Chapter 5
In the early afternoon of the second day after the accident, Ashley heard a quiet knock on the hospital door.
She opened the door to find Noah’s parents, Todd and Mary.
Emma and Katie peered around them with big eyes and pinched, scared faces.
She gathered them into her arms. As she looked up at Noah’s parents, the reality of the situation stole her breath.
“Let’s go into the waiting room.”
They followed her down the hallway into the room and all sat down in a sad little circle.
Ashley swallowed the tears and braced herself. “I have to prepare you. Noah has suffered some major trauma, and its touch and go.”
She lifted each of the girls’ chins in her hands, trying to pass some of her determination to them through her eyes. “You’ve never been in an ICU, and there are a lot of machines and alarms. But you don’t need to worry about that. The doctors and nurses are taking excellent care of your daddy.”
Emma’s lower lip trembled. “Is Dad going to die?”
“Mom!” Katie’s eyes opened wide. “Is he?”
Ashley pondered the best answer. Their new foundation as a family was built on truth, trust, and faith. There was no room for lies or false promises.
She kissed each of her girls on the top of their heads.
“His life is in God’s hands,” she answered firmly. “The doctors are doing everything possible to help him.”
Todd and Mary glanced at each other with forbidding expressions.
“We’re praying,” Mary whispered. “The whole church and prayer chains across the country are praying.” Her voice strengthened. “God is always good, no matter what. Hold that promise close to your hearts.”
Ashley stood, speaking clearly and with purpose. “We need to be aware that when someone is in a coma, they can hear what’s being said.”
She made direct eye contact with Emma, then Katie. “Girls, you can go see Dad if you promise to be upbeat and speak to him as if you were talking with him face-to-face. We need to give him hope and a desire to fight and come back to us.”
She looked into each of their faces. “Promise?”
They nodded and extended their little fingers for a pinky swear. Ashley clasped each of their fingers back with her fifth finger.
“Okay. If you need to leave the room, just squeeze my hand, and I’ll step out with you, but no crying in the room. Understood?” She placed her hand on Emma’s shoulder.
“Two people are allowed in at a time for five minutes. Emma, you and I will go in first, then Katie and I. Todd, you and Mary can go after Katie. Is that all right?”
“Of course, dear.” Mary dabbed at her eyes with a wadded tissue. “We’ll stay in the waiting room until you’re ready for Katie and then stay with Emma until you return.”
Ashley held Emma’s hand. “Ready?”
“I think so.” She clutched Ashley’s hand as if it were a lifeline.
They entered the room and were met by a cacophony of sounds and flashing monitors. Emma clapped her hand over her mouth as they approached the bed. Ashley motioned for her to sit on the bedside chair.
She sank into the chair and stared at all the equipment attached to her father. Her eyes traveled from his swollen and bruised face to the tubes taped to his strong arms.
Her little face contorted with grief, and Ashley raised a cautionary hand. She stroked Noah’s arm, making small circles to avoid the IV tubing infusing fluids and medications.
“Noah,” she said in a soothing voice, “Emma’s here. Katie will come in soon to visit, and your parents are here too.”
Deep in his brain, Noah recognized the Emma’s voice. The despair in her tone made him struggle to gain consciousness. His head felt foggy and heavy. Hearing her cries he struggled harder.
His finger twitched.
Ashley gasped and leaned down. Her lips touched his ear. “Noah, we’re here for you all day and all night, praying for you and giving you our strength and love.”
Emma scooted closer, seeming to gather confidence from her mom’s actions. She placed her small hand under his.
“Dad, it’s Emma. I’m here, and I love you. Get better and come home to us. We miss you.”
Fighting through the clouds of hazy shadows, he fought through the pain reaching out to his daughter and the woman he loved. His fingers curled in again.
Ashley and Emma looked at each other in awe.
“Noah! You moved your fingers!”
“Praise God! Emma, go to the waiting room and switch with Katie. Tell Grandma and Grandpa the news!” Beside herself with this recent development, Ashley cried, but this time they were tears of joy and hope.
Katie had a similar response to Emma at the sight of her dad. She sat down on the bedside chair for a few minutes and took in all the sights and sounds. Cautiously, she slid her fingers under his palm. “Dad, it’s me. Katie. Squeeze my fingers if you can.”
Noah again fought the depths of filmy void but fell back through the darkness in exhaustion.
He tried again. “Can you squeeze my fingers, Dad? Please? For me?”
Noah clawed through the heavy waves, clawing his way up. He had to do this for his baby girl, his baby girl, Katie. After a moment or two, his fingers feebly tightened.
“Dad! You did it! I saw and felt it.” Katie grinned.
“Great job, sweetie. I think Dad is probably getting tired. Let’s have Grandma and Grandpa come in, and then we need to let him rest.” She kissed Noah on the forehead.
“Your parents are coming in now. I’ll be back in a little while. I love you.”
While Todd and Mary had their turn visiting, Ashley had a quick conversation with Dr. Fisher and shared the news about Noah’s response.
He nodded. “That is a positive sign. We’ve started to lighten his medical coma medications. His intracranial pressure is beginning to normalize, but I don’t want to give you false hope. We’re still very far from having the infection under control.”
“But he hears us. That means his brain is responding, right?” she asked hopefully.
“Yes...possibly...or it could be reflexes. I’m not sure.”
Ashley’s face fell.
Dr. Fisher squeezed her arm. “Let’s pray for the best, but prepare for the worst. Okay?”
Sue Hendricks stood at the door, watching for Jason’s arrival. She said a quick prayer for the young man coming to their home on Christmas Day. She could only wonder what dire circumstances had occurred. Dusk was turning into nightfall when the CPS social worker pulled up in front of the home.
Over the last forty years, they had welcomed hundreds of children into their home for both short and long-term placements. They had adopted several of their long-term foster children, who were now grown.
Several years ago, they had decided it was time to retire and downsize. The last child they had fostered and adopted was Felix, a child with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. Sue and Jeff found the perfect two-bedroom craftsman style home and were enjoying a simpler lifestyle.
Sue had heard the desperation in the social worker’s request to place Jason in their home. She knew from experience that the search for placement had been prolonged and tedious because of Jason’s age and his father’s history, both compounded by the holiday.
“Jason. We’re so happy to welcome you to our home. Please come in, and we’ll give you a tour.” Sue smiled warmly, waving him inside.
The brightly lit room was decorated for Christmas; their adorned tree twinkling in the corner. Seasonal Christian classics filled the air.
Sue’s heart ached as she took in Jason’s shabby appearance and sad demeanor.
She noticed his black eye and cut lip when he came inside, but chose not to ask about it.
This young man needs a hot shower, a nutritious meal, a comfortable place to sleep, and a lot of love.
Stepping into the kitchen, she bustled around, heating up leftovers from their Christmas dinner.
She laid a hand gently on Jason’s shoulder and turned to her husband. “Honey, could you please show Jason his room and the bathroom?”
“Sure thing. Follow me, Jason.” Jeff escorted him to the room he would share with eleven-year-old Felix.
Sue set a place at the kitchen table for Jason and prayed over it.
Jason slouched behind Mr. Hendricks, holding a plastic bag with his belongings.
Whatever the lady was cooking smelled delicious, and he was starving.
As much as he didn’t want to be here, he was tired and hungry.
Resigned, he followed Mr. Hendricks into a bedroom.
A young kid with a mop of dark curly hair was sitting on one of the two beds.
Mr. Hendricks’s mouth curved up in an affectionate smile. “Felix, say hi to your new roommate. This is Jason.”
Felix squealed and ran across the room. He gave Jason a bear hug and chatted away. “This is our room.” He pointed across the bedroom. “Your bed is there, and this is mine. I’m 12 years old and go to sixth grade!”
A grayish-white German Shepherd limped into the room.
“This is Max. He’s your dog now, too, since you’re part of the family.”
“Cool.” Jason held out his hand for Max to sniff.
He sank down on his assigned bed, totally wiped. He kicked off his shoes and lay on his side, facing the wall, while Mr. Hendricks shuffled around the room behind him. He turned to see a stack of clothes on top of the dresser.
“Hey Jason. I’ve got some fresh clothes for you. Let me show you the bathroom. After you shower and change, you can come on down to the kitchen for some dinner.”
“Jason’s going to take a shower and then have some dinner.” Felix clapped his hands as he sang the words.
Jason scowled and shuffled after Mr. Hendricks. Sharing a room with this kid is going to get old—quick.
He let the hot water wash away the grit of the day, but was careful not to take too long. Dad always yelled at him for wasting water. He dried off with a towel and reached out for the stack of clothing Mr. Hendricks had selected.