On a heat day July 11, Caroline Flynn and her younger youngsters had been in a South Boston park close to their house for a party when her 4-year-old ran screaming from a play space with out footwear on.
When she rushed over within the grassy space across the nook of Columbia Street and Mercer Avenue, her youngster had a needle protruding of his foot, Flynn stated.
“I was freaking out. I was scared,” Flynn stated. “I noticed that there was leftover blood in that needle. So all the worst thoughts that I could think of came to my mind.”
The household hurried to the emergency room at Boston Medical Heart, staying there from 8 p.m. to nearly 4 a.m., Flynn stated.
Her son needed to get an X-ray for the swelling, underwent in depth blood testing and walked away with three medicines to take twice a day for 28 days to stop HIV, the mother stated.
After weeks of struggling by taking the medicines — which the 4-year-old has had points swallowing and never throwing up in numerous varieties — the household will return to the infectious illness unit subsequent week for extra blood checks and once more in three weeks for one more spherical.
“Even though it happened a few weeks ago, we’re still not in the clear because that first round of blood work he did, they pretty much said was too soon to even find if he’s infected with anything,” stated Flynn. “So next week, when we go for blood work, hopefully we’ll have more clarity. But still, every day not knowing if he caught anything from this incident has been stressful. It’s been traumatic.”
As horrifying because the incident was, it wasn’t totally exceptional for the South Boston mother.
“It’s sad, but it’s kind of true; in this area, it’s normal to see drug addicts openly using drugs in public,” stated Flynn.
Now Flynn stated she’s taking steps to warn her neighbors and searching for change from public officers. She famous she’s spoken to some metropolis councilors and state Sen. Nick Collins for the reason that incident.
“I never thought it would happen to my kid, and it did,” stated Flynn. “So you just have to be aware now.”
A Metropolis of Boston spokesperson stated Sunday that metropolis officers work to “remove any found needles immediately,” and the general public well being dangers and different impacts of discarded needles are a “reason why we are moving to end outdoor congregate substance use in Boston.”
Town runs a Cell Sharps Workforce that makes “daily sweeps in public spaces and quickly pick up any needles reported to 311,” in coordination with accomplice organizations, the spokesperson stated. Town additionally famous added staffing to ramp up enforcement and a brand new partnership with the Gavin Basis to move people from the Mass and Cass space and direct entry to restoration beds.
“Discarded needles on our city streets and public spaces are unacceptable, and no family should have to worry about their children’s safety with this distressing situation,” the Metropolis spokesperson stated.
South Boston Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn referred to as the incident “a parent’s worst nightmare” and argued “nobody can credibly say that everything is getting better.”
“The drug crisis we have in our neighborhoods must be met with the full force of law enforcement,” stated Councilor Flynn. “Zero tolerance for drug use, drug dealing, human trafficking and violence. To do otherwise would allow for more vulnerable people to be victimized, while public order and quality of life for law abiding Bostonians continues to deteriorate.”
State Sen. Nick Collins stated there’s a “state of emergency in Boston with respect to the drug epidemic.” He referred to as for a joint activity pressure with native, state and federal regulation enforcement devoted to the Mass and Cass drug use.
“This incident is disturbing, and my heart goes out to the young victim and his family,” stated Collins. “Nobody should have to be subjected to this.”
“This is just allowed too much by the city, people doing drugs in public and just not being held accountable for it,” stated Caroline Flynn.
The mother stated she’s searching for steps like needle disposal packing containers in parks the place that is taking place, clean-up groups going by parks eradicating needles, and the town to take the difficulty “more seriously.”
“This whole incident has just been stressful, frustrating, traumatizing,” stated Caroline Flynn. “And the most frustrating part about is that it should have never happened.”
