Jumping cholla

Mason had a horrible run in with a "jumping" cholla cactus the other day. We had been shooting his rubber band gun and a rubber band went into our neighbors yard. He went to go get it and was being so cautious to the big cactus plants they have. But he didn't notice some of the balls that had fallen off the main plant and onto the ground. I was in the garage and heard this blood curdling scream. I run out there to see this giant cacti ball embedded in masons calf. I thought it would be an easy fix so I grabbed my gardening gloves and quickly put them on, thinking I could just grab it and pull it off. It didn't budge and it poked me like crazy so I knew I had to do something way different. Long story short I ended up having to literally yank out each prickly thorn with tweezers, being careful to keep his leg elevated and away from the cactus as I pulled it out or it would get re-stuck. Poor mason was crying so hard and shaking in pain, but he miraculously sat still for me and allowed me to pull them all out. He was so brave. I kept telling him that and he would get so mad and say "no I not!!" I researched the cactus afterwards and found out that they are so hard to get out because once the prickles penetrate the skin they basically curve, creating a hook, so they are securely lodged in there and extremely difficult to get out. Hope we don't ever have to do it again!