A friend of mine called and said she had been badly scratched by her cat. Her daughter works in Orange County, so was not available immediately. She wanted to know if I could come over and help her.

I couldn't believe what I saw. The cat is semi-feral and big and strong. That cat tore her up. I didn't know a domestic (I use the word loosely) cat could do so much damage. Her pants were soaked in blood and blood was still dripping down her arms.

She had been bitten, too, several times, and those wounds were the most worrisome. After sopping up the blood and getting her dressed, we went to the ER a short disance away.

I talked to her daughter (thankful for cell phones), who left work immediately, and met us a few hours later, so that I could leave and go home. My friend, who is in her 90's, was in a lot of pain from her arthritis, and in more pain from the wounds. Even after two Vicodin, she was wincing and grunting with it.

She's not a complainer, so I know it was serious pain. But I had to clean the wounds and dress them a bit before she could be transported.

I could never be a medical person. It was very hard, causing her pain, even though I knew I was helping her.

The ER personnel were a bit dismissive (she wasn't explaining herself well) until I showed them the back of her pants, soaked from mid-calf to ankle in blood, and also the puncture marks on her palms. Then they took it seriously and whisked her into an examining room. They said they'd check her medical insurance cards later.

I sat with my kindle and waited and worried. This ER is a good one, though, so I knew she'd get excellent care.

Today I'll call and see how she'd doing. If she's home alone, I'm going over there and check on her. I hope she is OK.

Please say a healing word for her. It would be appreciated.