Helen's Thumb

This morning, Helen was unusually cranky. I finally noticed what looked like a giant green booger on the end of her thumb. I admit, this finding didn't surprise me in the least. I tried to quickly swipe it away, but it wouldn't budge. I peered closer and saw, with a thrilling sense of disgust, that the tip of her thumb was swollen with a nasty buildup of pus.

I sprung into action. I gathered supplies from the medicine cabinet. I seated her on the counter in my sewing room, where I could pull up a chair myself and work with a steady hand. I pricked and drained the sore with a sterilized needle. She sniffled bravely through this ordeal, and seemed relieved that I was doing something about it. I smothered it with Bactroban and loaded the Band-Aids on top.
Whilst I was binding up the wound, Owen stood by and made soothing statements such as "Oooh, Helen! It's okay, Helen! Poor Helen!" We asked Jesus to heal it and to help Helen not to pull off the new bandage on her thumb (as well as the old bandage on the bridge of her nose, which is another nasty sore, completely due to her scratching and picking at it, from the very beginning.)

I'm not sure what originally happened with her thumb, except I think it had something to do with her nails being extremely fragile. They split very easily, and if I forget to trim them, they tear off too short. I think either her nail tore or I cut it too short, allowing dirt to get in under her nail and into her skin. I hope she can leave it alone and let it heal. If it doesn't get better, I'll have to haul her into the doctor.