by David Hearne
“This is not the first time in history a Presidential hopeful has sought a peaceful resolution with a foreign adversary. Former President Reagan is said to have worked out an agreement with Iran to free the 52 American Embassy hostages, if and when he was elected over the incumbent Carter. The day of President Reagan’s inauguration, Iran agreed to accept $8 billion in frozen assets and a promise by the United States to lift trade sanctions in exchange for the release of the 52 Americans. They were released a few hours after Reagan took office. Well, my wife hoped to accomplish something similar. She felt that if she was elected as President, her presence on the international scene would defuse some of the animosity between our two countries. She was willing to offer Saddam Hussein certain minor concessions and promises, if he would agree to disarmament, immediately after my wife’s inauguration. Many of you will criticize my wife for doing this, but her intentions were honorable. She desired to save American lives and to resolve this bitter conflict between two great nations. She was on her way to Saddam Hussein’s Presidential palace accompanied by his son, Qusay Hussein, and bodyguards when a bomb exploded in the vicinity of her limousine. By the grace of god, my wife had just been removed from the vehicle, because of an automobile accident that happened seconds before the bomb detonated. At the present, this is all I know about my wife’s situation. As more information is received, it will be reported. I hope all of you will pray for her tonight and wish her a speedy recovery.”
“Now if you have any questions, I will attempt to answer them.”
“Sir, we have been told that the Senator is actually in a coma. Is that true?”
“Yes, she is in a coma, but we anticipate her to recover from that very soon.”
A reporter from CNN immediately got Ira’s attention and asked, “Will you be visiting your wife in Baghdad soon?”
“No I will not. I think under the circumstance that I should wait for my wife to recover and be returned to us. Some of her aides will be joining her there. We have a daughter who needs to have one of us here to comfort her during this crisis.”
Ira’s eyes started to get blurry from the tears welling up. He stopped for a second and dried his eyes and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I think I will have to end this briefing now. I want to thank you for your attention and your concern. Thank you all and have a good day.”
Ira was led away from the podium among the roar of the reporters clamoring for more, and the well wishers yelling, “God Bless Senator Laforge.”
The rest of the morning self-proclaimed experts in car accidents, Iraqi culture, Saddam Hussein’s life and even Senator Laforge’s life monopolized the talk shows.
On CNN, a brain specialist was asked about future problems that Senator Laforge might experience from her head injury. His response created a new concern for the Senator’s office and Ira to challenge. The Doctor implied that a common effect of brain injury is behavior problems. The most common of which involves a diminished ability to interact appropriately with other people. This was not the type of prognosis that would enhance the Senator’s bid for the presidency. The Doctor went on to predict that other less frequent problems would probably include aggression, property destruction, verbal abusiveness and tantrums. Now for many Presidents the majority of the last four symptoms are common natural traits of their personality, so the Senator’s aides joked that Kat’s head injury really made her that much more Presidential. If anyone continued to listen to the Doctor’s summation of the problems, they would have heard that if these injuries were addressed immediately after the damage, the symptoms could be very much diminished or eliminated. And even more important he concluded, “Not all head-injured people develop these problems.”
The Senator’s accident became the major news story on TV and in newspapers. Many political factions were praising Senator Laforge as the most peace seeking Senator. Peace rallies in the US had individuals marching around with signs that pictured Kat Laforge and Saddam Hussein cheek-to-cheek and read “Peace comes from understanding your neighbor.”
Saddam capitalized on this event and used the publicity to promote and enhance his image as a benevolent leader. Qusay Hussein made it a true photo opportunity. The Iraqi Information Minister included pictures of Qusay standing or sitting near the comatose Senator, with virtually every news release of the Senator’s condition.
To counter the constant U.S. government demand to release the Senator to their care, Saddam Hussein argued convincingly that the Senator was a guest in his country and her welfare was his responsibility. Even more important was that Kat’s condition was too grave to allow moving her to another location.
Saddam campaigned to provide the most advanced medical attention available. He enlisted a renowned Chinese doctor who was famed for pioneering and successfully using skin regeneration technology by stem cell culturing in the treatment of deep burn victims. Other specialist involved in the creation of man-made tissues or organs, known as neo-organs were also invited to Baghdad to assist in the Senator’s recovery. The physicians needed cell regeneration methods to restore cells that had suddenly died due to the shock to the system, or other complications from her accident. The US government also sent doctors to help with the Senator’s care. Saddam’s biggest concern was the real possibility that the Senator might die in Iraq, and he would be held accountable for her death by denying her proper care. However, if she survived, it would create major positive publicity for him, and his regime.
While Senator Laforge’s coma continued, numerous celebrities capitalized on the public’s curiosity and Iraqi’s desire to keep the limelight on the situation. Her bed became a magnet to many of the media whores. The TV constantly showed footage of individuals standing by her bed like a Reverend who claimed he would get the Senator home, and a foul looking Michigan movie producer who vented his hatred for the evil of America while wishing the Senator a speedy recovery. Some luminaries were actually there to put pressure on the Iraqi government to send the Senator home. But, the majority of them came simply for the publicity it provided them. Throughout the world, however, people did pray and support the Senator’s unfinished peace work that she had come thousands of miles to accomplish.
The Iraqi Information Ministry relished the cast of characters that entered into the media frenzy. He ordered, with Saddam’s blessings total celebrity treatment for any visiting American icon that was known for their anti US government views. The Minister also made sure that every visit was announced to the media, so their views would be broadcast worldwide.
President Hussein immensely enjoyed the insults and anti government comments provided by the American visitors. Not only did they help his cause in the Arab world, but since they were American celebrities, their fans would also listen to them. He and his Iraqi Informational Minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, joked often about how these naïve Americans were the most effective and inexpensive PR people for the Baath Party. And best of all, America was completely impotent with its own stupid laws to stop its vocal radical fringe groups from assisting al-Sahhaf propaganda needs.
The Senator had become such hot propaganda property that great care was placed on her appearance. Nurses changed her bandages prior to each visitor and everything in her room remained perfectly arranged. The room had large windows to provide natural lighting for cameramen filming the visits. The nurses followed a checklist of medical and appearance requirements prior to the visits. Two attractive nurses dressed in immaculate uniforms were assigned to take care of her and one was present in the room at all times to observe her and provide answers to any questions about the Senator’s health. Being monitored by two nurses was part show and part Saddam Hussein’s genuine concern for the Senator’s well being. Hessa al-Nasere, was appointed head nurse and was given the responsibility to represent Iraq as a peace loving country to all news people that she encountered. She was fluent in English, attractive and came from a much respected Baath Party family.
On the third week of the Senator’s coma, as th
e normal checks were being performed, a nurse viewing the Senator’s (ICP) Intracranial Pressure Monitor suddenly noticed she had eye movement. She turned to call for another nurse and when she turned back, Kat’s eyes were wide open and appeared to be following her movement. She moved her hand back and forth in front of Kat’s eyes causing them to blink, but then Kat closed them once again. This was the first real sign of Kat’s recovery. As the two nurses checked her nasogastric tube and her caloric supplement, they noticed Kat’s head twitch to the left. Their eyes lit up knowing that these were good signs of recovery. They rang for a doctor while continuing to adjust the IV sugar/saline solution that had helped Kat’s dehydration problem. An American doctor named Benoit, was the first to step into the room and seemed shocked that the Senator was showing these signs of recovery. Dr. al-Janabi arrived next and seemed immensely happy when he learned what the nurses had seen. The doctor turned up the volume of the American music playing in the room. This was a part of their Coma Stimulation program for the Senator. They felt that the music would make her feel more at home and stimulate more of her senses to prompt her out of the coma. The doctors stood there for about five minutes waiting for more signs, but finally gave up and went back to their previous work.
President Hussein made the Senator’s recovery a very personal thing and spoke of her as his friend and a friend of the Iraqi people. He awarded medals to the Fedayeen, who helped save the Senator, and proclaimed their families as heroes of Iraq. As part of a good will campaign, friends of the Senator were openly invited to Iraq. I was tempted to go, but decided to decline. Actually, no one accepted, but the gesture was reported on all news outlets. The news reported the reason that all declined was pressure from Washington. In war protest in some left wing bastions, the Senator’s image became a part of the symbols of peace displayed on banners and signs.
Another few days went by without any visible sign of recovery. But the doctors patiently, and confidently continued their treatments using every means available to maintain her comfort and to assist her recovery. The Senator’s concussion remained serious enough that they had to relieve some of the pressure on the brain by draining some of the fluid. The INTRAPARENCHIMAL WAY (CAMIRO) was the Intracranial Pressure Monitor method used to maintain the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. That morning they relieved the pressure again, and the Senator actually responded by moving and speaking the slurred words that sounded like, “Ira, Ira.” Her eyes blinked open and she attempted to move her right arm. Her left arm felt heavy from a cast. The doctors spoke to her and asked Kat if she heard them. She moved her head and looked at them, but did not respond. She did yawn, stretch and then again closed her eyes.
Once again, Senator Laforge slipped deep into a terrifying night of sleep. In the twilight of her dream, a large glass panel materialized in front of her. As it took shape, it seemed like a large window with her image reflected off of it. Her body began to shake with fear. The feeling of desperation surged through her mind as she recognized this vision. Her eyelids fluttered trying to pull herself out of the dream, but the darkness held its vice-like grip on her consciousness. Her buried fears seemed to float from deep within her mind to the center of her dream, filling her with terror. And then her own face emerged trance like from behind her reflection in the glass. It wasn’t another reflection, but her own face gazing at her and following her every move. Silently, she screamed, but not a sound came from her mouth. And there she remained, frozen in fear between wakefulness and the replaying of this nightmare. She felt she should recognize the scene before her, but her thoughts were scattered and chaotic. Her likeness seemed to spiral downward into a dense, pitch blackness that made her heart freeze in mortal terror. She saw her reflection turn red, and she felt that she was dying, but no one would heed her yells or pleads for help, not even the woman wearing her face who sat outside the glass watching her every move. She felt like she was being consumed from within and shook uncontrollably. The glass panel began to dissolve along with the images of herself and then Kat’s forehead broke out in sweat. She jerked violently about in her bed and then awoke suddenly with her eyes wide open, trembling from the nightmare. As she lay in her bed and gazed around the room the terror slowly ebbed away from her consciousness. She could see images around her that looked like people, but they were hazy, and she could not form the words to ask for help. She closed her eyes and slowly sank back into her sleep.
One rule the Information Ministry had set for the nurses was to insure that none of the actions or presence of a visitor agitated the Senator in any visible way. The agitation occurs as a result of the frustration and inability of a semi-aware comatose patient to communicate or express themselves. At the bedside of the Senator, an antiwar activist escorted by some Iraqi children, were filming a commercial of his heartfelt feelings of the horror that the US was about to unleash on Iraq. The Senator started to rhythmically scream and thrash about and then suddenly opened her eyes and looked straight at this person beside her bed. The nurses looked at the monitor and noticed that Kat was showing very good signs of awareness. The Senator still staring at the group by her bed, waved her right hand at the entourage to leave and labored hard at pronouncing, “go” to them. Immediately, the nurses ushered the entourage out and called for the doctors.
The Senator’s eyes peeking out from her bandaged head followed every move of her nurses. Twenty-seven days had slowly ticked by and finally she seemed to be coming out of the coma. In a broken and almost incomprehensible voice she asked for her husband “Ira.”
As Kat’s eyes focused on her room, she noticed the crowd of unknown faces staring at her from the backdrop of flowers and cards surrounding her bed. She heard the soft voice of a doctor greeting her with a “Hello Senator.”
She glanced at the Doctor speaking to her, but did not recognize him. “Who are you?” She tried to ask, but only a raspy whisper came out.
The doctor introduced himself “I’m Doctor Benoit from Bethesda Naval Hospital. The President requested that I be here to assist in your treatments. The President sends you his warmest regards and hopes that you have a very speedy recovery.”
Senator Laforge felt a new wave of panic as she tried to put together her situation. She knew she was in Iraq, and she knew she had been in an accident. “What day is it?” She rasped.
Doctor Benoit told her it was Monday Dec 2nd. “You have been with us a few weeks now, but all is going well.”
Kat could not believe she had been unconscious for that long. She wanted to talk to Ira because she felt he could help her understand what was going on. She felt afraid. As Senator Laforge’s consciousness slowly returned, she started feeling even more confused. The President would be very disturbed with her mission to Iraq to see Saddam Hussein. Why was an American doctor here in Iraq? Was the doctor here really to help or was he here to perhaps create an international crisis?
An Iraq Doctor introduced himself and told Senator Laforge how thrilled he and his staff were to see her conscious. “You had us very concerned for a couple of weeks. But you are a fighter Senator and our President Hussein and all of us are so happy to see that you are recovering. As soon as you feel up to it, President Hussein still wants to meet with you. But now you should rest.” A glimpse of a smile flashed across the doctor’s bearded face as he firmly grasped Kat’s good hand. He rubbed her hand, said something in Arabic, and then he and his staff left the room. The Senator was alone again with only the two attractive nurses hovering over her and smiling.
She tried to stay conscious, but quickly felt herself falling back into darkness again. Her mind replaced reality with a new vision of herself sitting in a room with a man directly in front of her, who looked much likeSaddam Hussein. They would talk and laugh for a while, but then the discussions would turn serious. This man would lean over towards her and mumble incomprehensible words. And then fear raced through her as the man stood up and turned away from her while talking loudly to unseen men
. Silence replaced his voice. There was total silence now and then this man turned back around toward Senator Laforge. As she gazed at this man in front of her, the unseen figures moved into view surrounding him. They were shadowy figures, dressed in military uniforms, and they seemed to move closer to her. A dull roar unheard by her ears reverberated through her mind replacing the previous silence. Suddenly, the walls of the room became crimson red. They appeared to turn into liquid and then collapse like walls of red water. The roaring red liquid swirled around her, and then she felt a terrific heat. Suddenly, fire erupted from everywhere inside the room. A hand reached out to pull her back from the fire, and she grabbed it tightly. Her frightened eyes opened, and she was greeted by her two guardian Angel nurses hovering above her. One was holding her right hand trying to soothe her. She gazed at them trying to form a “thank you.” She was not sure if they understood her words, but she knew she was communicating in some way because they smiled warmly at her.
Now she was awake and her mind raced with questions like; why was Ira missing from her bedside? Why are her long time friend and best Aide Paul not here? She focused on a new face appearing above her and tried to remember the man’s name. It was Doctor Benoit. “Good morning Senator, I hope you are feeling better this morning, so we can chat for a few minutes about your progress and how we can get you better.”
The Senator nodded her head and attempted to utter a simple “Okay”
Dr. Benoit continued, “You have been in a coma for about 27 days. We are grateful that you have pulled through. You had us scared at first. Initially, it wasn’t clear whether you would even survive. You have to expect that some of your memories might sometime be confusing. Senator, brain damage is a thief, and you will probably be unable to remember parts of the last month. Actually, you are probably suffering from retrograde amnesia, and now that you have regained consciousness, we are moving forward on the road to recovery.”