Читать книгу Half Truths - Tracy Ann Rodriguez - Страница 3

It's late Thursday night technically early Friday morning. I can't seem to catch my sleep. I keep tossing and turning there is just no way I am going to get comfortable on this ugly hard green couch. I can hear the rain hitting the window it's been raining all night. But that's only half of the reason why I am unable to sleep. I'm laying here trying my best to fight back my tears. I sit up slowly to grab my phone. I can't remember where exactly I placed it. I begin to feel the area around me. I lift the sheets nothing. I turn around and check the table behind me and there it is. I check the time four thirty-nine in the morning. I get up trying not to make any noise I walk quietly towards his bed. Then I remember he can't hear anything so why am I moving slowly! I reach for the remote I press the red button with the nurse symbol. A friendly voice comes over the little speaker. Can I help you?

Yes may I get a blanket please. Sure i'll send one right in. Not even a minute later a nurse comes in with a brown cover and hands it to me. The weather is getting ugly out there she says. I smile and thank her for the blanket. She advised me that she will be back in an hour to check his vitals. Dr.Frey would be in at six to give a update on his status. I thank her once again and she leaves the room. I try hard to get as comfy as I can on this green couch. But it's no use i find myself wondering. Where do we go from here? My thoughts are running around not letting me sleep. I check the time five twenty three. I might as well get up doesn't look like i'm getting any more sleep for the rest of the night. As I sit up and move to the left side of the couch with my legs bundled up to my chest. I wrap the blanket around my self to keep warm and I look at Julian. How did this happen? Why is this happening? I just want to go back to yesterday. I just want to work things out. I just want all this to go away. It's like i'm in a dream that I can't come out of. That I badly want to awake from. I wipe away my tears and pray. I can hear the door open I sit up straight. Good morning Mrs. Sanchez. I'm Dr. Frey he extends his right hand I shake it and say good morning. I'm sorry to wake you so early but I have to be in surgery by seven so I am making my rounds early. He takes a look at Julian and makes his way towards the left side of the bed. He looks at the machines. Then shortly after he opens a vanilla folder in his hand. Before I begin do you have any questions for me? I shake my head and say no. I get up from the couch and make my way to the right side of the bed so that I am at eye level with Dr. Frey. As you know we have given Mr. Sanchez medication through his fluids to keep him stable. He suffered a major impact that has caused him to fall into a coma. He is bruised badly and the bruises from the impact will start to show in the next few hours. So don't be surprised once they appear they will be obvious. From what I can see unfortunately he has not made any progress in the last few hours. He remains stable but only because the machine is keeping him stable. In other words Mr. Sanchez is not breathing on his own. I try my best to hold in all my emotions but my face must of given what I was feeling away. Do not get discouraged Mrs. sanchez it doesn't mean there is no hope. Mr. Sanchez is in a coma and there is no telling when he will come out of it. This isn't exactly the news I wanted to hear. I can feel my throat tighten and my eyes filing with tears. I avoid eye contact by putting my head down and looking at Julian. Now in this type of situation It depends on the patient and how the body responses to the medication they are given. It could take days even months in some cases years. I clear my throat the best I can. What are our options? Well we have a few options. We can continue to give Mr. Sanchez the medications. Keep him on the machines and continue to monitor his status. Usually in these types of situation we give the patient a few days to see if any progress is made. If not, we leave the decision to family members in what they want or what they feel is best for the patient. Of course the second option would be removing the machine. How long will he have? I can't say that all depends on him. I know its a lot to take in but I do need to make you aware of the entire situation. Mr. Sanchez is in a server coma which means if he does wake up. He will have to start all over like a newborn. In walking, talking and eating and etc. I know this isn't a easy time with you being his spouse this is a difficult decision to make. There is no rush no need to make a decision now. Will give Mr. Sanchez a few days to see if there is any change to see if his body will respond to the medication. It will give you some time to think about it and will go with what you decide. I wipe my tears away and thank him. I know I just gave you a lot more to think about Mrs. Sanchez but if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask. I smile letting him know that is all. He places one hand on Julian's shoulder. You don't stop fighting Mr. Sanchez. Feel free to talk to him he can hear you he just can't respond. He makes his way towards the door and before he exits he turns to look at me. Get some rest Mrs. sanchez it will be needed. As soon as the door closed tears begin streaming down my face. I placed my left hand on his hand and my right hand on his head. I can't hold it in any longer wake up please Julian please wake up! I need you… Avery needs you! What am I going to do without you! Tell me what to do… what do I do… tell me what to do! I wipe the tears away and begin to pull myself together. I grab my purse and look for my phone. It's way too early I don't want to wake Gloria right now. I don't want to make her worry even more right now. I did reassure her though. That I would call as soon as the doctor came in to see him. I grab my bag of clothes and head for the restroom. I decide to shower first before I call her and get my thoughts together. As i'm getting out of the shower I hear the phone ringing. I rush to grab it but i'm to late. I check to see who it was that's funny no missed calls. I double check by going to the call log nothing. Weird I could of sworn I heard the phone ringing. I grab the chair out of the corner and pull it up to side of the bed next to him. I grab his hand and place it in mine. I put my head on our hands and begin to pray. I know if any one can hear me. It's you God. I know you can make all this ok. We claim to be Catholics but we don't attend church as we should. I know we don't pray as much as we should either. I know we are everyday sinners. But we are believers. I know only you have the last say in all this. So please please lord give us the strength to get through this and to overcomes this Amen. I decided to call Gloria. The phone rang twice and then I heard fast raspy voice. Hello? Gabbi. is he ok? Yes he's fine ? Que Pasa? What is it she asked. The Dr. will be coming in shortly I want everyone here to hear what he has to say. Ok Mija will get ready and head that way. Once I hung up with my mother in law I dialed my mom. I asked her to pick up Avery for me as soon as she could so that way Nick can come to the hospital. I also asked her to continue to pray for him. Before i could hang up the phone the nurse came in. Ill call you later mom I have to go! I'm just going to change his fluid bags and check his vitals. Are you ok Hun? you look a little tired. I smiled and nod. I watched as she put a new bag of fluid on the hook and connects it to the tube that flows into his hand. She checked the paper that was feeding out of the machine and checked his vitals. All is good if you need anything you just give us a call. I smiled lightly and thanked her. It is so quiet in here so i turn on the TV and watch the news. A few minutes later I remember I forgot to call Issa. I call her just in case my mother in law forgot. Hello. Issa. I say, has your mom called you. Yes she has we are getting in the car now will be there shortly. Have you talked to Nick? Yes he texted me he is waiting on your mom to pick up Avery and he will come afterwards. My parents should be getting there soon. No one has heard from Anthony yet but we will keep trying. Anthony! Yeah i'm sure he will come I don't see why he wouldn't. I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that Issa I'am just surprise that's all. Ok will see you in a few minutes. Do you need anything food clothes, hygiene? I'm fine I had a bag of clothes that I packed. As far as eating ill go down to the cafeteria in a little while thank you though. I know I lied to all of them but I didn't want to repeat myself to every single one of them. I prefer they all ask the same questions now to get it over with. I didn't even consider trying to contact Anthony it's been so long since we have seen him and when I say we I mean everyone but Julian. My in laws arrived first. My mother in law immediately hugged me and asked how I was doing? But i couldn't respond instead I hugged her tight. She squeezed me tighter I know mija yo se'. Once my mother in law lets me go she went to stand by Julian. Just as I was about to take a seat. My sister in law Issa walks in with her family. Issa hugs me and tells me were gonna get through this. If you need anything don't be afraid to ask. i'm here, rick is here, just let us know. Were you able to get any sleep last night? I shake my head letting her know “no” she rubs my shoulders and says you need rest it's not good for you. I nod my head letting her know I agree. She turns to grab her girls and leads them to Julian's bed. Ricardo is standing right behind them he has his hands on her shoulders. Were all here brother. We all love you very much. She stops for a few seconds because she is choked up. You don't stop fighting you hear me? you hold on… you have Avery and Gabbi who need you! By now my tears are falling like rain. I knew the family getting here would only make things harder. Once everyone was seated I inform them that they just missed the Dr. I begin to explain how the medication they are giving him is not helping there has been no progress. I also make them aware of our choices to keep him on the machine but with the possibility of him being brain dead. Or..... before I can let it out I take a long pause cause i'm fighting hard to keep my voice from cracking and my tears from falling. We can remove the machines and see how long he last on his own. See if his body will respond and will continue to fight. I don't know where to look right now my eyes are focused on mother in law who's tears won't stop coming down. I glance at my father in law and I can't make out what he is thinking he looks numb. Issa has her head in her hands taking it all in. Issa's three girls are standing in the corner crying. No one is saying anything everyone is quiet all i hear are sobs. They encourage us to talk to him. The Dr. said he can hear us. It stays quiet for a few minutes then I see my mother in law stand up she grabbed her purse and leaves the room. A few minutes later Gloria returns with Nick. After a good fifteen minutes Issa broke the silence hey Nick did you get a hold of Anthony? He is driving home he said he will be here no later than four. Did he say why he wasn't answering our calls or text. I knew by Issa's tone in her voice this couldn't be good. No he didn't. He just said he would be here as soon as he could. So now he wants to come rushing home! Really Issa? you want to bring up this shit now? just be glad he is coming. Ricardo obviously knew where this was going he placed his hand on issas thigh and told her to calm down. But issa ignored it and continued on. Ya… you go ahead and keep defending your precious brother. Whatever Issa… You ask him when he gets here. Don't take this shit out on me. We all have lives that we get caught up in. So He cant take a weekend from his busy life to come see his parents who raised him. No one is that busy Nick but you keep believing his lies. By now Issa and Nick are not just exchanging words their arguing. Ricardo stood up and signaled his girls with his head to come on. Once they left the room Nick continues to argue with Issa. How many times have you gone to see him? huh. Julian and I invited you plenty of times but you could never go right your always busy with your kids and precious husband right! Issa face is saying she wants to kick her little brothers ass. Instead she looks at me and says anytime you want to kick him out Gabbi is ok with me. In a deep sharp voice my father in law tells them to get out. The both of them. Way to go Issa look what you did! Sorry papa sorry Gabbi I'll be in the waiting room if you need anything mom.