Abandoned syringe causes heartache

Jan 09, 2008

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to the public (as) on Dec. 7, 2007 my life changed. Hopefully by writing this letter no one else will have to go through what I am at this moment.

Please, if you use a syringe, no matter what for (i.e.: drugs, insulin, any reason at all) please do not leave (the syringe) behind, especially in a public washroom. The cleaning staff or someone else may become a victim of being punctured by this needle, and as it is an unknown donor, this person goes through six months of hell, or more if (the tests) come back positive for HIV or for Hep B.

My two children and myself will now have six agonizing months to wait for test results to keep coming back negative (hopefully). So please, never leave syringes behind.

I really thought that this far north I would not need to worry about this problem, but I was wrong. Anyone who does clean public washrooms, please be really careful. And to the person who left this syringe behind, please do not do this anymore. I wouldn’t want anyone else going through what I am right now.

Sincerely,
A worried mother.
(Name witheld upon request.)