directly toward Michael and David.
“What’s happening?” asked Michael.
A doctor running along side the gurney asked, “Are you the husband?”
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Michael asked back anxiously.
The doctor motioned to the attendee and the nurse to continue without him as he grabbed Michael by the arm and led him away from the commotion.
“Your wife is hemorrhaging and we are taking her to surgery,” the doctor told Michael.
“Can I come with? I went through the Lamaze classes,” Michael asked.
“Sir, we are way beyond Lamaze class here. I am afraid you have a choice to make. The baby is in distress and so is your wife. The hemorrhaging has caused massive blood loss to both her and the baby. We need to solve one problem at a time, but there is a chance that the problem that is neglected will intensify,” stated the doctor.
“What are you saying?” asked Michael.
“We cannot induce labor. It is too late for that. We have to perform a C-section to save the baby,” said the doctor.
“So, go ahead and perform the C-section. Is there something I need to sign or what?” asked Michael.
“Sir, you don’t understand. If we perform the C-section to save the baby, there is a good chance your wife will not survive the operation. If we attend to the hemorrhage that your wife is having, there is a better than 90% chance she will lose the baby,” said the Doctor. He continued, “Who would you like us to try to save first?”
Michael was faced with the decision of his life. Arianna was the love of his life. The baby was full term and deserved every chance to live. Michael’s heart was beating so fast his chest was actually shaking. He didn’t know what to do.
Michael put his hands behind his head and started to pace erratically. He couldn’t sort out all of the options quick enough for the doctor.
“Sir, we need a decision now or we will lose them both,” said the doctor.
Michael turned to the doctor and at that moment caught a glimpse of David out of the corner of his eye. He remembered the promise that he made. He turned back to the doctor and said, “Save my wife.”
The doctor responded, “We will do our best, but this situation is critical. Please have a seat in the waiting area. The procedure may take as long as 6 to 7 hours.”
The doctor walked to the elevator and reached forward to push the call button, when the elevator doors opened in front of him before he had the chance. He entered the elevator and turned forward. As the doors closed, Michael looked into the doctor’s eyes and saw no feeling whatsoever. The eyes of the doctor were clear and emotionless as the doors closed together with a thud.
May 1st
2:30 a.m.
Good Samaritan Hospital
As David slept soundly on the black leather couch in the hospital waiting room, Michael stared off into space. It had been over 6 hours since Arianna was taken into surgery. Michael heard not a word as to her condition.
Michael got up from the couch and walked over to a nearby window. A maintenance man was waxing the stark white floors with one of those silver-polishing machines that spun a buffer pad on the tile. Michael thought to himself how there were two things that he always remembered about hospitals. That distinctive odor that every hospital seems to have and the janitor that was ever present polishing the floors.
He remembered back just 10 years ago when his parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident. He maintained a silent vigil at this same hospital for over 20 hours. Although his father died instantly in the crash, during those 20 hours of surgery for his mother and brother Michael prayed to God to spare their lives. In the 20th hour, the doctors came down from surgery and informed Michael that both his mother and brother had died. Michael
“What’s happening?” asked Michael.
A doctor running along side the gurney asked, “Are you the husband?”
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Michael asked back anxiously.
The doctor motioned to the attendee and the nurse to continue without him as he grabbed Michael by the arm and led him away from the commotion.
“Your wife is hemorrhaging and we are taking her to surgery,” the doctor told Michael.
“Can I come with? I went through the Lamaze classes,” Michael asked.
“Sir, we are way beyond Lamaze class here. I am afraid you have a choice to make. The baby is in distress and so is your wife. The hemorrhaging has caused massive blood loss to both her and the baby. We need to solve one problem at a time, but there is a chance that the problem that is neglected will intensify,” stated the doctor.
“What are you saying?” asked Michael.
“We cannot induce labor. It is too late for that. We have to perform a C-section to save the baby,” said the doctor.
“So, go ahead and perform the C-section. Is there something I need to sign or what?” asked Michael.
“Sir, you don’t understand. If we perform the C-section to save the baby, there is a good chance your wife will not survive the operation. If we attend to the hemorrhage that your wife is having, there is a better than 90% chance she will lose the baby,” said the Doctor. He continued, “Who would you like us to try to save first?”
Michael was faced with the decision of his life. Arianna was the love of his life. The baby was full term and deserved every chance to live. Michael’s heart was beating so fast his chest was actually shaking. He didn’t know what to do.
Michael put his hands behind his head and started to pace erratically. He couldn’t sort out all of the options quick enough for the doctor.
“Sir, we need a decision now or we will lose them both,” said the doctor.
Michael turned to the doctor and at that moment caught a glimpse of David out of the corner of his eye. He remembered the promise that he made. He turned back to the doctor and said, “Save my wife.”
The doctor responded, “We will do our best, but this situation is critical. Please have a seat in the waiting area. The procedure may take as long as 6 to 7 hours.”
The doctor walked to the elevator and reached forward to push the call button, when the elevator doors opened in front of him before he had the chance. He entered the elevator and turned forward. As the doors closed, Michael looked into the doctor’s eyes and saw no feeling whatsoever. The eyes of the doctor were clear and emotionless as the doors closed together with a thud.
May 1st
2:30 a.m.
Good Samaritan Hospital
As David slept soundly on the black leather couch in the hospital waiting room, Michael stared off into space. It had been over 6 hours since Arianna was taken into surgery. Michael heard not a word as to her condition.
Michael got up from the couch and walked over to a nearby window. A maintenance man was waxing the stark white floors with one of those silver-polishing machines that spun a buffer pad on the tile. Michael thought to himself how there were two things that he always remembered about hospitals. That distinctive odor that every hospital seems to have and the janitor that was ever present polishing the floors.
He remembered back just 10 years ago when his parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident. He maintained a silent vigil at this same hospital for over 20 hours. Although his father died instantly in the crash, during those 20 hours of surgery for his mother and brother Michael prayed to God to spare their lives. In the 20th hour, the doctors came down from surgery and informed Michael that both his mother and brother had died. Michael
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