Post by Shanna on Oct 3, 2015 0:22:38 GMT -5
“Sarah?” the voice said as she turned and saw Joanie standing there. “Hey.” She answered. “Do you mind if I sit with him?” she shook her head, “You want me to stay or leave?” “Stay please.” Joanie asked. “Here take my seat Joanie.” Sarah said standing up. “Why?” his niece wondered, “Because on this side you can hold his hand and talk to him since this hand isn’t paralyzed and plus I need to stretch and walk for a bit anyway, so take my seat.”
Sarah saw Jack watching from the window and went to the door. He kissed her cheek when she opened the door, “Can you do a few things for me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you see if Kevin can ask the nurse to bring another chair in here for me, and could you go by Nate’s and get a burger for me—cafeteria food is well…” she said making a face. He laughed softly.
“Well your dad and Greg’s got the food covered, they’ve gone to get food for all of us so they will be back in a few minutes, Kevin will be here if you need anything else and I’ll go get the boys’ pictures, is there anything else you need me to get?” She thought for a minute; back to the conversation she had with Dr. Johnson earlier. “Yeah can you go by the house and bring back the little cd-radio that’s sitting on the kitchen counter?” she asked. He nodded then stuck his head in the door
“Joanie?” She turned and looked at him, “Do you want me to get you anything while I’m out sweetie? Joanie thought for a minute then shook her head no, “Thanks Jack” He grinned, and then kissed Sarah’s cheek again. Sarah stared as he walked to the foot of the bed, “Hey little brother, it’s Jack , you have to get better man, Sarah and Joanie are right here with you and the family is waiting for you.” Then he turned and walked out to head on those errands.
Sarah smiled at her brother-in-law’s back for a minute and then walked over to the packed bag and pulled out a picture. Going to a spot she set the picture down where Nick could easily see it. “What is that Sarah?” Joanie wondered. “It’s our wedding picture.” She replied
A few minutes later, Sarah turned when she heard her name “Mrs. Adams?” “Your brother asked that another chair be brought in for you.” The orderly remarked as he set it in place for her. “Thank you.” He nodded and left.
“Sarah, can Nick feel anywhere else?” Joanie asked quietly. She stopped walking and looked at her, “Yes the only places that aren’t paralyzed right now are his hand and his face, that’s why I told you to take my seat.” “Let’s alternate Sarah please.” She nodded, and listened quietly to Joanie as she talked quietly to her Uncle.
A bit later, they both looked up when they heard a soft knock on the door frame, Sarah saw her mother-in-law Aubree standing there. “Aubree, it's okay come in” Sarah waved her in.
“I was too restless to stay in the waiting room any longer, I had to walk some.” She said, coming in. “Ted?” Sarah looked past her. “He’s checking in with the office.”
Joanie stood, “here Grand-mama take my seat, & hold his hand, I’ll wait with Grand-daddy.” Joanie started to stand but Aubree stopped her, “No sweet-pea, I just wanted to see him and let know I’m here…” She walked to the left side of the bed slid her hand over Nick’s and squeezed gently. “Nick, sweetheart mama’s here, I love you.” Letting go of his hand she caressed his face then stood.
Turning, Aubree hugged Sarah, “Are you doing okay? My grand-baby?” Sarah smiled at her mother-in-law, “I’m good, both Drs. are making sure I get my rest and don’t over-do it here and the baby’s doing great.” She answered. Aubree nodded, “Good, I can tell Grand-daddy too, he’s worried about you.” Sarah squeezed her mother-in-law’s hand before she left for the waiting room again.
Joanie stood, “Here, take this seat now, Sarah.” Her Aunt nodded as they traded seats again and began talking. “When’s your next doctor’s appointment?” Sarah smiled. “In a few we--.” She stopped when the double beep started. “What’s wrong?” Joanie asked alarmed when she heard the sound. Not answering her Sarah leaned over and stroked his face softly, “Hey sweetheart it’s okay—the baby is healthy so am I; we are just waiting for you to open your eyes.” She said continuing to stroke his face as the beep steadied again.
“That was Nick?” Joanie asked surprised. Her Aunt nodded, “Yeah he can hear and occasionally something that he hears triggers a reaction from him and his heartbeat will rise… in this case, it was the mention of the baby.” “Does he know I’m here?” Joanie asked. Sarah nodded, “Yes, he does sweetie, but right now his body needs more rest than activity until his breathing stabilizes.”
A while later there was a knock on the door jamb, “Sarah?” Jack called, “I got what you asked for.” she turned as he walked in. “Good, can you place the radio right there ---.” He interrupted her, “I’ll hang the pictures where you want them.” She nodded as he plugged in the radio. Taking the tape from his back pocket they discussed for a minute where would be the best place then Jack taped them up.
“Alright Nick, you have very special art work on your walls you need to wake up and see.” he replied. Sarah gasped and they turned to look at her just as Nick moved his fingers then squeezed her hand.
“I think he’s waking up.” She said watching him. “We’ll send in the doctor.” They replied and ran out.
“Sweetheart, I’m with you… open your eyes.” Sarah said softly. “Sarah? What’s going on?” Brett asked, “His brother and Joanie said he might be waking up.” She nodded, “He moved his fingers and squeezed my hand.
“Okay, let’s try something.” He replied stepping over to him and placed his hand in Nick’s.
“Nick, its Dr. Johnson… if you can hear me I want you to squeeze my hand.” He replied as he felt his hand being squeezed. “Good, now I want you to try and open your eyes okay.” They watched for a minute and then they saw as he slowly opened his eyes even as he tried to move his lips and couldn’t,his eyes widened.
“Hey, welcome back, Nick,” Seeing his reaction Brett continued, “stay calm, you’re okay, you have a tube down your throat and a ventilator working, helping you breathe right now. “When the paralysis got to your chest it moved quickly so we had to put you on a ventilator to help stabilize your breathing.” (What about the paralysis?) Reading the question in his eyes the doctor nodded, “You are paralyzed from the chest down Nick, we just need to wait and see if the paralysis in the chest begins to fade.”
Nick began trying to look around so Brett stepped out from in front of Sarah so Nick could see his wife. “Can you tell my family?” she asked. “Of course, rest Nick, I’ll check back later.” Dr. Johnson said leaving them.
(I’m leaving here and this is my goodbye!) Nick thought knowing if the chest paralysis didn’t fade… staring at her a single tear ran slowly down his cheek. “Hi baby.” She said softly touching his face even while in her head she was thinking, “Oh no, this disease is taking him and this is my last chance.”
"Sweetie, to make it easy to talk for now how about 2 blinks for yes and 3 for no?” she replied. She watched as he blinked twice.
Squeezing her hand, she saw where his eyes moved, (The baby what about the baby?) Smiling she answered, “the baby’s good, Dr. Patterson has come up here at different times to check on me and the baby to see if we're okay. Our son / daughter is healthy and strong if these kicks I’m getting are any indication. Taking his hand from hers, she moved closer to the bed and placed his hand carefully on her tummy then lay her hand over his. “See the munchkin’s fine.” She answered using his nickname for the baby.
“Do you want some music to play softly in the background while we talk?” she wondered. He blinked twice and she stood and began to roll the dial carefully. He heard the faint opening chords of ‘If I Had Only Known’ by Reba McEntire, slapped his hand gently on the bed -- she saw it and turned up the volume a bit then sat down taking his hand.
(How can I say goodbye to my girl) he wondered.
She listened as the song began to play and had recognized the song too but had hoped he hadn’t. When he had motioned for her to stop she knew he had and this was there way together.
(Oh if I could have only stopped time that final night, as we lay snuggled together in bed --- I could hold Sarah and our baby forever) he thought watching her.
“I’m not letting you go that easily Adams, you understand, we will get through this and beat the odds and we’ll be together when the baby is born.” Sarah replied after turning the volume back down to where the radio could be heard faintly.
“You’re not leaving me that easily are you?” She saw him blink three times. “Good I’m holding you to that.” She said as she stretched her back. “I can see your sleepy just go to sleep for a while and I’ll be here when you wake up, relax.” He closed his eyes for a minute when she kissed his cheek then opened them again when she started talking, “I’m going to go walk around a bit to stretch and get exercise but I’ll be back in a few minutes okay, you just rest.” He blinked twice and watched her leave the room.
Outside she stopped when tears flooded her eyes, “He’s awake finally. Thank you.” She whispered.
A little farther down the hall she saw his parents go in together. At least he wouldn’t be alone until she got back.
Sarah saw Jack watching from the window and went to the door. He kissed her cheek when she opened the door, “Can you do a few things for me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you see if Kevin can ask the nurse to bring another chair in here for me, and could you go by Nate’s and get a burger for me—cafeteria food is well…” she said making a face. He laughed softly.
“Well your dad and Greg’s got the food covered, they’ve gone to get food for all of us so they will be back in a few minutes, Kevin will be here if you need anything else and I’ll go get the boys’ pictures, is there anything else you need me to get?” She thought for a minute; back to the conversation she had with Dr. Johnson earlier. “Yeah can you go by the house and bring back the little cd-radio that’s sitting on the kitchen counter?” she asked. He nodded then stuck his head in the door
“Joanie?” She turned and looked at him, “Do you want me to get you anything while I’m out sweetie? Joanie thought for a minute then shook her head no, “Thanks Jack” He grinned, and then kissed Sarah’s cheek again. Sarah stared as he walked to the foot of the bed, “Hey little brother, it’s Jack , you have to get better man, Sarah and Joanie are right here with you and the family is waiting for you.” Then he turned and walked out to head on those errands.
Sarah smiled at her brother-in-law’s back for a minute and then walked over to the packed bag and pulled out a picture. Going to a spot she set the picture down where Nick could easily see it. “What is that Sarah?” Joanie wondered. “It’s our wedding picture.” She replied
A few minutes later, Sarah turned when she heard her name “Mrs. Adams?” “Your brother asked that another chair be brought in for you.” The orderly remarked as he set it in place for her. “Thank you.” He nodded and left.
“Sarah, can Nick feel anywhere else?” Joanie asked quietly. She stopped walking and looked at her, “Yes the only places that aren’t paralyzed right now are his hand and his face, that’s why I told you to take my seat.” “Let’s alternate Sarah please.” She nodded, and listened quietly to Joanie as she talked quietly to her Uncle.
A bit later, they both looked up when they heard a soft knock on the door frame, Sarah saw her mother-in-law Aubree standing there. “Aubree, it's okay come in” Sarah waved her in.
“I was too restless to stay in the waiting room any longer, I had to walk some.” She said, coming in. “Ted?” Sarah looked past her. “He’s checking in with the office.”
Joanie stood, “here Grand-mama take my seat, & hold his hand, I’ll wait with Grand-daddy.” Joanie started to stand but Aubree stopped her, “No sweet-pea, I just wanted to see him and let know I’m here…” She walked to the left side of the bed slid her hand over Nick’s and squeezed gently. “Nick, sweetheart mama’s here, I love you.” Letting go of his hand she caressed his face then stood.
Turning, Aubree hugged Sarah, “Are you doing okay? My grand-baby?” Sarah smiled at her mother-in-law, “I’m good, both Drs. are making sure I get my rest and don’t over-do it here and the baby’s doing great.” She answered. Aubree nodded, “Good, I can tell Grand-daddy too, he’s worried about you.” Sarah squeezed her mother-in-law’s hand before she left for the waiting room again.
Joanie stood, “Here, take this seat now, Sarah.” Her Aunt nodded as they traded seats again and began talking. “When’s your next doctor’s appointment?” Sarah smiled. “In a few we--.” She stopped when the double beep started. “What’s wrong?” Joanie asked alarmed when she heard the sound. Not answering her Sarah leaned over and stroked his face softly, “Hey sweetheart it’s okay—the baby is healthy so am I; we are just waiting for you to open your eyes.” She said continuing to stroke his face as the beep steadied again.
“That was Nick?” Joanie asked surprised. Her Aunt nodded, “Yeah he can hear and occasionally something that he hears triggers a reaction from him and his heartbeat will rise… in this case, it was the mention of the baby.” “Does he know I’m here?” Joanie asked. Sarah nodded, “Yes, he does sweetie, but right now his body needs more rest than activity until his breathing stabilizes.”
A while later there was a knock on the door jamb, “Sarah?” Jack called, “I got what you asked for.” she turned as he walked in. “Good, can you place the radio right there ---.” He interrupted her, “I’ll hang the pictures where you want them.” She nodded as he plugged in the radio. Taking the tape from his back pocket they discussed for a minute where would be the best place then Jack taped them up.
“Alright Nick, you have very special art work on your walls you need to wake up and see.” he replied. Sarah gasped and they turned to look at her just as Nick moved his fingers then squeezed her hand.
“I think he’s waking up.” She said watching him. “We’ll send in the doctor.” They replied and ran out.
“Sweetheart, I’m with you… open your eyes.” Sarah said softly. “Sarah? What’s going on?” Brett asked, “His brother and Joanie said he might be waking up.” She nodded, “He moved his fingers and squeezed my hand.
“Okay, let’s try something.” He replied stepping over to him and placed his hand in Nick’s.
“Nick, its Dr. Johnson… if you can hear me I want you to squeeze my hand.” He replied as he felt his hand being squeezed. “Good, now I want you to try and open your eyes okay.” They watched for a minute and then they saw as he slowly opened his eyes even as he tried to move his lips and couldn’t,his eyes widened.
“Hey, welcome back, Nick,” Seeing his reaction Brett continued, “stay calm, you’re okay, you have a tube down your throat and a ventilator working, helping you breathe right now. “When the paralysis got to your chest it moved quickly so we had to put you on a ventilator to help stabilize your breathing.” (What about the paralysis?) Reading the question in his eyes the doctor nodded, “You are paralyzed from the chest down Nick, we just need to wait and see if the paralysis in the chest begins to fade.”
Nick began trying to look around so Brett stepped out from in front of Sarah so Nick could see his wife. “Can you tell my family?” she asked. “Of course, rest Nick, I’ll check back later.” Dr. Johnson said leaving them.
(I’m leaving here and this is my goodbye!) Nick thought knowing if the chest paralysis didn’t fade… staring at her a single tear ran slowly down his cheek. “Hi baby.” She said softly touching his face even while in her head she was thinking, “Oh no, this disease is taking him and this is my last chance.”
"Sweetie, to make it easy to talk for now how about 2 blinks for yes and 3 for no?” she replied. She watched as he blinked twice.
Squeezing her hand, she saw where his eyes moved, (The baby what about the baby?) Smiling she answered, “the baby’s good, Dr. Patterson has come up here at different times to check on me and the baby to see if we're okay. Our son / daughter is healthy and strong if these kicks I’m getting are any indication. Taking his hand from hers, she moved closer to the bed and placed his hand carefully on her tummy then lay her hand over his. “See the munchkin’s fine.” She answered using his nickname for the baby.
“Do you want some music to play softly in the background while we talk?” she wondered. He blinked twice and she stood and began to roll the dial carefully. He heard the faint opening chords of ‘If I Had Only Known’ by Reba McEntire, slapped his hand gently on the bed -- she saw it and turned up the volume a bit then sat down taking his hand.
(How can I say goodbye to my girl) he wondered.
She listened as the song began to play and had recognized the song too but had hoped he hadn’t. When he had motioned for her to stop she knew he had and this was there way together.
(Oh if I could have only stopped time that final night, as we lay snuggled together in bed --- I could hold Sarah and our baby forever) he thought watching her.
“I’m not letting you go that easily Adams, you understand, we will get through this and beat the odds and we’ll be together when the baby is born.” Sarah replied after turning the volume back down to where the radio could be heard faintly.
“You’re not leaving me that easily are you?” She saw him blink three times. “Good I’m holding you to that.” She said as she stretched her back. “I can see your sleepy just go to sleep for a while and I’ll be here when you wake up, relax.” He closed his eyes for a minute when she kissed his cheek then opened them again when she started talking, “I’m going to go walk around a bit to stretch and get exercise but I’ll be back in a few minutes okay, you just rest.” He blinked twice and watched her leave the room.
Outside she stopped when tears flooded her eyes, “He’s awake finally. Thank you.” She whispered.
A little farther down the hall she saw his parents go in together. At least he wouldn’t be alone until she got back.