A pregant Dundee mother of six has spoken of her relief at a clean bill of health after being pricked by a discarded hypodermic needle.
Ellie Buchanan endured a seven-month wait for the results of an HIV test after piercing her right foot on the syringe last September.
The 42-year-old was walking with two of her children in the Whitfield area when seven-year-old son Jake chased his football on to a grassy area and found a pile of 10 discarded needles near the Ormiston Crescent bus stop, off Longhaugh Road. Despite being aware of the potential danger to her own health of handling sharps, Ellie was unwilling to leave the needles to be found by another child and she attempted to clear them up.
Unfortunately, as she drew them together to place them in a plastic bag, one of the needles flicked up and pricked an exposed area of her foot.
A panicked Ellie went to Ninewells Hospital, where she was given four injections for hepatitis B and C and underwent an HIV test.Termination fearsThe initial results showed her blood was clear but Ellie still needed further hepatitis boosters and to await the outcome of her HIV test, while coping with her pregnancy.
At one point, she feared she may have to terminate the baby if she proved to be HIV positive, but she told The Courier on Wednesday that she and the unborn baby are doing well.
Ellie said, “I got the all clear last Friday and I’m fine.
“I haven’t had a chance to celebrate but I’m just so happy to be in the clear.”
The good news ended several dark months for Ellie and her family, who decided to move from Whitfield after the needle incident.