Heart's Cry

by Rita Peterson

  “It can go undetected until a patient comes into the ER like you did. But it so happens that I’m qualified to do this surgery and have done two others like this in the past.”

  Zara wept. “Please save my baby. Fight for its life, please.”

  Zara’s husband kissed his distraught wife on her forehead.

  Clyde spoke up, “Zara, we will fight for you both.” He turned around and gave quick orders to the nurses to prep the patient for emergency surgery. Then Clyde and Lily Ann left the room to scrub up.

  Clyde rinsed off his arms. “An ectopic pregnancy of the abdomen! I’ve never seen this before. I’ve only read about it in med school.”

  Lily Ann also hurriedly scrubbed her arms. “Listen, Clyde. I need Dr. Stone in the surgery room along with the NICU nurses and every available nurse. I need enough blood on hand, as both of the previous cases had a catastrophic hemorrhage that lasted for fifty minutes until we could control it.”

  Clyde tried not to stare at her scarred and discolored arms. “Right.”

  “Make sure there is someone in the room with us that can take a few pictures and record our conversation while we operate. This needs to be documented. Most patients who have an ectopic pregnancy have a positive pregnancy test, irregularities in the placenta, or severe abdominal and gastrointestinal pain, which allows us to quickly diagnose the patient. But Zara is the exact opposite. These cases are rare. The more we record, the better we may understand future cases. We need to hurry.”

  Entering the surgery ward, Lily Ann briefed the team, “We can’t delay. I know some of you have told me that this hospital is not equipped with the personnel or equipment to perform this emergency surgery. I have faith in my team. Dr. Nelson is an incredible trauma surgeon and Dr. Stone is an excellent general surgeon. Look around and see the amazingly skilled nurses in this room. We need to save Zara’s life and her baby’s. I’m confident we can perform this intricate surgery successfully together.”

  The anesthesiologist gave Lily Ann the go-ahead.

  Lily Ann made a laparotomy incision. With swift movements, she located the baby in the abdominal cavity. “What I’m about to do is clamp the umbilical cord, cut it, and then pass the infant to the neonatal nurses. The baby can’t get the slightest chill. Ready?”

  “We’re ready,” the neonatal nurses replied.

  Clyde was in awe at how Lily Ann moved so gracefully with such a deformed hand. He assisted her in the removal of the infant, swiftly passed the preemie to the nurses, and triumphantly announced, “It’s a boy.”

  A sudden gush of blood from Zara’s abdomen interrupted his announcement.

  “More cloths,” Jared hollered.

  The three surgeons huddled together in a desperate attempt to stop the massive hemorrhage. Lifesaving blood was being pumped through Zara’s veins. Nurses raced back and forth to retrieve more cloths for the anxious doctors. Thirty-five hectic minutes passed before the bleeding finally eased up. The exhausted hands of the doctors unclenched. The heart monitor displayed Zara’s strong steady heartbeat.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Clyde saw a beautiful but fragile preemie crying under the heat lamps. He sighed in relief. His eyes locked with Lily Ann’s with the same thought. We did it. He wanted to hurl himself across the operating table and squeeze her tight. Instead he asked, “As for the placenta, should we remove it from the colon or leave it attached?”

  “It’s best to leave the placenta attached and let the body reabsorb it,” Lily Ann answered as she began suturing up Zara’s abdomen.

  Clyde assisted her but was blown away how Lily Ann could suture so precisely and delicately with her hands. He swore she could stitch faster than he could any day. There was so much to learn about her. What happened to her hand? Where did the scars on her arm come from? Why the special doctor outfit? Why wasn’t she married? Where was her family?

  “Earth to Dr. Nelson,” Jared chuckled. “Are you tired or is your head in the clouds?”

  Clyde shrugged. “A bit of both.”

  “Well done, everyone,” Lily Ann announced. “We have stabilized Zara and the infant is breathing and stable as well.”

  Jared wheeled Zara out of the operating room to the ICU. The neonatal team rushed the baby to the NICU.

  Lily Ann glanced at the clock. “Dr. Nelson, I need to clean myself up and check on a patient. She was having early labor contractions, but I’m monitoring her baby’s heart rate. It keeps fluctuating.”

  “Go ahead. I will keep a close eye on Zara.”

  Lily Ann headed for the operating room sliding doors. “I’m so thankful the baby boy is breathing without intervention.”

  “Only two pounds one ounce. He’s a fighter,” Clyde said.

  “It was a good day. Thanks, doctor.” Lily Ann left the room in haste.

  Clyde watched her leave. He stood there in the middle of the messy operating room with staff bustling around him. She impressed him in every way. Now he had to figure out how to enter her life for good.

  Chapter 5

  Lily Ann pulled out an elastic band from her pant pocket and tied up her long brunette hair as she entered the hospital staff room. She froze in shock. Everyone turned around the second she entered and began clapping and shouting her name. Her arms fell to her sides, her knees knocked together, and her jaw dropped.

  Tina appeared from the middle of the crowd and hooked her arm around Lily Ann’s waist. “Dr. MacBride, you have put us on Fox News and NBC Nightly News and—.”

  Jared stepped forward and interrupted Tina. “I even received a phone call from Good Morning America for you to be a guest on their show.”

  Lily Ann’s eyes glanced through the crowd, searching for Clyde, but he wasn’t there. She wished he was; he needed to be in the spotlight too. “I don’t know what to say…I’m honored, but I was just doing my job; we were all doing our jobs. I didn’t expect any national recognition for what we did. Remember, if I didn’t have such an amazing team, none of this would be possible.”

  “True,” Jared stated, “but if we all didn’t have you leading the surgery and finding the issue so quickly, we would have lost the mother and baby. You have brought this hospital to life again. This is how it used to be ten years ago. Keeping in mind, we were given more funding, but still we worked together. You have been with us for five weeks and have turned this hospital around with innovative ideas and programs along with your superior skill level that was lacking in our hospital.”

  Everyone cheered, whistled, and clapped.

  Lily Ann pasted a smile on her face. But what she really wanted to do was run in the opposite direction and slam a door behind her. “Thank you, everyone. Sorry I can’t stay. I must head to my office. I’m expecting a teenage girl to arrive shortly.”

  ~

  Lily Ann slumped down in her office chair and propped her feet on the edge of the cherry wood desk. She had to say something to excuse herself from the crowd. She didn’t expect Megan and Emily for another two hours. Too much milling over her made her uncomfortable. This is what got me into trouble in Seattle in the first place. Publicity. Then Mindy got jealous and wanted me gone so she could be in the spotlight.

  Lily Ann stretched her fingers and toes. She was beginning to like Alaska and the friendly hospital staff. Now she feared she’d be given the credit that every doctor and nurse in this hospital deserved. I must make sure that everyone is credited for their hard work. Yes, I might be the lead, but I sure didn’t act alone. If Good Morning, America wanted an interview, then Clyde would be sitting next to her as well as the nurses.

  Lily Ann loosened her ponytail and began twisting her hair around her finger. The cell phone buzzed on the desk. Her finger swiped the touch screen and hit the message icon. It opened to a text message from the devil herself, Mindy.

  Lily Ann gulped. Her cheeks heated up. She read the text out aloud, “Lily Ann, I watched the news. I see you haven’t changed. Number one again. Why can’t you come to work, do your checks and surgeri
es, and go home. Get a life! What are you trying to prove? This transfer was supposed to make you stay off the radar. Not perform a miracle surgery and start a kangaroo-something program or whatever you are doing with those teens.”

  Lily Ann had to respond. She swung her feet off the desk, straightened in her chair, and began typing. Mumbling angrily as she wrote, “I’m making this short. How dare you text me. I’m out to prove nothing. I’m doing my job to the best of my abilities. Not I but we, the hospital team, saved that mother and baby. She came to us and the amazing team here fought for a common cause. Now leave me alone. Stop whining and for once be happy.”

  Lily Ann threw her cell phone across the desk. Mindy doesn’t care two hoots about me. All she cares about is how she looks in the media and how much funding comes in. Now she’s probably scared that we will receive some of her funding. Wouldn’t that be a blessing to this hospital?

  Lily Ann’s cell buzzed again. She hesitated but reached for it with trembling fingers. She swiped the home screen and pulled up Mindy’s text message.

  Nothing written, only an angry emoji. Well, isn’t that swell. Lily Ann didn’t respond. There was nothing more to say to Mindy.

  ~

  Megan Miller entered through the front doors with her sister, Emily, and her mother.

  “Follow me,” Megan gestured and pressed the Up button on the elevator. “Dr. MacBride works on the third floor. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” For the first time, Megan couldn’t stand still. The anticipation of meeting Dr. MacBride again was causing her to act more like a seven-year-old.

  The elevator door slid open and the trio entered. Emily pressed the third-floor button, while her mother stood quiet. The ride lasted for a mere thirty seconds, they exited, and headed towards the reception desk.

  Megan took the lead.

  “Hello, dear, may I help?” asked a nurse behind the desk.

  “Dr. MacBride asked if I could come back today after school to meet with her and chat a bit.”

  “Oh yes, she told me to be expecting you. Follow me.”

  “Thank you kindly.” Megan glanced over her shoulder and noticed her mom lagging behind. She observed her mother wiping her forehead and loosening her thin jacket. Megan leaned into Emily and whispered, “Did Mom say anything to you about not feeling well?”

  “Nothing.” Emily glanced back at her mom and smiled. “She does look a bit pale to me and she’s walking slowly. She’s probably nervous. We’re all stressed.”

  “True, I got a bad feeling that—”

  The nurse rapped a few times on Dr. MacBride’s office door. “Megan and Emily Miller are here to see you, accompanied by their mother.”

  “Wonderful,” the doctor answered. “Please send them in.”

  The nurse opened the door and the Miller family entered.

  Megan smiled, “Oh, Dr. MacBride, meet my mother, Alana, and my sister, Emily. I’m happy to see you again.”

  The doctor shook Emily’s and Alana’s hands and gestured for everyone to have a seat around her desk. “It’s an honor to meet the entire family. Alana, thank you for coming.”

  Alana struggled to make eye contact. “When I came home from work and saw all the food on the kitchen table, I wept for joy. I was scared that—” She crossed her legs, flicking one back and forth. “A person gets so desperate that sometimes—”

  “It’s okay, Alana.” Dr. MacBride moved around the desk and knelt in front of her. “It’s my honor to help your family.”

  Megan pushed her chair closer to her mom. “See, Mom, she’s for real. She’s going to help us.”

  Emily pushed her chair closer to the other side of her mom. “Dr. MacBride, how can you help us?”

  Megan studied her mom’s face again. Her cheeks were rosy in color, but she seemed awfully pale. For the first time, she realized how emaciated her mother appeared. Thinking about it more, she only really saw her mother between shifts—ten minutes here, five minutes there. They chatted only about the urgent issues in those minutes, but this was the first time that she analyzed her mom. Megan felt sick to her stomach. Something was wrong, but how could she alert Dr. MacBride?

  “I don’t want to make this meeting long, so I will get right to the exciting part.” The doctor stood and sat on the corner of her desk. “I had a chat with a senior woman named Miss Patty. She says all of you can move in with her since she has a finished basement with two rooms that are empty. Miss Patty would be more than happy to help out.”

  Megan gasped and covered her mouth. Emily reached for her mother’s hand. Alana shook her head.

  Lily Ann continued, “Miss Patty wouldn’t charge rent in exchange for general upkeep of the house and aiding her with meals. I actually live in one of the spare rooms on the main level and have been assisting with her medications. She really doesn’t need assistance with her meds, but what she wants is someone to be with. She’s a lonely eighty-two-year-old lady with a heart of gold.”

  Megan interjected, “Mom, did you hear that? We can move into a place free of rent and have a hot shower.” She whirled toward the doctor. “I’m sorry. Can we have hot showers?”

  She smiled. “Of course.”

  Alana slouched in her chair and rubbed her forehead. “I heard it. I’m blown…away.”

  Dr. MacBride stared at Alana. “But there is more good news. I made a few phone calls and I was able to have a few places donate gift certificates for you to buy some new clothes and shoes and pick out some warm winter gear. Safeway has gladly given you three-hundred dollars to buy some groceries.” Her face glowed. “And another thing, I called Distance Learning and, Alana, they will help you earn your high school diploma and provide you with some courses to help facilitate a better career, free of charge.”

  Emily squealed. “Please, Megan, pinch me if this is for real.”

  Megan pinched her arm.

  Emily yelped, “Ouch, sis. It’s for real.”

  The doctor addressed Megan, “With your mother’s permission, I would be delighted to have you join the Kangaroo Babies-n-Teens program. Miss Patty is usually home, and she can keep an eye on Emily while your mom is at work.”

  Megan motioned to her mom.

  Dr. MacBride got the hint. She bolted off her desk and knelt down beside Alana. “How are you feeling? You have been awfully short with your responses. Is something wrong?”

  Alana held her forehead and squinted. “I…have such a headache.” She tried to pull herself up from slouching. “Dizzy. My eyes hurt. The room’s…spinning.” Alana fell sideways and the doctor’s quick reflexes caught her in time before she fell.

  “Mom, wake up,” Megan screamed. Emily echoed Megan’s words.

  “Girls, race with me to the ER. Your mom needs medical attention at once.” The doctor flew out of her office with Alana in her arms and two shaking girls towing beside. “Megan, grab a wheelchair down the hallway to your right. Emily, run ahead and press the elevator Down button.”

  Megan held Emily’s hand as Dr. MacBride wheeled Alana out of the elevator, down the hospital corridors, and into the ER. In a few minutes, Alana was on a gurney being examined by a man with the nametag, Dr. Nelson.

  Dr. MacBride reached for Megan’s and Emily’s hands and led them out of their mother’s room and into a nearby waiting room. “I know this is hard on both of you. Dr. Nelson will figure out what’s wrong and then we will go from there. Be strong, girls. Waiting is the hardest thing to do, but I need you to stay calm. As soon as we have your mom stabilized, I’ll come and bring you back.” The doctor left the two girls and sprinted back to the ER.

  ~

  Megan embraced Emily’s quaking body and sat down.

  “Will Mom be okay, sis?”

  “She is in good hands. Let’s pray.”

  “Oh, do you think it was all too much for Mom to hear?”

  “Maybe, or maybe that and something else mixed together.”

  “I’m so scared—”

  “Breathe, Emily. She’s at th
e hospital in good hands.”

  ~

  “Drama follows you everywhere,” Clyde teased Lily Ann as they entered Alana’s room together.

  “Seems that way,” Lily Ann rolled her eyes. “It’s time for a dry spell around here.” She sat on the right side of Alana’s bed.

  “Alana, Dr. Nelson has diagnosed you with severe dehydration and malnutrition. Your electrolytes are depleted, and your blood pressure is low.” Lily Ann cupped Alana’s hand. “We need to rehydrate you through IVs and start you on a constant supply of healthy foods to eat.”

  Alana rubbed her face. “I’ve messed everything up for my kids. They almost starved. My girls haven’t had showers in a long time, and I can’t afford clothes or even warm jackets. I’m such a failure. And now, I’m sick with no insurance and no money to pay hospital bills.” She wept, covering her face with her hand.

  Clyde sat down on the other side of the bed. “You are not a failure. You’ve just hit a road block, that’s all. You’re out there trying your best to provide for your kids, and with the high prices for everything, you can’t make ends meet.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Now you need to take Dr. MacBride’s offer, get some sleep, and let us help you, including your medical bill.”

  “I can’t believe you would do this for us.” Alana sniffed. “I’ve tried everything I could think of to get help, but every door slammed shut.”

  Lily Ann glanced at Clyde. It was so refreshing to have another doctor on the same wavelength as she. “Megan was very brave to come and talk with me. That took guts. You should be proud of her.”

  Clyde stood. “Alana, Dr. MacBride will bring your kids back to see you. Then with your permission, they can stay at Miss Patty’s house while you’re in the hospital. When we release you, Dr. MacBride and I will move your belongings to Miss Patty’s home.”

  “I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem enough.” Alana shifted in her bed and rubbed more tears away from her face. “The sad thing is—if I’m in the hospital, my employer will most likely fire me.” Alana blinked away tears. “That’s what happened to the last girl. He has no sympathy.”