16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Kevin
Dr. Shepherd entered my room with two other doctors in tow, their expressions grim. The sight of them together set off alarm bells in my mind.
I’d already sensed that my situation wasn’t straightforward, but the gravity on their faces made it clear that the road ahead was going to be even rougher than I imagined. Although the blood thinners had eased some of the pain, I could tell that we were far from out of the woods.
“Mr. Brown, this is Dr. Chopra,” Dr. Shepherd began, gesturing to the composed woman beside him. Her eyes were sharp, and there was a quiet authority in the way she carried herself.
“She’s the head of our cardiothoracic unit. And this is Dr. Lukeman, our top orthopedic surgeon. They’ll be managing your surgeries.”
I blinked, the plural form of the word catching me off guard. “Surgeries?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. One surgery had been daunting enough; the idea of two was overwhelming.
I glanced at Lexie, who stood nearby. She looked pale, her hand hovering near her mouth as if she was trying to hold back a gasp. For a moment, I thought she might faint, even though I was the one facing the operating table.
“Yes, Kevin,” Dr. Shepherd said with a nod, his voice gentle but firm.
“There are two surgeries. Dr. Chopra will perform a thrombectomy to remove the blood clot in your heart.”
“Meanwhile, Dr. Lukeman will perform a fasciotomy to relieve the pressure in your leg.”
“The tests indicate significant pressure build-up, which could potentially lead to more clots forming if left untreated. That’s why both procedures are necessary.”
I took a deep breath, trying to process the information. “Alright, I understand. What exactly should I know about the procedures?”
“I’ll let them explain,” Dr. Shepherd said, stepping aside to let the specialists take over.
Dr. Chopra stepped forward, her voice steady as she detailed the intricacies of the heart surgery. Despite the complexity of the procedure, she explained it in a way that was clear and reassuring, almost as if she were talking about something as routine as a check-up.
I couldn’t help but feel a surge of confidence in her abilities. If anyone could pull this off, it was her. When she finished, Dr. Lukeman took over, describing the fasciotomy with a similar calm demeanor. His voice carried a tone of optimism that, while comforting, couldn’t completely quell the anxiety gnawing at me. It was a lot to take in.
“How soon can the surgeries happen?” My mom’s voice broke through my thoughts. She was gripping the edge of my bed, her knuckles white. I knew she was just as anxious as I was, though she tried to hide it.
“As soon as the consent forms are signed, we’ll begin prepping Kevin,” Dr. Lukeman replied. “Our teams are ready, and I recommend we proceed immediately.”
“Before I sign, I have one request,” I interjected, needing to voice it before anything else happened.
“What’s that?” Dr. Shepherd asked, looking at me curiously.
“I want Licia in the OR with me,” I said, my voice firm. It wasn’t a question; it was a necessity. I needed her there, by my side, as much as I needed the doctors to perform the surgeries.
There was a brief silence as they considered my request. I knew it was possible—Licia was part of the hospital staff, after all—but I needed their confirmation.
“Have you asked her?” Dad chimed in, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t want to be disappointed if she refuses.”
“No, but I’m sure she won’t refuse. I just need to know if it’s allowed,” I replied, unwavering. Licia was my rock, and I knew she wouldn’t let me down.
“And how are you so sure?” Mom asked, her voice tinged with concern.
“Just trust me, I know,” I said, determined. Licia had to be there.
“It’s your surgery; you get to make the call,” Dad conceded after a moment of thought.
“Very well,” Dr. Shepherd said with a slight smile. “She can scrub in.” He handed me the consent forms, his expression softening just a bit.
I signed them quickly, barely skimming the text. I had heard enough to understand the risks, and I knew there was no other choice. This had to happen, and I wanted it done as soon as possible.
“Dr. Shepherd, could I have a word outside?” Dad asked, already heading toward the door. Dr. Shepherd nodded and followed him out, while the other doctors excused themselves, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the steady beep of the heart monitor.
“Lexie, can you call Licia for me?” I asked as soon as they were gone.
“You didn’t even have to say ‘please,’” Lexie replied with a teasing grin, though I could see the worry in her eyes.
“You sound like an owl,” I teased back, trying to lighten the mood despite the tension in the air.
“I’ll let that slide because you’re in pain,” she shot back with mock seriousness, her smile widening just a bit.
“That’s so generous of you. I’m deeply touched,” I said, playing along. No matter how bad things got, I could always count on Lexie to bring some levity to the situation.
She rolled her eyes at me but reached for her phone. “I’ll call her right now. And for the record, you owe me big time for this.”
“I’m sure I’ll hear all about it later,” I said, grateful for her help even if I didn’t say it out loud.
In no time, I was prepped and ready to be wheeled to the OR. As I had anticipated, Licia agreed to stay with me during the surgery.
We didn’t know exactly how long it would take, but both procedures would happen simultaneously. Somehow, knowing that made it easier to bear.
As I was being wheeled down the hallway toward the operating room, Licia walked beside me, her hand resting gently on my arm. “Kevin, don’t be scared,” she said, her voice soft but strong. “These doctors are the best, and I’ll be right there with you the whole time. You’re not alone.”
I turned to her, managing a small smile despite the fear twisting in my gut. “Thanks, Licia. Sorry to be a bother, but I needed my person with me.”
“You’re not a bother, Kevin,” she replied, squeezing my arm reassuringly. “Let’s just focus on getting you through this. Save your energy, okay?”
“Sure.” I nodded, grateful for her presence.
When we reached the OR, a team of doctors, nurses, and an anesthesiologist were already waiting. The room was a flurry of activity, everyone dressed in sterile gowns, masks, and gloves, ready to begin.
For them, this might have been just another surgery, but for me, it was everything. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread mixed with a faint hope that maybe—just maybe—I’d come out of this okay.
“Shall we begin?” Dr. Chopra asked, her voice pulling me back to the present. I nodded, trying to calm the racing of my heart as I felt the cold of the operating table beneath me.
Licia stayed by my side, her hand warm and steady in mine. The anesthesiologist leaned over me, explaining that he was about to administer the anesthesia. He asked me to close my eyes and count backward from twenty. I barely made it to ten before the darkness swallowed me whole.
***
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the heavy, groggy feeling that weighed down my entire body. Everything hurt, from my chest to my leg, but the pain was muted, dulled by the medications they had pumped into me. It took a moment for my vision to clear, and when it did, I saw Lexie leaning over me, her expression one of pure relief.
“Hey,” she greeted me, her smile bright but tinged with worry.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah,” I croaked out, my throat dry.
“How did the surgery go?”
“From what the doctors said, it went well. But how do you feel?” Her eyes were full of concern as she scanned my face, searching for any sign of distress.
“Sore all over… but I feel okay,” I replied, trying to give her a reassuring smile.
She let out a small sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Is there anything I can do for you?”
I chuckled, wincing at the ache in my chest. “Did I get transported to an alternate universe while I was asleep? Why are you being so nice?”
“Ha ha, very funny,” she huffed, lightly smacking my shoulder. “Mom and Dad went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. They haven’t had anything since last night.”
“Oh… How about Licia?”
“She left a few minutes ago. She had to check on her patients.”
I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment.
“Did she get some rest after the surgery? Does she look tired?”
“Kevin, you need to worry about yourself for once. Licia’s fine. She’ll be thrilled to know you’re awake. But I’m still mad at you, you know.”
“Why?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“These surgeries could have been avoided if you weren’t so stubborn. What if Joey and Jackson hadn’t been there when you had the crisis? Have you thought about that?”
I didn’t reply, knowing she was right. I had been reckless, and I’d put myself—and everyone who cared about me—through unnecessary pain. I could’ve handled things differently.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Her face softened at my apology, and she patted my hand gently.
“Just focus on getting better, Kevin. We’ll worry about everything else later.”
Dr. Chopra’s entrance, along with her team, interrupted our conversation.
"Good morning, Doc," I greeted.
"Mr. Brown, good morning," she beamed. "I see you’re awake. That’s great."
"Yeah, only about ten minutes ago," I confirmed, glancing at Lexie.
"We were just catching up a little," Lexie added with a forced smile.
"That’s good. I’ll just do some quick checks and leave you to your conversation. How do you feel?"
"Like I was run over by a truck," I exaggerated, though it wasn’t far from the truth.
Dr. Chopra checked my vitals, listened to my heartbeat, and conferred with her team before turning back to me.
"Your numbers are good. We’ll keep a close eye on your vitals and check the incision site tomorrow to ensure there’s no infection. If you feel any unusual chest pains, let the nurses know immediately. They’ll page me and give you the prescribed medications."
"Okay, Doc. Thanks. When can I leave?" I asked, eager to get out of the hospital.
She smiled. "Not so fast. Dr. Lukeman needs to review your leg before we can decide on your discharge. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t take longer than necessary."
"So, when is he coming for the review?" I pressed.
"Kevin, what’s wrong with you?" Lexie snapped.
"I don’t understand. What did I do?"
"Is she Dr. Lukeman?" she fired back.
Dr. Chopra intervened with a smile. "I can’t say for sure, but he’ll be here soon. He’s on his rounds."
"Okay, that’s good."
"I’ll take my leave now. Have a great day, Mr. Brown."
***
Six days later.. .
I was finally cleared to go home after six long days. As soon as the doctors finished their final checks, Dad went to sign the discharge papers. Lexie had already left for school.
"Hello, Kevin," Licia called as she entered the room. "Heard you’ve been discharged."
"Can’t wait to get out of here," I laughed. "How do people cope with being stuck in a hospital bed for months? I barely survived a few days."
"Trust me, they don’t love it. They just have to stay." She smiled. "You really seem stronger, or is this just a ploy to get them to send you home?"
"At least it worked, didn’t it?"
"I guess it did."
I found myself more smitten with her every time she smiled.
"Does this mean I won’t see you for a while?" I asked, sitting up and hugging a pillow to my chest.
She smiled. "You’ll see me more than you think. I’ll be at the house to check up on you."
"I don’t know why, but that’s comforting," I admitted, feeling a strange mixture of relief and anticipation.
"Then I’ll see you at the house, Mr. Brown."
As she left, I sank back into the pillows, grateful that, despite everything, Licia would be with me for a little longer.