The Unkindest Cut

I read about a twelve year old Who fell and cut his arm. His coach gave him a band-aid; There was no cause for alarm. Yet unbeknownst to anyone, Bacteria crept in And multiplied with fierce abandon Underneath the skin. Next day the boy was feeling sick With fever and some pain. The doctor checked him out and thought The cause was pretty plain – With lots of virus going round, That must be what he had; And so she sent him home With very worried mom and dad. He started feeling worse and so They went to N.Y.U.; A fine prestigious hospital Would know just what to do. Alas, they made the same mistake As doctor number one. They took some tests and then dismissed The parents and their son. Yet morning came and he declined. His folks just couldn’t wait. They rushed back to the hospital; By then, it was too late. The doctors somehow’d missed the signs; His body was in shock. Bacteria’d been building armies All around the clock. And no one knew to give the boy The proper ammunition. “We’re very sorry” was the line They got from each physician. Now doctors are just human And of course, they make mistakes; But reading of this family’s loss, My heart just up and breaks.