Chapter 65 Annabelle
Annabelle
Annabelle and James both stood up as Dr. Matthias came into the hospital room.
He said hello, went straight to Scarlett, and lifted an eyelid, flashing a light in it.
He did the same with the other eye. He then inspected the intraventricular catheter site and reviewed the readings on the external monitor.
“I’m pleased to see her pupils are reacting to light, and her ICP pressure is down significantly at seventeen. We need to get to fifteen before we can start to wean her off sedation. Have you noticed any movement?”
“Not much. Some moaning, but that’s about it,” Annabelle said.
“That’s okay. We’re getting there. We need to stay the course. Her vitals are good. Blood pressure’s still a little elevated, but we’ll keep an eye on that. How are Mom and Dad holding up?”
James merely shook his head. Annabelle could see that he was fighting tears. “We’re hanging in there. Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
“Of course. I’ll be back to check on her again later this afternoon. And you have my cell if you need anything at all.”
Once he left, they sat back down. “You should get to the office. It won’t do for both of us to neglect our work,” Annabelle said.
“It’s okay. I pushed my appointments to the afternoon. Why don’t you go home for a few hours to get a change of scenery? You haven’t left the hospital in ten days.” James had been bringing her changes of clothing, and she’d been showering and getting dressed here.
She shook her head. “No, I can’t.” She couldn’t make him understand that something was telling her if she left, Scarlett would die.
Annabelle knew it was an irrational fear, but she wasn’t about to test it.
She’d made a promise to Scarlett that she wouldn’t leave until she woke up, and Annabelle was determined not to break her promise.
James turned to look at her. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but we have to face facts. Scarlett could be in this state for a long time. There’s so much we don’t know about the brain. The fact that she didn’t regain consciousness after the accident is not a good sign.”
Annabelle wanted to reach out and slap him. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m only trying to prepare you. You can’t live in the hospital for months.”
She stood up, furious. “She’s not going to be here for months. Dr. Matthias said her pressure is almost back to normal, and they’ll bring her out of this soon. Why are you being so negative?”
“Sweetheart, just because they lessen the sedation doesn’t mean she’ll wake right up. She’s had a traumatic brain injury. There’s no telling when—” He put a hand on her arm. “Or if, she’ll recover.”
“Get out!”
“What are you saying? Annabelle!”
“I mean it. How dare you say that to me! I don’t care that you’re a neurologist. In this room, you’re her father and that means you cling to hope with everything you’ve got.”
“Don’t you think I want more than anything in this world for her to get out of that bed?
” He was crying now. “I’d change places with her in a minute.
But I can’t. I can’t do anything but sit here helplessly, hoping and praying she’ll be okay.
But at the same time, I’m watching my wife barely holding on, making herself sick, not getting any sleep. I won’t lose you both!”
She stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Of course, he was suffering as much as she was. “I’m sorry. I’m scared too. But I can’t leave her, James. I can’t. Please try to understand.”
“Okay,” he whispered. “We’ll get through this. We can’t let it tear us apart.”
She nodded, but in her heart, she knew it already had.