The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1977, Page 35

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
33
these years. Both legs were bandaged. 1
removed the bandages as carefully as I
could, but I knew that I caused her pain.
When the dressings were finally
removed, I looked with pity and
compassion on the little girl, as I
examined two bloody stumps, for Lasha
had no feet. I dressed these as other
internes had done before me.
Lasha was in a very tragic accident. It
was spring, and with the sun shining,
everyone was restless after a long winter.
Not the least of these was Lasha, who
was bouncing a ball on the sidewalk.
The ball bounced into the street towards
a streetcar, and Lasha ran out to retrieve
it, and in doing so, fell under the wheels,
in spite of everything the motorman
could do to stop it. The wheels rolled
over one leg just above the ankle. The
shocked bystanders yelled at the
motorman to reverse. He did. A moan
went up from the crowd when it was
realised that the other leg was crushed,
also above the ankle, by the wheels.
She was taken to the Emergency ward
of the Winnipeg General Hospital. Since
she was in shock from the injury and loss
of blood, it was decided to postpone
operations for a few days. The two little
stumps were cleaned and dressed. It was
hoped that infection could be avoided.
This was before the days of antibiotics.
Time passed, and Lasha had
improved so much that on sunny days,
Nurse Charlotte Counsell carried her to
the hospital grounds where, with the
other children, she began to enjoy life
again, but with the difference that the
other children ran and played, while
Lasha watched as she was carried in the
loving arms of the nurse. What she did
not know at that time was that a little
girl without feet could not play or run or
dance like other children.
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