surgery.”
“Well it isn’t up to you, it’s
our
decision,” Mom said forcefully. “As a family.” She squeezed my hand.
The doctor took in a deep breath and looked uncomfortable. “Perhaps we should take this conversation outside?”
My parents had always made an effort not to fight in front of me. Even when stuff got really bad with the divorce, they would always take it in another room, or Mom would say, “Let’s discuss this later,” and march off. I realized they were doing the same thing now—a fight was brewing, but they would have it in the hallway. I wished they would just keep talking here because I wanted to know if this doctor could fix me, and how fast. From what he was saying, I couldn’t really tell.
A few minutes later, Mom came back in and leanedover me. “Well, I’ve got some really good news for you. The doctor says you can sit up now and be in a wheelchair, so we can go outside and go for walks and everything. Won’t that be nice?” Mom pushed the hair back from my forehead. I blinked yes, it would be nice to feel the sun on my face, to get outside. But being in a wheelchair didn’t sound like good news. That was his advice? It made me nervous. Once they got me in one, did that mean I would ever get out of it again? She wasn’t saying and I couldn’t ask. “And you’ll be in a different type of bed, you don’t need to be rotated around anymore. Just a regular bed.”
Dad walked into the room behind her. “Okay, big guy, I’ve got a flight to catch.” He took my other hand. It was sort of nice, having both of my parents there at once, each holding one hand. It was like I was a little kid again. I didn’t expect to see both of my parents in the same place at the same time until graduation.
Dad let go of my hand and glanced up at Mom. “Sorry about before; it’s just that I really can’t stand to see him like this a moment longer, it’s literally killing me. The risks are all worth it, you know that.”
“I’m not going to discuss this in front of him. I’ll call you tonight,” she said firmly.
Dad nodded, looking sad. “Fine. That will give us both a little time to think things over. I’ll talk to you then.” He reached over and touched the back of her hand, giving it asqueeze. She looked as surprised as I was. Dad, being nice to Mom? Things were serious.
When the door closed behind him, Mom pulled over the chair and sat next to me. “I’m sure you heard enough to understand what’s going on. There’s a surgery Dr. Louis thinks could really help you. It’s risky. And to be honest with you, I’m not even over your accident yet. I’m so happy that you’re alive, I’m not sure I want to take another chance on losing you.” Tears were quietly flowing down her cheeks, but she didn’t let go of my hand to wipe them away. “All the doctors and nurses agree that you are young and so healthy and you have so much going for you, maybe the risks are not that great, considering … well, considering the alternative.” Mom sniffled. “No reason to get ahead of ourselves; he’ll call us tonight with the results of your MRI and we’ll know more.”
There was a quick knock at the door, and Nurse Norris walked in. “How’s he doing? Okay after that big adventure this afternoon?” Her smile changed the whole room and I felt like everything was going to be okay.
“He’s fine; not sure about me,” Mom said.
Norris handed her the box of tissues. “Honey, it’s going to be okay, it really is.” She picked up my chart, then glanced at Mom again. “Go home and get yourself some rest. I’ve got things under control. You know he’s my favorite patient.”
Mom let go of my hand and kissed my forehead. “You were a brave boy today. I’m proud of you.”
I didn’t know what was so brave about lying in a tube for a few minutes, but if Mom wanted to say something nice, I was willing to hear it.
She lingered in the door for a second until Nurse Norris said,
“Well it isn’t up to you, it’s
our
decision,” Mom said forcefully. “As a family.” She squeezed my hand.
The doctor took in a deep breath and looked uncomfortable. “Perhaps we should take this conversation outside?”
My parents had always made an effort not to fight in front of me. Even when stuff got really bad with the divorce, they would always take it in another room, or Mom would say, “Let’s discuss this later,” and march off. I realized they were doing the same thing now—a fight was brewing, but they would have it in the hallway. I wished they would just keep talking here because I wanted to know if this doctor could fix me, and how fast. From what he was saying, I couldn’t really tell.
A few minutes later, Mom came back in and leanedover me. “Well, I’ve got some really good news for you. The doctor says you can sit up now and be in a wheelchair, so we can go outside and go for walks and everything. Won’t that be nice?” Mom pushed the hair back from my forehead. I blinked yes, it would be nice to feel the sun on my face, to get outside. But being in a wheelchair didn’t sound like good news. That was his advice? It made me nervous. Once they got me in one, did that mean I would ever get out of it again? She wasn’t saying and I couldn’t ask. “And you’ll be in a different type of bed, you don’t need to be rotated around anymore. Just a regular bed.”
Dad walked into the room behind her. “Okay, big guy, I’ve got a flight to catch.” He took my other hand. It was sort of nice, having both of my parents there at once, each holding one hand. It was like I was a little kid again. I didn’t expect to see both of my parents in the same place at the same time until graduation.
Dad let go of my hand and glanced up at Mom. “Sorry about before; it’s just that I really can’t stand to see him like this a moment longer, it’s literally killing me. The risks are all worth it, you know that.”
“I’m not going to discuss this in front of him. I’ll call you tonight,” she said firmly.
Dad nodded, looking sad. “Fine. That will give us both a little time to think things over. I’ll talk to you then.” He reached over and touched the back of her hand, giving it asqueeze. She looked as surprised as I was. Dad, being nice to Mom? Things were serious.
When the door closed behind him, Mom pulled over the chair and sat next to me. “I’m sure you heard enough to understand what’s going on. There’s a surgery Dr. Louis thinks could really help you. It’s risky. And to be honest with you, I’m not even over your accident yet. I’m so happy that you’re alive, I’m not sure I want to take another chance on losing you.” Tears were quietly flowing down her cheeks, but she didn’t let go of my hand to wipe them away. “All the doctors and nurses agree that you are young and so healthy and you have so much going for you, maybe the risks are not that great, considering … well, considering the alternative.” Mom sniffled. “No reason to get ahead of ourselves; he’ll call us tonight with the results of your MRI and we’ll know more.”
There was a quick knock at the door, and Nurse Norris walked in. “How’s he doing? Okay after that big adventure this afternoon?” Her smile changed the whole room and I felt like everything was going to be okay.
“He’s fine; not sure about me,” Mom said.
Norris handed her the box of tissues. “Honey, it’s going to be okay, it really is.” She picked up my chart, then glanced at Mom again. “Go home and get yourself some rest. I’ve got things under control. You know he’s my favorite patient.”
Mom let go of my hand and kissed my forehead. “You were a brave boy today. I’m proud of you.”
I didn’t know what was so brave about lying in a tube for a few minutes, but if Mom wanted to say something nice, I was willing to hear it.
She lingered in the door for a second until Nurse Norris said,
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