--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I once treated a 24-year-old construction…" description: "\"I once treated a 24-year-old construction worker who had scraped his leg but could not afford to take off work. By the time I saw him, the small wound ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/leana-s-wen-5829_construction_i-once-treated-a-24-year-old-constructio_1576385.jpg" --- # I once treated a 24-year-old construction worker who had… ![“I once treated a 24-year-old construction worker who had scraped his leg but could not afford to take off work. By the time I saw him, the small wound that developed had become a severe infection. He remained in the hospital for days and eventually had to have his lower leg amputated.” quote by Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/leana-s-wen-5829_construction_i-once-treated-a-24-year-old-constructio_1576385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/leana-s-wen-5829_construction_i-once-treated-a-24-year-old-constructio_1576385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/leana-s-wen-5829_construction_i-once-treated-a-24-year-old-constructio_1576385.jpg) > “I once treated a 24-year-old construction worker who had scraped his leg but could not afford to take off work. By the time I saw him, the small wound that developed had become a severe infection. He remained in the hospital for days and eventually had to have his lower leg amputated.” [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A medical case highlighting how delayed treatment of a minor injury can lead to severe consequences, emphasizing early intervention. **In simple terms:** Ignoring small wounds can cause serious harm. Key Takeaway Prioritize prompt medical care for injuries. Themes health prevention amputation Mood urgent concerned Type clinical educational When to use this quote - clinic triage - patient education - health disparities Key Concepts infection access to care early intervention Questions to Reflect On - What systemic factors delay treatment? - How can healthcare improve early detection? A Different Perspective Barriers to care can worsen outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Construction work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction-work/) [Construction Worker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction-worker/) [Hospital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospital/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [So someday in the near future hopefully rather than having a foot or a leg amputated we'll just give you an injection of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/so-someday-in-the-near-future-hopefully-rather-than-having-a-foot-or/) [Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) > [I was very close to having my whole leg amputated. It was a life-altering event. It took years of rehab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/i-was-very-close-to-having-my-whole-leg-amputated-it-was-a-life/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) > [If a man gets drunk and goes out and breaks his leg so that it must be amputated, God will forgive him if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-a-man-gets-drunk-and-goes-out-and-breaks-his-leg-so-that-it-must/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [My left leg had to be amputated from below the knee immediately to prevent gangrene from setting in. I was losing blood alarmingly. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/my-left-leg-had-to-be-amputated-from-below-the-knee-immediately-to/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [If I refuse to allow my leg to be amputated, its mortification and my death may prove that I was wrong; but if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-i-refuse-to-allow-my-leg-to-be-amputated-its-mortification-and-my/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Janie’s hip buzzes again. Maybe she'll have to have her whole leg amputated, she thinks sadly. That would really suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/janie-s-hip-buzzes-again-maybe-she-ll-have-to-have-her-whole-leg/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) > [I almost had to have my leg amputated because of an infection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-almost-had-to-have-my-leg-amputated-because-of-an-infection/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I like dirty boys. Mechanics, construction workers, artists who get paint and clay everywhere. They gotta have rough hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-feldman/i-like-dirty-boys-mechanics-construction-workers-artists-who-get/) [Tamara Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-feldman/) > [Some contractors force workers to provide paybacks to keep their jobs. Others intentionally misclassify workers in order to underpay them - by, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/some-contractors-force-workers-to-provide-paybacks-to-keep-their-jobs/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [Police in Portland, Oregon told a woman who was skating nude to stop after construction workers complained. Which raises the question: what in God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-meyers/police-in-portland-oregon-told-a-woman-who-was-skating-nude-to-stop/) [Seth Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-meyers/) > [“In another cost control measure, it became mandatory in 2008 for employers to purchase medical insurance for low-income foreign workers, such as construction workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-haseltine/in-another-cost-control-measure-it-became-mandatory-in-2008-for/) William A. Haseltine > [Whether you're working in corporate America or you're a journalist, construction worker, a teacher or an actor - we're all trying to keep working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dule-hill/whether-you-re-working-in-corporate-america-or-you-re-a-journalist/) [Dule Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dule-hill/) > [“Shortly after this exchange my roommate suggested we start throwing water balloons at the construction workers. Not really at them because, I know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/shortly-after-this-exchange-my-roommate-suggested-we-start-throwing/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [The place was packed as we flooded in, all the patrons freezing at the sight of an armed sheriff, two deputies, an Indian, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/the-place-was-packed-as-we-flooded-in-all-the-patrons-freezing-at-the/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [“This morning, thanks to a controlled near-death experience, I was lucky enough to meet, at the far end of the blue tunnel, a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/this-morning-thanks-to-a-controlled-near-death-experience-i-was-lucky/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by Leana S. Wen > [Over and over again, I have also seen our health care system fail women because of discriminatory policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/over-and-over-again-i-have-also-seen-our-health-care-system-fail/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [When I finally addressed my stuttering - I was almost through with medical school by the time that I finally sought therapy for speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/when-i-finally-addressed-my-stuttering-i-was-almost-through-with/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It is imperative that we address the barriers to access and the systemic racism that we know is contributing to our astronomically high maternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-is-imperative-that-we-address-the-barriers-to-access-and-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The higher the rate of covid-19 in a community, the more likely any one individual you come into contact with has the virus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-higher-the-rate-of-covid-19-in-a-community-the-more-likely-any/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It's unrealistic to expect that your doctor will be at your beck and call 24/7; however, before you leave your doctor's office, he or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-s-unrealistic-to-expect-that-your-doctor-will-be-at-your-beck-and/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [A covid-19 patient who experiences a substantial drop in oxygen saturation is unstable. It was correct to transfer him to the hospital to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/a-covid-19-patient-who-experiences-a-substantial-drop-in-oxygen/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [To be clear, from an epidemiological perspective, there shouldn't be any mass gatherings during a pandemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/to-be-clear-from-an-epidemiological-perspective-there-shouldn-t-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health works by using evidence to lessen harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-works-by-using-evidence-to-lessen-harm/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Every time I am on air, I will receive actually quite a few messages that specifically tie me to the Chinese Communist Party -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/every-time-i-am-on-air-i-will-receive-actually-quite-a-few-messages/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [An effective public-health response requires that those leading the response pivot when new information comes out and change course when unexpected circumstance arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/an-effective-public-health-response-requires-that-those-leading-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Violence, poverty and health disparities have many inputs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/violence-poverty-and-health-disparities-have-many-inputs/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The most critical key to getting good medial care is a trusting relationship between you and your doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-most-critical-key-to-getting-good-medial-care-is-a-trusting/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [We really need to be talking about the COVID vaccine the same way that we talk about other vaccinations - which is that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/we-really-need-to-be-talking-about-the-covid-vaccine-the-same-way/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Planned Parenthood's work - bringing affordable and accessible health care to as many women (and men and all people) as possible - isn't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/planned-parenthood-s-work-bringing-affordable-and-accessible-health/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Doctors have limited time to listen to your story, but you must make sure they understand why you're there. Don't just say that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/doctors-have-limited-time-to-listen-to-your-story-but-you-must-make/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) [Explore all 100 Leana S. Wen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## More Construction quotes > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-puccini/cold-calculation-random-spots-of-color-mathematically-exact/) [Giacomo Puccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-puccini/) > [“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every words that serves no function, every long word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/but-the-secret-of-good-writing-is-to-strip-every-sentence-to-its/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [ I'm telling you, I could teach at a university, \[George\] Carlin, a whole semester. The construction and deconstruction of the words, the language, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-m-telling-you-i-could-teach-at-a-university-george-carlin-a-whole/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [Seoul will strictly limit the total greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and expand the construction of zero-energy buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/seoul-will-strictly-limit-the-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from/) [Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Philosophical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from concepts ; mathematical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from the construction of concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/philosophical-knowledge-is-the-knowledge-gained-by-reason-from/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Any subject is suitable provided it is of sufficient interest, but the design must be very carefully considered, and plenty of time and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/any-subject-is-suitable-provided-it-is-of-sufficient-interest-but-the/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [No construction stiff working overtime takes more stress and straining than we did just to stay high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/no-construction-stiff-working-overtime-takes-more-stress-and/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-construction-of-the-constitution-is-very-different-from-that-you/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 942 Construction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I once treated a 24-year-old construction worker who had scraped his leg but could not afford to take off work. By the time I saw him, the small wound that developed had become a severe infection. He remained in the hospital for days and eventually had to have his lower leg amputated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leana S. 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