Chapter Seventeen in “Decades with the Squad,” by my late father, William Palmer Jervey, Jr.
It could be argued that this episode was unusual in the extreme, even bizarre.
The call came as “a lady with a nail through her hand.”
One crew member was still at home which was near that of the patient. As we moved out, he called by radio to advise that he would go directly to the scene. A few minutes later he called again inquiring our ETA.
“Ten to twelve,” we replied. “What’s the situation?”
“This lady is attached to the wall,” he answered.
“She’s attached to the wall?” we asked incredulously.
“10-4,” he said.
“10-4,” we said.
On we sped with growing thoughts of dreadful mistreatment welling up within our collective skulls.
When we arrived at the scene we found the victim, groaning in pain and fear, seated on the edge of the bathtub. Her right had was indeed “attached to the wall.” Poor old soul, she had a host of troubles to include diabetes, terminal cancer and failing hip joints. She had lost her balance and her outthrust hand had encountered the head of a nail, protruding from the wall. It was probably a 20-penny, and sheer force had driven the head nearly all the way through. You could feel the head just under the skin on the back of her hand.
It was quickly decided that a bolt cutter would be the best bet, and fortunately one was available.
The lady on the crew gently held the hand away from the wall (every twitch was agony). I stood in the tub, cradled the victim’s head and murmured encouragement. The young man handled the cutter, straining mightily as he closed the jaws. It was quite dramatic and any twisting of the cutter would be excruciating. Tense silence reigned as the jaws of the cutter slowly sliced through the nail. When the loud metallic snap announced success, a small cheer went up and a few tears of relief were shed.
“You’re loose, you’re loose!” I cried in a voice vibrant with emotion.
She was transported to the hospital where they deadened her hand, made an incision, and lifted out the remains of the nail.
One for the book!
In order to visualize this story I needed to know what a 20 penny nail was. Google tells me that it is a 4″ nail. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Poor lady. Your daddy did a kind thing..
Thank you; yes, he did. He was a kind man.
Yes our people in the Powhatan rescue squad was well worth having in the county. The people were so committed to serving the people in the county. I was so glad to have been a small part of it
Agree on all counts! Nice to hear from you.
Cenie, you were a very large part of it, and just as kind as Daddy was.
Nailed it
Haha! I love it.