Chapter 13 - THE CAST STORY
The original cast was legitimate.
Applied in our pediatric ED.
Properly padded.
Follow-up necessary because swelling and wound monitoring mattered.
How did it become filthy?
Caleb explained slowly over several interviews.
The first week, his fingers hurt.
He told Martha.
She said wait.
The cast got wet in the shower.
Greg wrapped a trash bag badly.
Water entered.
The padding stayed damp.
Then itching.
Then smell.
Caleb begged to return.
Martha said:
“Doctors ask too many questions.”
Greg said:
“You want them to put Mom in jail?”
Caleb stopped asking.
At three weeks, discharge began leaking through the edge.
Martha taped towels around it.
At four, he developed fever.
She gave ibuprofen.
At five, he stopped eating.
Then school called because he nearly fainted.
Martha took him home instead of the hospital.
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Next morning, he was barely responsive.
Only then did she come.
