Chapter 12 #2
The medical assistant placed the casts in a garbage bag and brought over a basin with warm water.
“Yep. Common when you’ve been in casts for such a long time.
The nerves are regenerating and waking up again.
” She cleaned the plaster dust off his legs and dried them.
“The sensation in your legs will come back over time.”
Ashley gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Yes. Thanks,” Noah stretched his legs and wiggled his toes. “I feel a little more normal now.”
“You’re welcome.” She lifted the basin and the washcloth. “The doctor will be in to see you shortly. Please try not to bear any weight on your legs. He’ll give you a time frame for weight bearing.”
Ashley grinned. “This is a big step forward.”
Noah chuckled as the door to the room opened.
“Morning, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I’m Dr. Swanson. I’ll be your orthopedic specialist monitoring your recovery.” A pleasant appearing man in a white coat entered the room and extended his hand.
Noah shook it with a firm grip. “Please. Noah and Ashley.”
Dr. Swanson sat down across from them. “Okay. Noah and Ashley. Nice to meet you both. I’ve followed your story in the news and consulted with Dr. Fisher and Dr. Stuart.
I’m so sorry this happened, but we’ll get you back on your feet, stronger than ever.
We have an outstanding team of physical and occupational therapists who you’ll be meeting with several times a week. ”
Noah and Ashley nodded, listening carefully.
“The process is going to be long with a lot of hard work,” Dr. Swanson cautioned. “But I think...no, I’m positive you’re both up to it.”
“We are, Doctor. Team Smith.” Noah raised his hand for a high five.
Ashley slapped his hand.
“Excellent. Well, let me take a look here.” He examined Noah’s legs, raising and lowering them both and rotating them to determine his range of motion.
Noah winced as his atrophied muscles cramped into tight knots.
Dr. Swanson grimaced. “That flared things up a little. Sorry about that. I’m going to have the medical assistant apply some heat packs to calm down your muscles. Then we’ll fit you for some soft splints for support.”
“Sounds like a plan, Doc. When can I bear weight again?”
“Let’s wait a while until your muscles start to build up again. We’ll start therapy right away, but this takes time. Your bones are still healing and laying down new bone density.”
Noah turned to Ashley with a dejected look on his face. “It’s taking so long. I just want to get back to being myself again.”
Ashley leaned down and rubbed his arms, a sympathetic smile on her lips. “I know, babe, but really you’re making great progress.” She leaned in and touched her lips to his cheek. “Hang in there. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ash. Sorry. I just hate feeling so weak. I know it will take time, and I am thankful to be alive.”
“We’ll get through this together. I promise. One day at a time.”
The next morning, Noah enveloped his mom in a bear hug and whispered in her ear, “Thank you. For everything. You and Dad literally stopped your lives to help us. I love you guys.”
“Anything for you, son. We can come back if you need us.”
“I appreciate that, Mom. Honestly, I think now that I’m out of those casts and can get in and out of the wheelchair, Ash and I can manage.” He smiled. “Besides, you need to go on that cruise you postponed.”
His dad stepped forward after Mary stood.
Noah opened his arms wide. “Bring it in.”
After Ashley and the girls exchanged their rounds of hugs and kisses, everyone’s eyes were red and teary. The Smith family stood outside and waved as their parents’ car turned the corner.
Ashley leaned down and kissed Noah’s cheek and put an arm around the girls. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Jason was finally released from the hospital.
Sue turned and circled her arm around his waist as they walked across the parking lot to their Suburban.
Jeff flanked him on the other side for support.
As they arrived at their car, she spotted Noah and Ashley a few parking spaces over.
A huge smile creased her tired face. She released her hold on Jason and walked over to their car window. Jeff walked over to join her.
Ashley waved a hand at the couple. “Great news. Noah just got his casts off and can start rehab.”
“Congratulations! That’s wonderful progress.” Noah and Jeff fist bumped.
Noah smiled and rubbed his sweatpants. “Such a relief. They were driving me crazy with all that extra weight...and the itching. Now comes the hard part: rehab. But I’m so ready to have my life back.
” His lips curved up as he turned to Ashley.
“I’m sure my Florence Nightingale over here is ready too. ”
“I’m sure she’s taking excellent care of you,” Sue replied. “Sorry we missed you at church for the past few weeks. We’ve been going through a rough patch with Jason. Speaking of which, I want you to meet him.” She turned and scanned the parking lot.
He’d vanished.
“Odd. He was right next to the car. Jeff, do you know where Jason is?”
“I’m not sure.” He shrugged. “He was just here beside me.”
“What’s going on with him?” Ashley inquired.
Sue sighed. “Long story. I could stop by in the next day or so for a visit and catch you up on what’s happening. We’ve got to go find him ASAP. He really shouldn’t be walking around alone out here.”
“Understand. I look forward to our visit. Bye.”
The Hendricks’s scoured the parking lot to find Jason huddled by their car, arms folded around his face, head down.
“Get in, son,” Jeff said in a matter-of-fact tone while clicking the key fob.
Jason crawled into the back seat and curled into a fetal position, visibly shaking, face drawn and pale. Sue and Jeff shared a bewildered expression.
The following week, Sue prepared soup and sandwiches for lunch.
They ate, then Jason went into his room to catch up on homework.
Jeff wiped off the counter, then motioned for Sue to join him in the study.
Medical testing hadn’t shown any signs of an underlying seizure disorder.
The doctor had informed them that sometimes it happened in individuals like Jason who were under intense stress and malnourished.
They had just attended Jason’s bi-weekly counseling session, and he had started to open up a little more each session. It was like seeing a flower unfurl as the light became stronger.
He firmly closed the French doors and sat down on the couch. He rubbed his palms down his face and ran his fingertips through his short gray hair, letting out a long exhale. Sue sighed in agreement. She looked as worn out as he felt.
His heart warmed as he looked into the face of the woman he had loved decades longer than the years before he knew her.
She was the most loving person he knew, with a pure heart and the patience of a saint.
However, he could see that the years of parenting and foster parenting were aging her.
These past few months with Jason had only accelerated the process.
He patted the couch next to him and searched her face. Satisfied she was ready to receive what he had to say, he began in a somber tone. “I think we need to have a straight talk with Jason about what’s going on with him and Noah.”
“I agree.” Sue bent her elbows on her knees and reached out her hand to Jeff to hold.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then prayed out loud.
“Lord, please show us Your purpose and will in this situation. Help us have the knowledge of what to do and speak. Give us strength and courage. We pray for Jason and his well-being. In the powerful name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.”
She unfolded her body and looked Jeff square in the eyes. Her next words struck him deep in his soul.
“I think Jason was involved in Noah’s hit-and-run.”