Last night while walking home from the palengke, my neighbor Bing, who was wearing rubber flip flops, seared her the skin of her sole with a dirty tack. She is an OR nurse, who is naturally, very familiar with what even the smallest cut or wound can possibly do to anybody, so she was very paranoid about getting lockjaw due to tetanus, or something like that. Usually i would just accompany her to the wet market, help out with preparing our dinner (because i have the lowest self esteem when it comes to cooking). Last night we were supposed to have curried mixed seafood (that’s shrimp, squid, mussels plus carrots and potatoes) but because she was so worried about being infected, she immediately conferred with her colleagues on the phone and deliberated what they should do. She left all the ingredients at the table, at my mercy, staring at it not knowing what to do. Well, i do know what to do but i am afraid it will not turn out right. So, just to help, i cleaned the squid, mussels and shrimp. Sliced the squid and shelled the shrimp while i boil the mussels. Then cut the veggies and prepared the spices.
After boiling the mussels i took them out of their shell and put them along side the sliced quid and shelled shrimp. I waited for my friend who is running to and from her bedroom to the living room, while on the phone. The rice is already cooked and i am getting hungrier by the minute. LOL When she finally noticed that everything was already prepared and i am looking at them uncertainly, she apologized and hugged me, and explained what was going on.
She needed to get a temporary shot of tetanus toxoid, a live virus thingy that will be injected on her fore arm. She will get said substance from the nearby Mercury drug. But before that, we should cook first. And cooked we, or she did. I was silently saying prayers of thanks to the angels. Whew!
But after dinner and after getting the substance (which came with an ice cube), syringes and needles came the shocker. I should give her the shot. She can do it but she would be on a most comfortable position and she might hit the wrong nerve. I was mortified. I rarely look at the part of my body that receives the shot – i always look the other way. I can tolerate the pain but i cant look at it. And now she’s asking me to give her the shot – as in be the one to inject the somewhat thick substance, which i know will hurt a lot!
I told her, while vigorously shaking my head that i so cannot do it. “then who will?” she asked me. I said I’ll ask my house mates. I went to my place next door but nobody wants to do it. Bing was egging me come on. “you can do it. I will guide you through it” i keep shaking my head, my eyes widening in horror. She sat down and showed me that i just have to hold up her forearm a certain way, then the syringe this way, then hit this particular spot and just do it.
“Ayoko talaga!” i protested. She insisted i can. I said i won’t be able to see it cos i have poor eyesight. She pointed out that I’m still wearing my contacts. I shook my head.
She went to get a glass of water. Then made me drink it. Then brought me to the sink and washed my hands. “you’re not even shaking, you’re fine. You can do it!” she said. Aaarrgh i am beginning to panic. I guess she saw the panic in my eyes so she told me to take deep breathes. “this is funny, i am the one who’s about to get the shot. You wimp.” i just pursed my lips.
Then she told me about how we sort of rescued/helped this couple in a motorcycle who had a minor accident last week. We were walking from the LRT station to the neighborhood where we’re both renting apartments. Then we saw this motorbike swerve perilously to one side and eventually collapsed, cos they were trying to stick to the designated lane when this stupid car whizzed by on a really nasty overtake. The couple, probably both in their early 30s, looked to have broken something, despite them wearing helmets. They’re both lying on the ground and struggling to get up, as their legs were under their bike. She immediate rushed to the couple and told them to stay still. Thankfully they’re both responding to her. She asked me to attend to the woman, as she will instruct me what to check. Well, i do remember my girl scout first aid. LOL. Once we checked for vital signs and made sure there wasn’t any sign of trauma, we helped them get up to a sitting position. Then we pulled their bike up from their leg. And then helped them stand up. We asked them if they want to be taken to the hospital, we can hail a cab. They both couldn’t say thank you enough, and even got our names. We said it’s okay.
After telling me this i guess i felt myself calming down, and coming around a bit. But i couldn’t help but voice out my concern. What if i get it wrong? She said that’s not possible. She checked my breathing, my vital signs LOL and when she decided I’m okay to administer the shot, she quickly got on her feet and prepared it. After a few minutes, she handed me the syringe, then she said on the dining table so it’s easier for me. She told me to squeeze a part of her fore arm, and hold it up. Firmly. Then told em to position my fingers on the syringe. Hold it, point the needle against the spot which she pointed to me earlier. Then just inject it. Push, then pull.
Ohmygod, ohmygod, after i withdrew the empty syringe i began to shake. Did i get it right? Aaarrgh. My friend was obviously in pain, as expected. But after a minute she patted the area where she substance was injected. “okay na.” she told me, with a thumbs up sign. “and you did great!” then seeing i might pass out anytime, she hugged me. “praning, tapos na. I told you you can do it!”
it was the biggest sigh of relief I’ve ever heaved in ages. And another fear i was able to conquer.
