wait what? she asked
So I gave her the Reader’s Digest version of the thumb injury while she pulled up my records on her laptop
She chuckled
Maybe next August you just stay home she said
I was thinking of starting on my feet next year I replied
At some point Sean and Lucy came in to see me and I sent them home
I was going to be there awhile and did not want them to have to wait
The IV was started and I put my head back and closed my eyes
Poor Lucy, I thought, she wanted that little Scampy so badly
Sean and I liked her too….the way she responded to Lucy, the way she reacted to Sean
She was quite cute and appeared snuggly
You know until she bit me
Poor Luce, her little heart was broken
And poor Sean, I know when this happened his Folk Festival Life flashed before his eyes
And poor me, I thought, I just wanted ice cream
A little more than two hours after we arrived, and being told no less than a dozen times cat bites are the worst, I was unhooked from the IV, sent home with an oral antibiotic and with instructions to return Monday for another round of IV antibiotics
Keep the hand elevated tonight said the doctor and if you develop track marks or a fever, get to the hospital
Right
And we’ll see you back here tomorrow
You bet
Oh and try not to use your hand, it’s going to be sore for a couple days and tender….so try not to bang or hold anything in your hand
Ok, anything else?
And the antibiotics we gave you, both the IV and the oral ones, well, they are pretty strong so they may make you sick – like throw up or have diarrhea so just drink plenty liquids
Great, thanks, I said, see you tomorrow
One other thing
Yep?
I would not get that cat if I were you
Really, I say, because my husband and daughter already went back to get her
I returned Monday for another dose of IV antibiotics
Heard the same story about car bites being the worst
Saw the same doctor
How’s your pain she asked
My pain is well, I said, making its presence known
It’s going to get worse before it gets better she reminded me
Ahh so this is why my diet is not working!
Well, the good news is the tissue is no longer swollen and the inflammation has gone down
That is good news I say
And see this hard bump?
I wince as she presses it
No I say, I’m too busy seeing stars from the pain you are inflicting by squeezing my hand
You are so funny! she says
Huh, I wasn’t trying to be…..
Well, this bump, feel how it’s hard and hot to the touch?
Yep, sure do
My skin was indeed taunt and hurt when touched
That is the infection raging below the surface and remember, it will continue to get worse before it gets better…days two and three are the worst of it and today is day two
I felt my eyes filling
No I answer
Thanks for the head's
up I say
I sat on IV for 45 minutes and was sent home with instructions to return at 7:30am Tuesday
Monday night my hand still hurt and there was a dull ache in my whole arm
Plus, my pee smelled really bad from the antibiotics
I returned Tuesday for another round
Different doctor this day
The Doctor touched my hand and I flinched
He poked this lump that had formed at one of the puncture wounds made by the cat - the one that bled
That was not there yesterday was it?
You know, he says, a cat bite is the worst...if you are going to get bitten, human bites are not so bad, dog bites are in the middle, but cat bites? Cat bites are the absolute worst...it's because of what's in their saliva....
He's poking my hand and I'm on the brinks of tears so I ask
Where do vampire bites rank?
He just looked at me
Your infection has an infection
What?
There are two layers to the tendon here, and that lump? It’s an infection on top of your
infection
Of course it is, I say, because I don't have enough body image issue....my body just continues to reject me
Well, you have pretty eyes says the doctor
Thanks
Too bad you have to wear glasses
I stared at him
You know, because they cover your eyes…how about we get that IV going?
Yes, I say, let’s fill me up with that kryptonite shall we
Actually, it’s Unasyn
Oh good, I say, because kryptonite is radioactive you know
Right, ok well, I’ll send the nurse in
I left that day with strict instructions to take the oral antibiotic at appointed times and to return Wednesday, for a final evaluation
I was also reminded that if the infection did not show signs of subsiding by tomorrow, I would be sent to the big house
Prison? I asked
Umm no, probably just Winchester Hospital, or Lahey in Burlington
No one gets me
Tuesday night was just as uncomfortable as Monday night
Sean watched me from his perch on the couch as I sat in the chair with my hand elevated
It’ll be fine Sean, I promise, I think you will be ok to go next week
I’m more worried about your hand, about you
I know honey, it’ll be fine…remember, it’s supposed to get worse before it gets better
He grunted
Well, I say, look on the bright side, I’ve done well staying away from sharp objects
He grunted again and turned the volume up on the TV
When I awoke this morning, the hand, though still tender, did not hurt as much and looked better
Sure, it is still hot to the touch and my skin is pulled so tightly it feels like it is going to burst at the seams at any moment and that weird little lump is still there……but it feels better
I arrived for what I hoped would be my last treatment
The nurses greeted me like an old friend
I told them I was starting to feel like I was part of the team and whose turn was it to bring donuts and where are they ‘cause I’m starving!
I was put in Exam Room 3 and asked if it been reserved for me
Funny, said Ellen who was there with me Monday and Tuesday, you have been in this room everyday
The PA and doctor made the same observation as did Judy who was also there with me yesterday
All four of them huddled around my hand as the doctor picked it up and started poking and pressing
Looks good
The three women agreed
It’s still hot
So am I, I said
And it is still a bit hard
That’s what she said, I answered
He looked at me
You are a funny one aren’t you?
Well, I said, one cannot get by on looks alone
That lump is still there, the PA noted, it’s an abscess
But it’s smaller than yesterday I chime in
It is, they agreed
The PA and doc further agreed this would be my last round of IV antibiotics
But it is imperative you take your oral antibiotic on time; we’ll give you a schedule to follow
Ok, what about this abscess, I asked
The PA pressed on it
I yelled out Uncle
Finally, the doctor laughed
If it gets bigger, puffier or moves, go to the ER
Ok……so if it’s an abscess does it burst…like well you know an abscess does? Like will it explode out from underneath my skin?
Well, it could but hopefully it won’t
Ok…. is that hopefully won’t like the brakes in your car could go at any moment, but hopefully they won’t…or is that hopefully won’t like you could be walking down the street and be hit with debris from the space station but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none, hopefully won’t?
It’ll be fine, the doctor said as he patted my hand
Judy and Ellen were charged with getting the needle in my arm and the medicine mixed up
As one put the needle in my arm, the other busied herself with setting up the medicine bag in the IV stand
Judy caught me up on her daughter’s divorce (that ex of her’s Phil is a real jerk) and Ellen (who by the way used to live in our house in Woburn) told me about her son’s new “friend” – she seems okay but we all think he can do better
The PA then came in and caught me up on what happened when she took her boyfriend’s daughter back to school shopping in an attempt to bond with her – it did not go well – and now we are pretty sure that John is not going to propose as she thought he had planned
55 minutes later, I was done
The Familiar Four walked in with my marching orders
Do NOT miss a dose said Dr K, remember, cat bites…
Yes, I know, cat bites are the worst…worse than humans, worse than dogs…but I still don’t
know what to do if I get bit by a vampire
Go to the Urgent Care Clinic down in Woburn he replied
Touché doc, Touché
The PA and the nurses hugged me
Judy promised she would not bad mouth Phil in front of the grandkids (they repeat everything) no matter how much of a big jerk he is
Ellen would give her son’s “new friend” a chance, it’s hard being the girlfriend of someone’s only son and only child…. but I do think he can do better
The PA and I agreed she should try shopping again with the boyfriend’s daughter – and not be so concerned with will he or won’t he propose……all in due time
I agreed we would not adopt Scampy
As I walked out of Exam Room 3, I reached into my bag and grabbed the post-it note I had scribbled while I was on the IV Drip
I slapped it on the wall next to the little plaque that read Exam 3
It said
Maria’s Room, No Cats Allowed
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