[tps_title]No diagnoses of reaction from bed bug bites[/tps_title]
Q. And so following this particular initial visit with Dr. Roy, he too does not diagnose you with any sort of reaction from the bites; is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And it seems like he’s not completely sure if you have rheumatoid arthritis at that point either; is that fair to say?
A. That’s correct.
Q. He sort of notes the same arthritis and sprains that they’ve been saying, but doesn’t note anything new; is that fair?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And that he kind of wants you to come back after some more testing to follow up with some pain management; is that a fair representation?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And so it looks like you do follow up July 2nd with Dr. McRudin. And he says here, patient relates improvement, but with continued swelling of the left leg and now right leg to a lesser extent. So this is the first time that your right leg is getting noted —
A. That’s being acknowledged, that’s correct.
Q. And that’s on July 2nd of 2015; is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And he acknowledges that you’re waiting for the rheumatology blood work at this point. And it seems here, despite the fact that he says now the right leg to a lesser extent, much of his examination is still to your left; is that correct?
A. That’s correct. So that shows exactly what I’m saying about the VA, because obviously as a patient I can’t explain why the doctor thinks that way. But you see even on notation they’ll say it’s a lesser level; I don’t know why they do that. They’re focusing on the left.
Q. Well, didn’t you indicate that your left was more swollen than the right?
A. Yes, in the beginning. In the beginning, yes.
Q. Okay.
A. So that had more bites on it than the right one, but they both got bit. So it could be because again, as Dr. Biririan said, the immune system being comprised, since there was more bites on that foot than the right one, maybe the right one took a long time to react. But it did swell.
Q. Have you been back to the doctor’s since July of 2015?
A. I can’t remember. I don’t —
Q. That would have been the summer of last year.
A. Yeah. No, I think I went back once. I want to say I went back to rheumatology, but I’m not really sure.
Q. Okay. Because there was a follow-up —
A. Uh-huh.
Q. — because you did additional blood work.
A. Oh. Okay. I think rheumatology. Again, this is all by memory, so I don’t know.
Q. Would you be able to verify that after the deposition when you get back home?
A. Sure.
Q. Okay. So during this period of time when you’re going to the doctor and they’re telling you there was a sprain and to wear the brace and things of that nature, describe what else you’re doing in terms of trying to treat yourself.
A. Between the cream, the Ace bandage, the boot, that’s all I can do.
Q. Okay. What’s your day-to-day activities like?
A. At that point I’m having — my quality of life has been decreased, diminished substantially.
Q. Okay. Are you able to drive?
A. No. No.
Q. Who’s driving you to these appointments?
A. Oh, I go to the appointments, yes. Go to the appointments. But as far as — I’m talking about as far as my daily whatever, shopping, whatever, I just don’t go out because it’s so difficult.
Q. So who is shopping for you?
A. My dad.
Q. Okay. What’s your father’s name?
A. Will.
Q. Will?
A. William Ames.
Q. William Ames?
A. My step-dad.
Q. Okay. So he’s shopping for you?
A. Yes, he shops for me.
Q. What about cooking and cleaning the house or your apartment?
A. Actually, my mom and step-dad, they cook for me, put it in Tupperware and I freeze it for a while.
Q. Okay. So you’re not able to cook or clean or anything of that nature?
A. No, I wasn’t able to stand for long periods of time. When I could, I could, but when I couldn’t, I would call my mom and she would just cook up a meal that would last me maybe a week or two.
Q. In terms of taking care of your personal hygiene and things of that nature, are you able to do that?
A. Not as well as I used to.
Q. Okay.
A. So it’s just basically because I — I’m afraid of getting in and out of the tub, being I live by myself. So I would just sometimes stand and wash as opposed to taking a regular shower or bath.
Q. Okay.
A. So it depends on when I can actually get in the tub without, you know, being afraid to fall.
Q. All right. I’m going to show you some other videos here. (Video played.)
Q. When was this taken?
A. About two days later. I don’t know.
Q. Would you say it was taken around the same time as the pictures?
A. Yeah, right afterwards. I think it’s probably one of the nights that I couldn’t sleep. (Video playing.)
Q. Okay. So we’re referring to IMG_0277. And let the record reflect the video is the plaintiff showing her left arm, the side of her left arm and her back through a mirror or the reflection of a mirror, as well as the left side of her face and her neck. And you said this was taken about two days after the incident?
A. I think so. I can’t remember the time in this one.
Q. And this is the back of the neck. This is all video. And I assume you’ve taken this yourself?
A. Yes.
Q. And it’s also a video of the right side of the plaintiff’s arm underneath her armpit, the forearm by the elbow, and the left side by the elbow as well, the left arm, and underneath the left armpit.
A. Right. I’m sorry. Go ahead.
Q. Is that the left?
A. No, I’m sorry. Go ahead.
Q. If I’m not reflecting it —
A. I can’t really see that well. Sorry.
Q. Oh. And then more a reflection of the claimant’s back through the mirror. Okay. And then we have another video, and this is IMG_0291. (Video played.)
Q. Are you alone at this time?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. Now, when you say that it made the itching somewhat worse, was that initially described that — because you indicated that that cream was what was helping you?
A. Yeah, it was — it was just a back and forth thing. I can’t explain it. I mean, some days, you know, it was okay, and some days it wasn’t. I mean —
Q. But after the two weeks of full use of it —
A. Yeah.
Q. — you found the relief —
A. Two weeks, yeah. That’s what I was saying to you earlier, maybe my body got used to it, the pores. Remember I said earlier?
Q. Uh-huh.
A. It got to a point where if I used it eight times — and then at some point this one time it was okay for three days. So I don’t know if my body would get immune to it. I don’t know — I can’t explain that. I just know that sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. Initially, you know, I think I put it on the once, that didn’t do it, that’s why I did my own way, I decided to put it on ten times a day.
Q. Okay.
A. So when I put it on once, it seemed like it didn’t work, so I just kept putting it on. I found out putting it on ten times a day worked at that point. (Video played.)
Q. And that’s your left wrist?
A. Uh-huh. I can’t believe I got to go through all of this. I’m getting frustrated now.
Q. I apologize.
A. I’m having a moment. I’m having a moment.
Q. Do you want to take a break?
A. No. No. No. I just want to get this over. I just can’t believe I’m going through all this.
Q. And this is the left forearm, bicep area?
A. I’m actually remembering the pain that I was going through that no one has any idea what I was going through.
Q. And that’s the — I guess the area between — elbow?
A. Uh-huh.
Q. And this is video of your back. And then the last video that I have, IMG_0412, and this is a March 4th, 2015, video.
A. (Nods head up and down.) (Video played.)
Q. And this is the left foot?
A. Uh-huh. (Video played.)
A. That’s why it’s just the left foot, so they focused on the fracture, the right foot probably didn’t start swelling yet.
Q. Just what? I didn’t understand what you just said. I’m sorry.
A. Oh. This is probably — this is when the left foot was starting to swell up, but because the right foot hadn’t started swelling up as bad, they kept focusing on the left foot. So the right foot wasn’t big as that yet, they keep thinking that it’s the sprain but —
Q. Okay. This is video you took yourself?
A. Uh-huh. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. (Video played.) Okay. So this particular video, IMG_0412, that was taken March 4th of 2015; correct?
A. I guess, yes. Whatever the date is.
Q. Okay. And it’s fair to say that’s the first video of your ankle; is that correct?
A. Yes, I think so.
Q. Okay. Describe some of your conversations with the individuals at the hotel after you checked out and got back up to New York.
A. Mostly I told them that the itch — I was itching. I told —
Q. Do you remember who you talked to?
A. Just in general. By name, no. I’m sure if I think about it, I can — probably later on. I know I spoke to Valeria Grange. I spoke to one of the nurses of the church, I can’t think of her name. I spoke to Cathy — I’ll think of her last name another time. And of course I spoke to my mom.
Q. Now, with regard to individuals at the hotel that you spoke with, I know you initially spoke with Desiree Scott; correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you speak to her again after that initial time?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. Do you recall when that was?
A. The next day.
Q. And the next day, meaning on that Monday, the 15th?
A. Yes.
Q. Had you already gone to the doctor at that point?
A. I think I did that morning, yes.
Q. Describe that conversation.