Compass North

by Cathleen Ellis

  “Emergency Transport’s leaving at 1400 tomorrow, for the Med Center in Chicago. That med center’s got super expertise, in what’s going on with this patient, and they’ll be ready for her.”

  “Turning it around, and back here to IU Med?”

  “As fast as we get the patient delivered, I saw a weather forecast, could be a little dicey by late afternoon.”

  “I worry about you a little, Tyann, classes, the Alum office, ER volunteer Saturday mornings, and then you run, like we’re doing now, or hike and head to study. Sunday it’s church and you often meet your Little Sister for lunch and time together. Then you study ‘til the library closes. Guys just don’t get much of your time. Or like tomorrow, along on the helicopter, that’s kinda dangerous, don’t you think?”

  “Hey, Lucia, risk’s everywhere. You’re right, that’s my life, the fellas I see once in a while know that. But it’s Jacob who’s really turned me on to critical care nursing, with the Ride Along.”

  

  From the start of her time at IU, Jacob observed Tyann volunteering in the ER at the Med Center. She always asked to watch the happenings in Trauma. Jacob noticed her because he worked a 2-hour volunteer shift right after her, 10-noon. They often bumped into each other as their shifts began and ended. When they didn’t, Jacob checked in a Trauma room, seeing her standing back and watching what was going on with that patient and the surrounding Critical Care personnel.

  One Saturday that fall he stopped her as she got ready to leave.

  “Hey, I see you in trauma observing; you need to know about Ride Along.”

  After Jacob explained what that process was, Tyann got super excited.

  Tyann thought about Jacob as she got ready for her Ride Along coming up in a short while.

  “I’m so glad he turned me on to this experience; I’m a sophomore so can really start to understand all the medical procedure, what all goes on,” she nodded her head.

  She stood near the gurney with the patient all secured and ready for the flight. The care group assembled, a flight nurse, a paramedic, and her, the Ride Along. They exchanged names. Tyann noted their reactions as the med team watched the helicopter land on the roof of the hospital. The intense noise, rushing air, and rotor blades whack whacking once bothered her. But not anymore, she got used to this, a part of critical care nursing, which is what she wanted to do. She observed the young flight nurse.

  “Yeah, that’ll be me, before much time passes,” she told herself.

  Once they secured the patient, they all strapped in and spoke to the pilot. He radioed the air traffic tower in Iowa City. Within a short time Tyann felt the powerful copter lift, up, up, into the air. She still felt the exhilaration that captured her mind and body as they moved up and along. She assisted Mia, the flight nurse, in getting vital signs and progress on the patient.

  This flight felt calm, easy on her mind, compared to one other she remembered. Their patient needed a fast transfer to an updated facility for specialized care not available at Iowa Med. Tyann felt relieved; this was not someone hovering between life and death from an auto accident. She closed her eyes and thanked God for this special opportunity. Jacob and Conner, the guys, flashed through her mind as she opened her eyes.

  “I’m so lucky to have them in my life, a gonna-be nurse and a gonna-be doc, each one of them there for me, helping me along my way.”

  1992 - Fall Junior year

  “I’m so glad to finally meet you, Dr. McGuinness.”

  She paused for a moment, after she shook his hand, “Are you?”

  “I am; I knew that would be your question.”

  Tyann smiled up to him.

  “Please, let’s sit down at the table.”

  He moved books and papers away from them. Tyann sat up, straight and tall, waiting for what he had to say. She directed her gaze on his eyes.

  “Martin McGuinness is a very distant family member. And no, I’ve never met him. I get asked that, especially by students who are into the whole Irish Republican Army conflict in Northern Ireland.”

  “But you’ve been over there?”

  “Yes, I did a semester sabbatical doing research several years back. I spent a fair bit of time in the north of Ireland. And yes, there was danger; I experienced one bombing, courtesy of the IRA.”

  He watched worry lines form on Tyann’s forehead.

  “Share your situation, Tyann.”

  “I hope and pray that whole Northern Ireland situation can be settled. My special guy from high school, after he graduated, spent a junior college school year in Milmire Abbey, Northern Ireland with his Irish uncle, while I did my senior year in high school. We were to be married after he returned from Ireland. We wrote each other and he called once while he was there. He stayed with family, one an IRA member. My guy saw some IRA activity. He got shot, a graze to the side of his head, shortly before he returned home, in an IRA raid. My feeling is that he super grooved on that military activity; he went for the excitement, but he sure as heck believed in the cause. His family and several other families with roots in Northern Ireland who live in my area of Iowa are contributors to the IRA effort. The hope and dream of all of them, yeah, that their families and the whole of Northern Ireland’ll be free of the British control.

  Oh, and what happened to the guy I loved, well, the day after he got home from all that danger, he died in a farm accident. I was the only eyewitness to it,” she paused as she shook her head, “unbelievable.”

  She stopped talking and gathered her thoughts as she again looked at him, “I don’t talk much to anyone about this; I’m friends with my guy’s brother. He’s put his brother’s death behind him. I just can’t seem to do that, and I’ve had grief counseling. What do you think, Dr. McGuinness? It just haunts me, the people dying over all this, the danger, in Ireland, even in the train and bus stations in England. The way people’re treating each other there,” she felt the hot tears misting her eyes.

  He watched her for a moment, “The hostilities will continue, but from the folks I know and have talked to, the tension is easing very slightly. There are preliminary talks of stopping the military activities, calming both the IRA and the British army, but that’s going to take time. The same can be said for any kind of peace settlement, between the Irish of the North, and the British government. Time, patience, diplomacy, all those things come into play.”

  “There’s no quick fix.”

  “No, but I have a thought for you. I heard what you just said, no quick fix.”

  Tyann nodded to him.

  “That goes for you, young lady, it’s going to take more time for you to move past your guy’s death. What’s his name?”

  “Brody.”

  “I suspect that Brody floats in and out of your mind, still.”

  “He does; we were sweethearts from childhood on. He showed me land and had a home staked out for us on this land he owned, that he planned to build for us when he returned from Northern Ireland. Sir, I just can’t believe how much that whole Irish situation’s affected me. It just pangs my heart when I hear news, of the latest bombing, of the families torn apart, like they’re a part of who I am now, having lost a loved one who spent time there.”

  She watched him nod to her, “It’s going to take longer for you; he was a part of your life for many years,” he smiled, “and moving on, maybe a young man or two who interest you?”

  “Yes, actually there are two,” she paused for a short time, “Dr. McGuinness, I’m a third year nursing student. And what I’m learning is the preciousness of each day that God gives us. After Brody died, and implanted in my brain are the words, I must save those I can, I must save those I can.”

  He smiled to her, “Now, and once you have the degree you will help those you can, I am certain of it. May I ask how did you learn I was interested in Northern Ireland, since I’m a history professor and teach mostly about the Middle East?”

  She nodded to him, “I’m a work study, have been for several years, in
the Alum Office here at IU. Your name’s come up several times, in conversations I’ve been in and overheard from alums, several former students of yours. Actually I’m kinda amazed at all the info I pick up working in that place,” she gave him a smile.

  “Interesting.”

  “Sir, I’ve taken enough of your time, thank you for your thoughts about Brody.”

  She stood as he stood. She reached across and shook his hand.

  “You’ve helped me, just to talk it out, and hope for the future for the north of Ireland.”

  “For you and all the IU students, that’s one of the reasons I’m here, to help.”

  She exited the office and closed his door in a quiet manner. He left it open just a little during their talk. Tyann walked down the hall, passing classroom after classroom and out of the building. She gripped the handrail and stopped for a moment, glancing back to make sure no one was behind her. She breathed in and out, the 10 breaths she always did when she felt like she couldn’t take another step. It helped. Tyann looked up into the blue October sky and took the rest of the steps down to the sidewalk.

  “God, I hope and pray for better times for all the Irish.”

  

  “Come home with me for Thanksgiving. I want you to meet my parents and brothers.”

  “Oh, gosh, Jacob, I need to find out what’s going on with my family for that holiday. Dad asked that I help out in the shop, so he and mom could get away for a couple of days; somethin’ they’ve not done, that I can ever remember.”

  They sat across from each other at their favorite brew pub. Music and talking young people filled the background in Tyann’s hearing.

  “This is a pleasant change from dorm food, Jacob.”

  “Glad you’re enjoying this; you’re a fiend about the studying. I have such a time tearing you away from your routine. It’s one of the many things I care about you. You have so much initiative.”

  “And you’re so good for me,” she said as she finished the last bite of her hamburger, “more laid back, more patient. You’re calm, knowing that everything will fall into place as it’s supposed to.”

  “Hey, Tyann, it’s God, I put my faith in Him, that His will carries me on.”

  “I just have such a hard time putting my trust in Him some of the time,” she shook her head to him.

  “Hey, always, like on the coin, ‘In God we trust.’”

  “Are you getting excited about your internship?”

  “I am, but I gotta get through my gerontology and public health practicums; they’re intense, which you’re gonna find out about next semester; the rest of my classes, OK.”

  “I’ll check in with my folks; what do your parents think, about bringing a girl home?”

  “They’re excited; you’re my first. And my brothers, they ask about you. For a while they thought nursing was a girly profession, so they ridiculed me. But now, as I talk about the Ride Alongs and the stuff we see in the ER, they got a new appreciation for nursing care, yeah, on a helicopter, no less.”

  “Like I always say, my motto, I must save those I can.”

  Jacob nodded and finished, “I must save those I can.”

  “Gosh, do I say that too much?”

  He took her hand in his, “You can never say that enough, Tyann, it’s why we’ll do what we’re studying to do.”

  “Dessert?”

  “Cheese cake, it’s super delicious.”

  “With strawberries on top?”

  “Yeah, and two spoons.”

  Once they finished the dessert they drank up their decaf coffee.

  “That was so good, thanks Jacob.”

  “Come back with me to my place for a little while.”

  “No Jacob, you’ve asked before, and the answer’s the same. What I have with you is a caring, comfortable and warm relationship. You’ve got your internship, coming up soon, and I’ve three semesters left, uh, two, then the internship. I will do nothing to change or jeopardize what we have together, nothing, not now, not in our futures. Hey, the guy from high school, for me, the one I thought I’d marry; we made a decision to wait for the sexual relationship until after we married. That did not change, even though he went overseas.”

  “You really do want the best for me,” he touched her cheek with the back of his hand.

  She gazed into his eyes, “I really do; what’s ahead, so intense, for you.”

  “Hey, you’ll still visit me, at home, for Thanksgiving?”

  “Gotta check; I’ll get back to you.”

  

  “Whoa, you’re not what we expected.”

  “How’s that?” Tyann asked as she looked up, from one Haroldson guy to the next.

  The four of them stood in the driveway after Tyann got out of her car and put her bag on the ground. The three brothers exchanged glances and broke into laughter.

  “When Jacob told us that you were into trauma, into the air transport stuff, well, we expected.”

  Tyann broke in, “Some hulking big woman who could outdo any guy medical person.”

  They all laughed together.

  “Not a little bitty beautiful blonde, uh, that’s right, ah we’re forgetting our manners, I’m Jeff, and this is John, and this is Joe.”

  They shook hands with Tyann and one grabbed her bag, escorting her into the large farm house. Tyann could see a porch wrap around the entire home. They left her bag near the stairs.

  Julie Haroldson came toward Tyann and shook her hand, “Welcome to the Haroldson home. I see you’ve met J’s younger brothers.”

  “I have, nice welcoming committee, goodness, this must have been interesting for you, raising four young boys.”

  “It was; still lovin’ every second of it, but I had a lot of help; both sets of grandparents live nearby,” she smiled and nodded to Tyann. “I’ll let Jeff take you up to your room. Come down when you’ve freshened up for some coffee.”

  Tyann inhaled the fresh smelling sheets and bedspread as she took several items from her bag and hung them up. She wondered when Jacob would arrive. After she found her way back down and through the large living room, she saw Julie standing near the French doors out into the backyard.

  “Pour yourself some coffee; I made up a pot fresh. I expect Jacob soon,” she turned to Tyann, “he called earlier from his apartment.”

  “I think he’s getting really excited for his internship to start.”

  “He is, wanted to tell you, right now, just the two of us. You are super special to him. He shared with me, soon after he met you, about your loss, about being a compass north to your guy. Tyann, you’ve been that compass north for Jacob. He got sorta lost during the first part of his nursing program. But once he met you, seeing you in ER trauma, then you jumping on the opportunity to get involved in Ride Along, your wanting to be involved in critical care, well, I’m just grateful to you.”

  She came and hugged Tyann. They stepped back from each other.

  “Jacob put up with a lot of not fun teasing, and some pure crap, from his brothers and dad. That’s all changed; nursing is tough stuff.”

  “Yeah, his bros, I’m certainly not what they expected; I told them that,” Tyann laughed, as she remembered the reaction of the Haroldson boys as they greeted Tyann as she arrived.

  “The guys are out in the barn. Their dad’ll be home soon from a meeting in town. You’re welcome to check out our home and the grounds outside. Dinner tonight will be lots of soup and sandwiches. Thanksgiving dinner will be at 1 p.m. Both sets of grandparents are coming for the dinner. We potluck lots of meals. This year I don’t have to do the pies or the turkey.”

  “I’d like to help you with other food if I can.”

  She walked to the kitchen island where Julie stood.

  Julie smiled to her, “That’d be great; Jacob didn’t mention when you had to get back to your home.”

  “I’ll leave early Friday morning; my folks’re taking a weekend away, something they’ve not done, ever, that I’m aware of. Dad wants
me at the shop for Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. Then Sunday they’ll come home and I’ll head back to school.”

  “Your dad relies on you, a lot, according to J.”

  “He does; he was about three years out from taking me on as his partner in the shop, turning over the business to me before long. But, then Brody died. My world changed.”

  “So a nurse you will be.”

  “Yeah, my completely different life,” Tyann smiled to Julie.

  They heard the opening of the front door and a bag drop on the wooden floor.

  “Howdy,” he smiled to them as he walked toward Julie and Tyann.

  “I made it; whew, there was snow, in places.”

  He hugged Tyann and held her close. He moved around the island to hug his mom. He put his arm on his mom’s shoulder. Tyann watched Jacob give her an impish smile, complete with a shine in his eyes. He turned his gaze to Tyann.

  “Yeah, I see you survived meeting my bros. Were they decent to you?”

  “Uh huh, I guess I wasn’t quite what they expected.”

  “Right, you’re small and beautiful.”

  “My boys, they’ve come to appreciate the beauty of a woman, a lot,” Julie nodded and smiled first to her son and then to Tyann.

  Tyann helped Jacob and his mom in the kitchen, preparing for the meal. Jim Haroldson strode in as the family got ready to sit down to dinner.

  “I’m Tyann.”

  She shook his hand and smiled up to him.

  “Jim Haroldson, I see you got through the Haroldson boys and their introductions.”

  Tyann nodded, “Yeah, they say exactly what they mean, for sure.”

  “Hey, they get that from me.”

  She heard giggles coming from both Julie and Jacob.

  The soup and sandwich dinner turned out to be an experience. Each person made their own sandwich from the piles of meats, cheeses, tomatoes, lettuce and different breads. Tyann looked from plate to plate seeing the very large sandwiches they all designed. Once they all sat down together and grace got said Julie poured out her specialty potato soup for each of them.

  “Mom makes this awesome potato soup with polish kielbasa. And she makes a lot because we eat a lot.”