HEGET The Frog Girl

Heqet

The Frog Girl

Sometimes in life amidst the tangled web of existence an odd turn of events mangles what should have been a simple, routine and pleasant moment of childhood. A young girl enamored with all things amphibian ( toad and frogs, etc.) would soon have her idealistic, small stream collection activities hurled furiously into the uncharted.

It was a wonderful Saturday day in the Sheehan household. Dan the father had just got promoted, Mary the mother had received tenure as a 8^th grade science teacher in the public school system. Bills were being paid, vacations planned and the road to happiness seemed to emanate from their driveway to the world. Dan and Mary have two children Michael, 14 at 14 and Molly, 12. They live in a two story brick house in Sewickley , PA a small Borough just north pf Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on a cul de sac street. Their lot is tree lined and has a lovely narrow brook that crosses along the rear property line. This is where Molly spends most of her time.

And where a fissure in the universe appears.

It is supper time. “ Molly, give those frogs a break. Come on in , wash up its time for supper, “ the mother calls.

Molly is fixated on her frog catching activity. She has a red pail with a fine screened fishing net at the ready. “ I almost have a new one!” she says. “ Just a moment mommy.”

“ Now, honey , Dad will be home in a few minutes and he’s taking Michael to soccer. The frogs will be there tomorrow. I promise.”

“OK” Molly drops her utensils and runs towards the back door. She heads for the sink, washes her hands and sits at the assembled table next to her brother . Dan arrives home and he and Mary serve dinner.

“ Well Molly our resident herpetologist how was your day?” The father asks.

“ It was great! I caught some new frogs and a toad peed-ed on me.” Everyone laughed.

Molly, the mother notes: “ Do you know the derivative of the word herpetologist?” Yes, its’ from the Greek word “ to creep.”

Michael says: “ Now that’s creepy!”

The mother looks over at Molly’s right hand. “ What is that?” Molly : What? “ On your hand , is that a bruise ? “ She takes Molly’s hand and looks more closely. There is a small brown abrasion on Molly’s right index finger knuckle. “ I think it ‘s wart.”

“ A wart?” Dan interjects . “Kids don’t get warts.”

"Maybe its all from the frogs she’s handling.” Michael laughs.

Molly states emphatically that it is an old myth that frogs cause warts. And that the myth probably arose from the fact the certain frogs and toads have skin bumps that look like warts. No, warts are a human virus and can be treated.

“Well maybe we should take Molly to the dermatologist for a check-up,” Dan suggests.

Molly stops eating and stares at her hand. “ A wart uh? A badge of honor for a herpetologist.” Everyone laughs.

The next morning Molly is out the back door and at the edge of the brook where she nets a small deep green frog. She plops the frog into the pail, adds some water and some algae andcaps the pail with the net so the frog can’t jump out. The frog furiously unhinges its rear legs and catapults itself high into the net. Again and again.

“ Molly. Jesus, are you at it again, so soon? Some on in and have breakfast.” Her mother calls.

Michael says: “ Molly, is that another wart on you right hand?” All eyes zoom to Molly’s hand and sure enough another measurable skin contusion has appeared, this time on Molly’s right thumb knuckle.

“ Jesus, “ the mother inspects and exclaims. “ Maybe we should take Molly to a dermatologist.”

“ Are the frogs causing these?” Molly asks.

Mary laughs. “ No just a happenstance event. But we’ll get them OK’d” Later that day Mary Googles warts and sought out home remedies. The list was long and kinda comical; rub wart with garlic; cover with a paste of baking powder and caster oil; crush vitamin C tablets and cover; soak in pineapple juice. Mary wonders: where can you buy Cater Oil? Wegmans?

Latter that day, Molly and her mother are reading together when Mary spots another wart , this time on Molly’s left hand’s index finger knuckle. She began to wonder and worry. Could Molly have an invasive human virus? If so, how, why? A trip to a dermatologist was in order.

Molly and her mother arrived at the doctor’s office later Monday afternoon. Dr Wells, the dermatologist, inspected Molly’s hands. Two more warts had appeared. There were now 5 measurable warts.

No family history? None. No family vacations to third world nations? Please. Hard to account for this level of infections in a young girl. Very strange. “Let’s do some blood work and in the meantime lets’ get this prescription filled: it contains salicylic acid but a much stringer dose that over the counter products. If this doesn’t help we can always freeze them off with liquid nitrogen. But we need to find out what is causing this outbreak. I want to see Molly in two weeks. If those contusions worsen and I mean increase in numbers ,call me right away.”

In the span of three days, Molly had sprouted four more warts all on her hand knuckles. The father became alarmed. “ We have to call the doctor. This is not normal. What about the blood work. Have we heard?” All conversations were secreted away from Molly.

The phone rang it was the doctor’s office. As soon as Dan got home Mary was at the door. “ He want to see us right away. We have an appointment for tomorrow @ 8:30.” OK I’ll call work, Dan replied.

They arrived at the Doctor’s lobby were immediately escorted to the his office. The Dr. held a manila legal size file. And after greetings, the Dr. closed the door and seemed to hesitate as he walked back behind his desk.

“I’m in uncharted waters here ,” the Dr. began, “ We have Molly’s blood work and well there’s an issue, that as of now I am unfamiliar with. I’ve ordered more exacting tests of Molly’s blood and have requested consultations with a Hematologist.”

“ A blood specialist?” asked Dan “ Is Molly sick?”

“ Ah no, no, please don’t raise unnecessary alarms.” He said in a soft re-assuring voice. The Dr. spread out (3) 8”x 11” colored slides of what appeared to blood cells. Dan and Marty bumped up against the desk staring down at the exhibits.

Pointing to the exhibits with a pencil erasure the Dr. said:. “This is one of Molly’s red blood cells. Do you see the dark dot in the center of the cell? “

“ I see it, yes I do, “ Mary said.

“That dark dot is a nucleus. Mrs. Sheehan, human red blood cells do not contain a nucleus.” Silence gripped the office. The Sheehan’s were speechless. The Dr. was speechless. All three sat staring at the red blood cell and that damn tiny spot in it’s center. Suddenly an intercom rang.

“ Dr. ...”

“ I asked that no...”

The voice proclaimed: “ It’s Dr. Barnstardt.”

“Oh, please put him through.”

The connection was crystal clear. “ Hello Dr. Wells....” There was a measurable pause in Barnstardt's voice. “ Are we alone?”

“ No the patient’s mother and father are sitting here with me. The three of us want to hear what your findings are.” Dan and Mary nodded agreement.

“ Dr Wells, I… I… well first thing first: where were these blood samples taken?”

“ Right here in this office. Control of the ownership chain was rock solid.” Dr Wells stated.

Barnstardt: “ Very well. So there is zero chance of any contamination?”

“ None. Zero. But Jesus you never know.”

Barnstardt: “ Very well . The blood samples I evaluated contain...” his voice trailed off. ” Dr. Wells, perhaps we should consult with each other before we discuss this matter with the parents.”

Dan ‘s voice began to quiver, his lower lip sputtering. “ Doctors we are here, that’s our little girl and we are hear for answers.” He seemed to clench his fist and Mary rubbed his shoulder.

Barnstardt: “ Folks I’ve never seen human blood like this before. Ever. Not at Harvard Medical where I interned, not at John Hopkins where I did my medical studies. There had to have been contamination, Dr Wells. Before we proceed with any further diagnosis, I’d request the patient come to our hospital offices and let’s do some more blood tests but under a more controlled procedure. The blood showed no trace of a buffered tri-sodium citrate solution that I think should be employed . “

Dr Wells: “ Folks, Dr Barnstardt and his team are the best there is. Lets get our little girl over there as soon as possible.”

Mary spoke first. “ The scientific method of investigations should be followed. Lets get Molly into Dr Barnstardt’s offices and go from there.”

Dan asked:” Is Molly sick? And if so what is her prognosis? I mean how is she sick? As of this moment what does the blood analysis reveal? “ There was silence .“ SOMEONE SPEAK UP!”

Barnstardt: “ I think, Dr Wells, that there had to have been some sort of contamination of the patient’s blood sample. There just has to have been, damn it.” His voice, too was rising.

Mary thought: Throughout all this conversation , I sense that the doctor’s are fraught with worry. There’s a palatable tension in the room. And it is not coming from Dan or myself.

It was decided that Molly would be taken to Barnstardt’s offices the day after tomorrow where a more thorough and chain of command sample evaluation would be undertaken.

“ Thank you Dr Barnstardt.”

And as Dan and Mary headed towards the office door. Dan turned and looked at Dr Wells. “ Dr you were going to tell us what those dark spots in Molly’s red blood cells were. I know you were.”

Dr Wells shuffled his feet, stared down at the exhibits. “ I’m not an expert, but those red blood cells on these images appear to have amphibian characteristics.”

“ Say what?” Dan and Mary both called out in unison. “ Amphibian characteristics? WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?”

Dr Wells: “ Those red blood cells with the nucleus are the cells of a frog. Contamination is the only reasonable answer. Good day and we’ll see you soon.” He took a breath. “ Dr Barnstardt will resolve this matter, I promise.”

On the ride home, Dan spoke first. “ Jesus, does Wells have a blood collection and diagnosis contract with an aquarium?”

Mary sat silent and did not let on to Dan what she had witnessed the previous Sunday night.

In the days before the appointment with Dr Barnstardt, more warts were observed on Molly’ s hands. By the night before the appointment every finger on Molly’s hands had a wart , some fingers especially the index fingers had two or three. Molly didn’t seemed to mind, though.

Michael noted this behavior and asked Molly why she wasn’t worried or embarrassed about the warts. They certainly were noticeable.

“ I don’t know, “ Molly answered, staring at her hands and the warts. “ I don’t know why.”

Mary sat at the kitchen table . “ Molly make sure you get a good night’s sleep , we have a big day tomorrow with ice cream at the end.” She stared at Molly’s eyes.

“ Molly, look at me.” Molly looked at her. “ Your eyes, why… there not blue any more. Huh? They are green and your pupil ...”

When they arrived at Dr Barnstardt's office a team of white coated personnel were at the glass door entrance to greet them. “ We are the Sheehan family.” Yes we know someone spoke and soon the team was surrounding Mary , Dan and Molly. The closed circle began moving the Sheehans out of the lobby and through white doors and down a bright corridor and into a laboratory room.

Drs Barnstardt and Wells soon came into the room. “ Good morning Molly and mom and dad, we are happy you are here and we are anxious to get you home.” Dr Barnstardt smiled.

“ Mommy, why aren’t I scared? I should be , shouldn’t I?” Molly asked.

Dr Wells spoke: “ Of course not Molly, you are an expert in giving blood!” Everyone laughed.

Dr Wells led Molly to a Guernsey where a nurse propped Molly’s head on a pillow, draped her with warm, white quilted blankets and brought her right arm out from under the blanket. He and Barnstardt slipped on vinyl gloves. Wells drew a rolling table near to Molly’s arm and adjusted the table height. All the while Dr Barnstardt was buying himself collected empty vials from voluminous shelves. Each vial had a different colored cap; blue, red, purple ( 2 caps), white.

Dr Barnstardt placed the vials on the table aside of Molly . “ How come they have have different colors?” Molly asked.

“ Well each color means that when we take a tiny drop of your blood , we’ll be sure that we take as little as possible. Because your blood is precious! Normally we have a phlebotomist do this procedure, folks, but Dr Wells and I thought we’d collect Molly’s blood and get the three of you home right away. I hear that ice cream is in store for you, no?”

“ Yes,” Molly smiled. Dr Wells glanced down at Molly’s hand as Barnstorm poked to find a service vein on the underside of her arm adjacent to the elbow area. He counted the warts that have appeared since her last visit. He drew a heavy breath and glanced around hoping no one had heard him.

The doctor strapped a small tourniquet above Molly’s elbow and began tapping her arm for a suitable vein. “ Well Molly, here’s a strong vein. Strong like you!” And with that Dr Barnstardt pricked her skin. “ Molly if this needle was any more smaller I’d need a microscope to see it. Right? We call it a #22; someday you’ll be 22.”

All five vials were filled to their pre determined levels, gauze pad and tape placed on Molly’s arm.

Mary pulled Dr Barnstardt to the side. She whispered: “ Check out her eyes. They look strange.” Barnstardt smiled and tapped Molly’s hand while staring into her eyes. His face turned ashen. Molly’s pupils appeared to becoming oval shaped.

Dr Wells walked them to the entrance door . “ I’ll call with the results as soon as we have them,” he smiled. Bending down to Molly: “ And you little brave girl, enjoy that ice cream”

Four days passed. Then five. Mary was anxious, Dan was getting upset, Michael was hungry and Molly was outside playing along the stream bank. “ I would like to collect all the frogs I find, but that wouldn’t be right, “ Molly thought. “ I have to feed them , too. What would I feed them? Flies? How would I catch a live fly?” Suddenly a common house fly landed on her knee and in a flash of a millisecond Molly scooped-it up into the palm of hand and then pondered: Now how did I do that?

Later that day Mary and Molly were sitting on the back porch. “ Molly I watched you playing in the yard a while back and I saw you jumping.”

“ Ma all kids like to jump.”

“ But you weren’t jumping like a little girl, you were really jumping. I mean high in the air!”

“ Oh Mommy, I was just playing leap frog.”

The phone rang. It was Dr. Barnstardt. “ Do you need a babysitter for your children? We’d like to meet with you and your husband as soon as you can arrange. Tomorrow morning, say 8:30AM?””

They arrived at Barnstardt’s office at 8:15 and were immediately escorted down the hallway and into Barnstardt's office where they were greeted by four personnel; Barnstardt, Wells and two women clad in white medical cloaks. All four had name tags clasped to their collars.

“ Folks these two doctors are from the Nation’s offices of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. They specialize in well, unique cases of ...” His voice trailed off. “ Of... Dr Heilman ...”

One of the women stepped forward. She was tall, angular and about 50 years of age with reddish hair, slightly streaked with gray worn as a bun atop her head. In a stern, pointed almost mathematical manner, she began: “ Mr and Mrs Sheehan, we were called by Dr Barnstardt because we specialize in potential communicative blood- borne diseases that may constitute what we in the profession call: surpassing the species barrier. That is a mingling of differing species... . “ She stopped and looked to the to the woman jotting notes. “ Blood. Molly , somehow, some way, under some almost unimaginable situation has amphibian blood in her body and those amphibian blood cells are co-mingling with Molly’s.”

No one gathered said a word.

Mary began to cry, softly at first and then a constant heaving of her chest. “ Well what is the prognosis? Is she going to turn into a half human/half frog freak show item?”

Dr Wells spoke: “ Oh my , Mary , there isn’t a scintilla of that outcome. We just think a parasite or something similar somehow entered her system- a scratch, a bruise any ripple on the skin...”

“ Like a wart,” Mary proposed almost randomly. There was silence.

Dr Heilman: “ Here’s what we want to do. Place Molly in an isolation room under our supervision for a period of time….”

“ How long? School comes back to session in about 4 weeks. And where is this room? Who is in charge? ” Mary snapped. “ Dr Barnstardt, are you OK with this? Is there a danger to Molly?”

Dr Barnstardt: “ Yes I think this is the best approach for Molly’s sake. He proceeded to discuss what the professions calls: a cytokine storm. This occurs when a virus ( non human as from a bat or mosquito) has entered the human body and our immune system immediately begins to confront the invading virus, and becomes hyper-activated and instead of killing the virus it actually harms the patient.

“ And Molly seems just fine. Like a normal 12 year old. So we don’t see this as a similar medical condition. Which has given us great relief.” Dr Heilman smiled.

Mary looked to Dan. “ Dan what do you think?”

Dan brought his right hand out towards the assembled doctors palm side down. “ I think this infection approach and its safeguards is correct. Maybe I , too should be put in isolation. Look.” The doctors crowded around Dan’s hand. “ Warts,” Dan whispered. Mary sprang up from her chair stared at Dan’s wart- encrusted hand and began to sob uncontrollably.

“ This is a freaking nightmare!” She screamed.

Dr. Heilman: “ Jesus.”

Dr Barnstardt reached for the intercom. “ Blood station ready- STAT!”

The blood results determined that Dan , too, had the now familiar black dot in the center his red blood cells. His blood contained amphibian blood. Dr Barnstardt stared at Dan’s eyes. The pupils were clearly becoming oval shaped.

30 years later.

The phone rang. “ Hello?”

“ Michael Sheehan?”

“ Yes this is Mike. Can I help you?”

“ Mr. Sheehan, I am a reporter with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Dave Medine. I am writing a piece on Doctor William Barnstardt who recently died. Does his name sound familiar to you?”

Michael took a breath. “ I guess. Why have you contacted me?”

“ The family has given me full access to all his papers.” The voice seemed to hesitate to continue. “ Mr. Sheehan the doctor treated your family many years ago .”

“ But all that’s confidential. Again, how did you find me?” Michael stood up and began to pace the kitchen.

“The doctor kept a personal diary and the family has given me full access. He never used real names, but on page 134 of his diary , he slipped and alluded to the “Sheehan amphibian dilemma.” The reporter asked if he wanted Michael to continue. The reported alluded to the many rumors that circulated those many years ago about a young girl infected with amphibian blood.

“That’s bull crap, nonsense and I think I’ll hang up.”

“ WAIT!” the reporter snapped. “ I know the CDC was involved and we can get a FOIA in a half an hour.”

“ OK, tomorrow , I’ll meet you at the Eat n’ Park on Ohio River Blvd. 10 AM.”

Michael somehow sensed a moment of relief, of that seminal weight being lifted from his shoulders. Should I tell him? But why? For what purpose? Molly has been through enough. But so haven’t I, he agreed.

The reporter stood in the entrance way and watched as Michael pulled into the lot. The reporter was probably Michael’s age , early 40s, black parted hair and long sideburns. Hand out stretched, “ Hello Michael. Thanks for seeing me. “

They sat at a booth, ordered a cup of coffee. Michael was hesitant. “ I’ve been holding this nightmare for 30 years. It has ruined my life. I never got married, never dated really. You confront something so horrible and unimaginable, well it wrangles your emotions and spirit into mush.”

The reporter wrote furtively into his lined notebook. “ Nightmare.”

“ Oh yes, that’s the word. But you see, the disease passed me by. But every morning you look for the signs. You fear looking into a mirror.” He sipped his coffee. “My mother was also free of the disease, but she died 9 years ago.”

“ The horror, what was the horror, Michael?”

“ Lets go for a ride. My car.” They left the restaurant and Michael opened the passenger door, removing a small white envelope from the seat. Down Rt 65 and onto Rt 79 north bound heading for the Meadville exit. As Michael drove he told the reporter all he could remember; the blood work, the discovery, the father being infected ; Heilman’s efforts to find an isolation station near to Mary; his father’s death from the infected blood two years ago.

“ I couldn’t locate Dr Wells . Heilman I’ll go through the CDC. “ the reporter said. “ Any clue where I can find Wells?”

“ No I think they are both dead. I saw quite a bit of Heilman for many years, then she fell ill and we just lost touch. But I’m sure that FOIA threat could be used as you delve deeper into this .”

“ Deeper? I was thinking this ride is just a side bar to Barnstardt’s piece.”

“ Oh Jesus, “ Michael laughed. “ Your ain’t got a clue.”

Michael turned right towards Cambridge Springs, onto Rt 86 and drove some miles on narrow lane roadways where he came upon an unmarked small stone bed driveway and wheeled off the road. There was a 10’ foot tall black iron wrought gate and fence. Michael stopped and walked to a wireless communication box. The gate opened.

They came upon a small, white brick building with one single 2 foot square window and a metal front door. The building only measured 20 feet wide by 20 feet long with a 12 foot eave. Michael glanced at the small white envelope.

“Jesus, what the hell is this?” the reporter asked. “ And how did you find this driveway?”

“ Jonas Salk had this built in the 1950’s when he worked on the polio vaccine. It was his escape from all things academic . Back then of course there was only farmland here. “

There was an electronic key entry box and with a few button pushed, the door opened. There were two rooms. One large l- shaped and then a small room formed by the L shape outline. A small push of orange light came from a lamp seated on a table just to the left of the entrance. The walls were empty, and a small table with two chairs sat near by.

“Sorry for the musty-ness.” There was a gurgling sound as though from a small brook.

“Yea it stinks in here. What’s in that room? What’s that sound?” The reporter stomped about. The small room had a small window facing the larger room. The reporter peered in, cupping his hand around his eyes. “ Its pitch black in there. But… I ...there’s like weeds, grass, running water ,is that a water lily? Is that something moving? A person?”

Michael walked over to the small room’s door and unlocked it. Michael motioned the reporter to the edge of the doorway. “ Someone has to know, ” Michael whispered. They both hunched over and looked in.

Out from the murky darkness came a small child-like hand white in color, almost pure white. A closer examination revealed delicate webbing between each finger. Michael reached out his hand and the white fingers took hold.

“ Molly.” And at that, an oval shaped skinless head slowly emerged into view. It’s green, glistening oval eyes started at the men. It showed no emotion. The reporter gasped. It seemed to smile, but its lips had formed away from the front of the face and towards the sides. The nose had evolved into a small, glistening stunted bump on the face but nostrils were evident. It had no ears rather round brown spots . Its head bobbed from side to side as though trying to pull together a fragmented picture. Its actions seemed automated. Sporadic twitching movements. The rest of the body remained hidden .

“ Can I say hello?” The reporter reached out his hand and the white webbed fingers rubbed against his knuckles.

Michael opened the white envelope and emptied its contents into the hand. It was a collection of house flies. The hand and face receded from view. The gurgling water sound consumed the space.

“ That was… is my sister . Now there is someone else who knows. I need help. I worry for the future. She can’t stay here.” Michael now worried that he may have ignited a fuse.

“ Jesus, God ,” the reporter said rubbing his forehead. “ Jesus.”

End