As a police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, Martha Ruth Lohnes meets her fair share of people on the streets. Some leave more of an impression than others—one being a woman named Priscilla.
In a post Martha shared to Facebook this week, she introduces Priscilla as a “well-known member” of the North Charleston community.
“She chooses to sit in an old rotting chair under a bridge every day. Her legs are swollen three times their normal size. She’s mentally ill. She will curse you up and down if she doesn’t like you but she is the sweetestttt human ever if you get on her good side. Believe me I spent many of our initial encounters asking her not to call me the B word.”
The officer admits she was hesitant to share the photo and details at first, because there’s not a lot of love for our men and women in blue these days. But she hoped her story would shed light on some of the GOOD in police work that many don’t get to see.
Martha explains that she regularly visits Priscilla to check on her, because she has an infection on her foot.
“The flesh is rotting away, it seeps liquid, and the bugs are constantly inside of it. She refuses to go to the hospital although I have called an ambulance for her several times. I have begged her to let me take her to the hospital but she’s so stubborn and I can’t force her.”
In an effort to get Priscilla just an ounce of the help she needs, Martha brought her friend under the bridge a bottle of bactine spray, hoping it would stop the infection and keep the bugs away.
“She was almost crying because she was so scared it would sting, so I had to spray it for her. I brought her hot cheetos and beef sticks, but she proceeded to yell at me for not getting her pizza lol I absolutely adore this woman, y’all. She’s one of the most amazing souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
Martha kneeled down to clean Priscilla’s foot, and she says she couldn’t help but think of the song “Who Will Be Jesus to Her.”