Sampson’s introduction to medicine comes as a result of a serious injury he sustains when only six years old. Tagging along with his older brother, Andre, age ten, and Andre’s street wise friend, Leslie, Sampson manages to badly mangle his foot. This happens while emulating the older boys’ bravado, cursing, scowling and spitting on the sidewalk. The trio of boys ends up in a local park and note how neglected and littered it is. In an act of machismo, the two ten-year-olds decide they can repair the park, including reassembling benches and moving concrete slabs. Young Andre is eager to participate but ends up dropping an immense concrete slab on his foot. His sneaker fills with blood and he is unable to walk. Irritated, the older boys carry him home. Andre deposits him on the couch, trying to avoid his mother, Ruthener, who is furious and worried. She rushes Sampson to the local emergency room where he is quickly taken back for examination. To Sampson’s surprise, the experience ends up being a fascinating one. The doctor shows him the x-ray of his foot, which Sampson feels he could stare at for hours. Sampson is terrified that his foot will need to be cut off, but the doctor patiently explains how they will go about fixing his broken bone.