"Sweetheart, why don't you go break the news to the crew. I'll see you in the room. Okay?" Jordan suggested.
"Okay." Maggie kissed both members of her new family and left the OR.
* * *
Maggie walked into the room with a big smile on her face. "We have a son," she said. "Kale Charles Downs-Lewis."
Gina and Sam were the first to embrace Maggie as she entered the waiting room, showering her with kisses.
Sam looked down at her own bulging abdomen. "Do you hear that little one? Your cousin has been born."
"Maggie, we are so happy for both of you. How's Jordan?" Gina asked.
"She's great. They're closing the incision now. She should be moved to her room in about an hour. Wait until you see our little man. He's beautiful. He looks just like Jordan."
"My turn," Chuck said as he patiently waited his turn for hugs. "Congratulations, Maggie. A boy, huh? Wow! I finally have a nephew. How cool is that?"
Jessie pulled on her father's coattails. "Me next," she said, urging Chuck to step aside.
Maggie knelt in front of Jessie and accepted a big hug from her. "I can't wait to hold him," Jessie said excitedly. If Daddy is his uncle, does that make him my cousin?"
"I believe it does," Maggie said.
"Cool. I can't wait to babysit."
"Be careful what you wish for. We might just take you up on that."
Julie finally regained her composure and stood to hug Maggie warmly. "I'm so happy for you and Jordan. So, if Chuck gets to be his uncle, that means I get to be his aunt."
Maggie furrowed her brow and looked back and forth between Chuck and Julie. "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" she asked.
Julie slipped her left hand into Maggie's. "You think right."
Maggie looked at Julie's ring finger, then at Chuck. "You sly dog. Come here, you." She hugged him fiercely. "Congratulations. You'll make a wonderful couple."
"Whoa, wait a minute here," Jess said. "You two are getting married?"
Chuck and Julie both nodded.
"Well hot damn. I get a new nephew and a new mom all in the same day," she exclaimed.
"Hey, watch your language. Where did you learn that?"
"Oops!" Jessie said as she looked at Maggie.
Chuck glared at her.
"Hey, how about those Red Sox?" Maggie said. "Wait, I think I hear Jordan calling. We'll be in room two-eleven if you want to stop by," she said as she beat a hasty retreat.
Julie walked into the circle of Chuck's arms. "Kale Charles? What a wonderful gift, from such a wonderful man."
CHAPTER 44
Two months later…
Jessie sat on the edge of the hospital bed with her feet dangling down. Chuck and Julie stood in front of her. Jordan was nearby in her wheelchair with Maggie and Kale by her side.
"I don't want to do this, Daddy."
"Look, Jessie, the sooner you do this, the sooner your physical therapy sessions will be over. You haven't been very cooperative with them so far."
Jessie crossed her arms and pouted, a scowl on her face.
"Now, put your hands in mine, and slowly slide forward," Chuck said.
The look of fear on Jessie's face was palpable. "I can't, Daddy. I'll fall."
"You won't fall, Jess. I would never let you fall."
Jess looked at Jordan.
"It's okay to be scared, Jess. I was scared too. Trust your father," Jordan urged.
"You can do it, Jess," Maggie added.
Jess closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then slid forward until her feet touched the floor and she stopped sliding.
"We have touchdown," Julie said. "All right sweetie, Dad and I will each hold an arm. I want you to lean forward and imagine yourself pushing your feet into the floor while you straighten at the waist. Just like that," Julie said as Jessie stood up.
Her eyes were as big as saucers, then rapidly filled with tears as the emotion of the moment overwhelmed her.
"I'm standing. Daddy, I'm standing!"
"Yes you are, baby," he said, unable to hold back his joyful tears as they rolled down his cheeks.
"Mom, look at me. I'm almost as tall as you are," she said to Julie.
"In a few years, you'll be taller than me," Julie replied, tears glistening in her own eyes. She looked at Chuck from behind Jessie's back and mouthed the words she called me mom!
"Okay, Jess. I need you to take a few steps for me," Chuck said. "Your physical therapist said you need to push yourself or it will never happen."
"I… I can't. I'm scared."
Maggie handed Kale to Jordan. "Sweetie, take our son for a moment. I want to try something."
Maggie stood in front of Jessie. "How badly do you want to be an instructor at the riding school?" she asked.
"I really, really want that, Maggie. You know I do."
"Well, just like we've told our students, you have to earn the right to move up to the next level."
Maggie backed up three steps. "If you want to be promoted from helper to full blown instructor, then start earning your stripes right now. Three steps. That's all you need to do to get the ball rolling. Just three steps."
Jess grasped Chuck and Julie's hands tightly and locked gazes with Maggie. She moved one foot forward, followed by the other. With each step she took, Maggie backed up one more. Before Jessie knew it, she had walked all the way across the room. Finally, Maggie stopped and allowed her to take one final step, right into her arms.
* * *
Jordan sat in bed, reviewing lab notes taken during Jessie's meeting with the team earlier in the day.
Maggie came into the room and reclined on the bed beside Jordan. She rolled onto her side and propped her upper body on her elbow. "The little one is down for the night, or at least until his next feeding."
"I'm a little nervous that he's in his own room already. He's not quite three months old yet," Jordan said.
"He'll be fine. He's right next door and the baby monitor lets us know his every move. "Maggie looked at the papers in her hands. "What 'cha reading?" she asked.
"These are the notes we took while examining Jessie at the lab today. We are all astounded at the progress she's made in just the three short weeks since her device was implanted."
"I know what you mean. I spent some time with her today teaching her how to mount and dismount her horse from a standing position, and how to control it with her knees. She's having to re-learn horse riding techniques again, but she's doing remarkably well."
"She's a determined young lady."
"That, she is. She's almost walking normally after only three weeks."
"I agree. Muscle memory is returning pretty fast for her. It will only be a matter of time before her movements are completely normal. The question is, how long it will take for sensory feelings to return."
"So, is she far enough along in her healing to claim victory on the chip design and function?"
"I'd give it another few weeks, just to be sure nothing goes wrong."
"Another few weeks? Define few.'"
"I'd like at least a two-month trial before we do anything with the original device."
"So we're looking at another five weeks?"
"Pretty much."
"Are you nervous about getting the device back?" Maggie asked.
"A little. I'm more concerned about it working properly. With all the poking and prodding we've done on it, I really hope we haven't made it non-functional."
"I guess time will tell. If for some reason it doesn't work, you could always use one of the new devices."
"True. I'm just thankful that this latest injury wasn't a complete SCI. I still have most of the feeling below the injury site, I just can't move my legs. It makes waiting another five weeks in this wheelchair a little easier."
Maggie took the papers from Jordan's hands and placed them on the nightstand. She then ran the tip of her index finger from Jordan's ear to the tip of her chin. "How about we exercise those feelings be
low the injury site."
"Yours or mine?" Jordan smiled wickedly.
Maggie glanced at the clock on the bedside table. "Let's see, I just put Kale to bed. That means he'll be awake in three to four hours wanting to be fed again. Three or four hours is enough time to walk on the wild side in both our sugar bushes. Don't you think?"
Jordan rolled over so she was partially lying on top of Maggie. "I'm always up for a wild time as long as it's with you, my love."
Maggie cupped Jordan's face between her hands and stared directly into her eyes. Jordan could see the passion smoldering below the surface of Maggie's green pupils. "Love me like there's no tomorrow, Jordan."
* * *
One year later…
Jordan walked back and forth across the front of a room filled with high-ranking military officers.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she said. "What I am about to propose to you will revolutionize the treatment of our veterans, specifically those who return from war with spinal injuries."
Jordan advanced the slide. "What if I was to say to you that I can cure paralysis caused by complete or partial spinal cord injuries? What if I was able to develop advanced, permanent prostheses that work on nerve impulse alone? What if I said my team and I have developed a functional power pack that is powered by the body using simple kinetics, and could be used to power cell phones or electronic body armor in the field?"
Jordan looked at the shocked faces of the people in the room. "Think of the possibilities, ladies and gentlemen. What if in the future, we were able to use this device and this knowledge to grow bulletproof skin, or to re-grow limbs lost to land mines?"
"I'd say, hogwash," a voice said from the back of the room.
"Impossible," came another response.
Jordan listened to several more negative outbursts, all the while nodding her head. "I expected those exact sentiments," she said.
A man sitting near the front of the room rose to his feet. "This is nonsense, Dr. Lewis. You're wasting our time."
"With all due respect, General, I disagree with you. Everything I have said is not only possible, but many of these capabilities have already been developed by my team… or are in process of development."
"With all due respect to you, Dr. Lewis… prove it," the general said.
Jordan walked back and forth across the front of the room one more time before stopping at the head of the table. "Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you, a paraplegic."
EPILOGUE
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER
SHELBURNE, VERMONT, 2112
Kale glanced at the lab technician assisting him then returned his gaze to the rodent trying furiously to escape his grasp. "Okay, Dave, I'll hold the little bugger while you slightly increase the current to the implant. I'll tell you when to stop."
Kale was in the middle of an experiment on a rat in which damaged musculoskeletal nerves were replaced with synthetic fiber optics. Just as Dave completed the first incremental step, Kale's communicator chimed loudly.
"Hello?"
"Kale, Jordan is hurt. Come quickly."
Kale felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. "Andi? Andi, slow down. Tell me what happened. Where are you?"
"We're in the emergency room. She was on the bus. It went off the road and rolled over. Please, come quickly."
"I'm on my way. Hold on, love. I'm on my way."
The University of Vermont was affiliated with the medical center teaching hospital, and the laboratory was located just on the other side of the parking lot opposite the emergency room. Realizing he could cover the distance between the lab and the hospital quicker on foot than by trying to find his vehicle in the vast parking lot, he set off running, making it to the emergency room within five minutes of Andi's call. Andi met him at the door. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Where is she?" he asked desperately.
Andi was barely able to speak as she pointed to the door of an examination room. "They took her in there."
Kale was frantic as he ran toward the door, only to be stopped by a resident who would not permit him to enter.
"I'm afraid you can't go in there," the resident informed him.
"I'm afraid I don't care," Kale responded as he tried to push his way past the man. "Let me by," he said.
"No can do. You'll need to see the doctor if you want a status."
Just then, Peter Michaels exited the room Kale was attempting to gain access to. "Peter. Peter, how is she?" By this time, Andi had joined Kale and was clinging tightly to his arm.
Peter took Kale by the arm and walked a few feet away from the door. Andi followed closely. "She's stable. As stable as she can be, considering her condition."
Andi stepped forward. She was clearly distraught as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Tell me, Peter. How bad is she?"
Peter looked back and forth between Andi and Kale. "Judging by the severity of her injuries, it's apparent she was violently thrown around the bus."
Peter ran his hand through his hair then looked at his friends and coworkers once more. "All indications are that she's broken her back and probably severed her spinal cord completely."
Andi nearly collapsed and Kale supported her with an arm around her waist. "No," she moaned.
Kale felt he needed to be strong for Andi's sake, and tried not to cry. "Can we see her?"
Peter nodded. "Of course. They'll be preparing her for surgery soon to further stabilize her spine, so you'll only have a few moments. We'll let you know as soon as she's been settled into Intensive Care.
Kale nodded. He tightened his arm around Andi and led her into Jordan's room. Peter followed close behind. Andi was shaking uncontrollably. "She looks so small and helpless."
Kale was unable to speak for fear of losing control. As they approached the bed, they separated, with Andi on one side and Kale on the other. Kale leaned over the small form lying in the bed and kissed her on the cheek.
"Jordan, honey. Daddy's here. Mommy's here too, baby." Andi rubbed the back of the girl's hand as Kale spoke. "You're going to be all right, sweetie. Mommy and I will be right here waiting for you to wake up, okay?"
Andi inhaled deeply to control the tears that cascaded down her face. She leaned in close to the injured child. "We love you, sweetheart. You'll be better soon. Just wait and see."
Peter motioned to them that time was up as the technicians entered the room to wheel the child to the operating room.
Andi looked at Peter and nodded, then turned back to her daughter. "Jordie… the doctors are here to take care of you, but we'll be here when you come back, okay? Mommy and Daddy love you, honey."
Andi and Kale kissed their child tenderly then stood together by the window as they watched the technicians move the five-year-old Jordan from the room.
* * *
Andi paced back and forth across the waiting room as Kale sat hunched over with his head in his hands. Every few moments, Andi blew her nose, left runny by nonstop weeping. Kale felt totally helpless as his baby girl lay clinging to life on the operating table and his wife paced worriedly across the floor in front of him. Few words passed between them as they waited for news of their child.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, a man wearing a white lab coat entered the room. He looked at the clipboard in his hand before addressing Kale and Andi. "Mr. and Mrs. Simmons?"
They were on their feet immediately. Together, they approached the man who extended his hand to them. "My name is Dr. Lewis. I'll be evaluating your daughter's condition."
Kale looked at the man's nametag as he firmly shook his hand.
Dr. Jordan Lewis. What the hell?
His eyes moved form the nametag to the man's face. He appeared to be around fifty years old, and something about him felt familiar.
"Dr. Lewis," Kale replied as he shook the man's hand and then stepped aside to afford the same courtesy to Andi.
"How is she?" Andi asked.
Dr. Lewis smiled. "She made it through surg
ery just fine. I won't be sure about the extent of her injuries or her chances for recovery until I've had a chance to examine her holograph."
"When can we see her?" Kale asked.
"She's being moved to the ICU right now. You should be able to see her in a couple of hours."
Andi noticed the doctor's nametag as Dr. Lewis answered Kale's questions. She gasped and gently elbowed Kale in the ribs to call his attention to the badge. Kale briefly glanced at his wife and acknowledged that he was aware of it.
Dr. Lewis scribbled a few comments on his clipboard. "I encourage you to get something to eat while you wait. There's a cafeteria downstairs that serves hot meals. Neither of you will be of any use to your daughter if you don't take care of yourselves. You can stop by the nurse's station at the ICU afterward and they'll be able to direct you to your daughter's room. I'll check on her as soon as she's settled in."
Kale stopped the doctor as he turned to leave. "Dr. Lewis?"
The doctor stopped his retreat and turned back to Kale. "Yes?"
"We couldn't help but notice your nametag." Kale looked at Andi, and then back at the doctor. "We… we knew a Jordan Lewis. In fact, we were very close to her." He cleared his throat before continuing. "We loved her very much. So much that we named our daughter after her."
Dr. Lewis simply nodded, then left the room.
Outside the waiting room, Dr. Lewis stopped and leaned against the wall. After taking a deep breath, he scanned the papers attached to his clipboard.
Simmons, Jordan. Age 5. Parents: Kale and Andrea Simmons.
Dr. Lewis pressed the back of his head into the wall and closed his eyes.
It's them!
* * *
Kale stood at the window of Jordan's room and looked out over the city. A canopy of stars stood guard over the night and streetlights dotted the scenery below. Andi sat at her daughter's bedside and hummed nursery tunes in time to the various monitors that beeped in harmony with her voice. Both parents waged internal battles between hope and desperation as they waited for their daughter to regain consciousness.
After a time, their vigil was interrupted by Peter's arrival. Andi looked up at him with expectation and hope on her face.
All My Tomorrows Page 33
