Going Under
A child undergoes a minor procedure and fears death.43 total reviews
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
Hi Beth! Thanks for sharing your tale of youthful horror. I love the fact the doctor didn't want to continue to torture you, so opted for surgery.
Blow by blow you took us through the legitimate, if unfounded, fears of a child you doesn't really understand the finer points of surgery.
Take care and good luck in the contest,
Rhonda
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Hi Beth! Thanks for sharing your tale of youthful horror. I love the fact the doctor didn't want to continue to torture you, so opted for surgery.
Blow by blow you took us through the legitimate, if unfounded, fears of a child you doesn't really understand the finer points of surgery.
Take care and good luck in the contest,
Rhonda
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Rhonda, I appreciate the review and comments. It is amazing how something like that has stuck in my mind all these years.
Beth
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It is funny how some things from childhood stay ever with us!
Comment from Rosemary Everson1
Did they put a mask over your face when they put you out? I bet that did hurt when you had that splinter inserted into your thumb. When I first saw the image, I thought you had gotten cut with glass. Like your story even though I could see how you felt
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Did they put a mask over your face when they put you out? I bet that did hurt when you had that splinter inserted into your thumb. When I first saw the image, I thought you had gotten cut with glass. Like your story even though I could see how you felt
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Rosemary. Yes they did put a mask over my face or at least my mouth and nose. It was scary enough that I still remember it after all these years.
Beth
Comment from Ben Colder
I regret having not six stars for this. It is a shame we don't have hometown doctors anymore. I too had an experience but too long to mention. Those people were with their salt. I can see this unfolding. Glad you still remembered. Best to you, Beth.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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I regret having not six stars for this. It is a shame we don't have hometown doctors anymore. I too had an experience but too long to mention. Those people were with their salt. I can see this unfolding. Glad you still remembered. Best to you, Beth.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Chuck. I'm sure your experience was no longer ago than mine. Yes, those hometown doctors were the best. I think he practiced medicine well into his eighties.
Beth
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Cringe-worthy description of the splinter's path and the agonizing aftermath. I get why the doctor put you out for his sake more than your own! I remember getting ether (?) for my tonsillectomy in 1961.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Cringe-worthy description of the splinter's path and the agonizing aftermath. I get why the doctor put you out for his sake more than your own! I remember getting ether (?) for my tonsillectomy in 1961.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Elizabeth, I didn't realize they were still using ether in the sixties. Every time I had to see that doctor, he told my mom, "She has to have those tonsils out." I still have them. LOL
Beth
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They may not have been--at the time, I was 4, and it must have been years thereafter that I inferred it was ether because people still used the word to refer to anesthesia.
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I just checked briefly--one source says ether was used until the mid-50's--one says phased out in the mid-70s.
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And I found this:
https://histmed.collegeofphysicians.org/ether-in-surgery/
[excerpt] With the release of more efficient anesthetics in the 1960s, the use of ether declined. It was quickly replaced by new anesthetics such as halothane and sevoflurane. Today, it is no longer used except in undeveloped countries, where it is a cheaper alternative.
Comment from Spitfire
One spag: "Go get the either-- should be 'ether'. Otherwise, a delightful read. Your fear comes across as you process what might happen if you go under. I felt your pain too as I remember a couple of painful splinters my Mom tried to dislodge and did so. Great ending with a child's take on this escape from near death! Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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One spag: "Go get the either-- should be 'ether'. Otherwise, a delightful read. Your fear comes across as you process what might happen if you go under. I felt your pain too as I remember a couple of painful splinters my Mom tried to dislodge and did so. Great ending with a child's take on this escape from near death! Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you for a great review. I thing the spell checker changed that word because I looked up the spelling before I used it. I'm glad you liked my little story and I really appreciate the six stars.
Beth
Comment from Ida T. Johnson
This is a delightful story about a child's innocent perspective of the adult world! As written, this wonderful story just needs another proofreading to correct the few grammar and spelling errors. I also think the font size could be larger. Yes, I liked your story very much and wish you success in the contest!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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This is a delightful story about a child's innocent perspective of the adult world! As written, this wonderful story just needs another proofreading to correct the few grammar and spelling errors. I also think the font size could be larger. Yes, I liked your story very much and wish you success in the contest!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Ida, I appreciate the review. There was a spelling error that the auto-correct changed. I'd spelled it correctly. The other reviewers only found the one. I'm glad you liked the story.
Beth
Comment from jmdg1954
This is a fine written account of a little girl who innocently had a major splinter imbedded under her thumb nail. The use of Ether was the only way to easily remove it.
All those scary thoughts that went through her head. Scary for that young one.
Happy ending... nicely written.
Cheers.
John
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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This is a fine written account of a little girl who innocently had a major splinter imbedded under her thumb nail. The use of Ether was the only way to easily remove it.
All those scary thoughts that went through her head. Scary for that young one.
Happy ending... nicely written.
Cheers.
John
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you John, I really appreciate the review and comments.
Beth
Comment from Mary Shifman
I've had splinters under a fingernail before an it hurts. I never had to go to the hospital to have one removed though, so mine weren't as serious as yours. You must have been really terrified for it to over ride your pain like that.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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I've had splinters under a fingernail before an it hurts. I never had to go to the hospital to have one removed though, so mine weren't as serious as yours. You must have been really terrified for it to over ride your pain like that.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you Mary. I really appreciate your review and comments.Yes most splinters come out with a needle but their removal is always painful.
Beth
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You are welcome.
Comment from Tom Horonzy
I regularly prefer to keep my six-stars until something special comes along, and this is one of those times. Well done. Humorous. I felt as if I had gone under with the injured child.
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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I regularly prefer to keep my six-stars until something special comes along, and this is one of those times. Well done. Humorous. I felt as if I had gone under with the injured child.
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you so much Tom. I so pleased that you considered this worthy of six stars.
Beth
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The worth is with the author. Readers simply will enjoy it.
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You did a great job with your contest entry, Beth. It read
smoothly with great details. I liked the way you described
the fruits at the store. In addition, I liked how you used italics
for your thoughts. Thanks for the notes on ether, too.
lollypop or lollipop?? I've only seen it spelled with an i, but spell
check doesn't show it's wrong, though I think with the i is right.
my Dad managed--->dad (if you leave off the my, then dad would be capitalized.
Thanks for sharing and best wishes in the contest, Jan
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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You did a great job with your contest entry, Beth. It read
smoothly with great details. I liked the way you described
the fruits at the store. In addition, I liked how you used italics
for your thoughts. Thanks for the notes on ether, too.
lollypop or lollipop?? I've only seen it spelled with an i, but spell
check doesn't show it's wrong, though I think with the i is right.
my Dad managed--->dad (if you leave off the my, then dad would be capitalized.
Thanks for sharing and best wishes in the contest, Jan
Comment Written 01-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023
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Thank you so much for the review and for noticing the misspelling of lollipop. I really appreciate you nice review.
Beth