Being Brave!!!
By Abigail
3rd grade, Mrs Aaberg
“Abigail, pack up, you’re going home,” my teacher said. I knew I was going to the doctor. My mom was waiting in the office when I got there.
“Where is your brother?” she asked. Right then My brother, Isaac, came running in. We dropped Isaac off at piano before I went to the doctor.
As I drove there, I felt like nothing was going to happen because I didn’t know what was coming.
At the doctor, my mom had to fill out a form to check in. When they called my name, I went into the room and laid on the bed. The nurse introduced herself to us. She told us the doctor had a substitute today, then she left the room. A few minutes later, the doctor came in. “Hi,” she said, “I am the substitute for the doctor. The nurse will numb your hand.” Then she left.
“What?” I asked my mom. “What does she mean about numbing?” I felt scared because I had no idea what was happening. I thought, “Is it going to hurt? Is she going to put a cream on it?” My mind was spinning.
The nurse came in with a tube of something. “This will help you with the shot.”
“SHOT!?” I thought. “How big is the shot?” I asked.
“Do you want to see it?” asked the nurse. My mom said “no,” but I said “yes.” The nurse pulled a shot out of her pocket. She said it was the smallest shot they had. I looked at it, and it didn’t look very bad. I was still so scared because I didn’t like needles.
“Can you tell me what is going to happen, step by step?” I asked.
“Oh, of course,” said the nurse in an I was going to do that already voice.
I clutched my mom’s hand and faced her. The nurse held my hand and said, “Okay, I am going to do it now.” I closed my eyes and squeezed my mom’s hand with my other hand. It did hurt, but when the nurse started talking to me, it took my mind off of the shot.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the nurse took the needle out and said, “You’re done.”
“Yeah,” I thought, “now I get to go.” But, a few minutes later the doctor came in and said, “Okay, now it’s time for the surgery.”
I thought, “Surgery!?” My mind was screaming. I felt like I was going to cry. The doctor said I wouldn’t feel anything because I was numbed, but I was still very afraid.
Before I knew it, I was laying down with my hand up above my head as they were cutting a chunk of my hand. My mom almost passed out as she watched. The doctor said, “This might smell a little weird,” as she picked up a tool. I didn’t smell anything, but eventually realized it was the smell of burning flesh. It was mine!
When I finished, the doctor let me look at it. “Wow,” I thought when I was looking at it, “I went through a lot and I was very brave.” I was so brave, I asked for some stickers. She told me I could have two, so I got one for me and one for Mrs. Krueger.
