Scott was efficient and he swiftly checked my blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and stuck a plastic thing on my finger to make sure my blood was carrying enough oxygen. Within minutes he was whisking aside the curtain and motioning to a young girl in pink scrubs.
“Melissa, this is Tori. She’s had a bit of a dust up with a hunting knife and will need some help filling out her paperwork. Can you assist and keep an eye on her while I page someone to look at her hand? I was thinking of a specialist to make sure there is no nerve damage.”
“Nerve damage? No, it’s just a cut. A few stitches and a tetanus shot and I should be good to go.” I hate hospitals, even ones disguised as large clinical centers. I had no intention of staying longer than necessary.
Melissa ignored me and took the clipboard that I had laid on the bed. She directed her comment to Scott. “I’ve got it. I’ll get this taken care of and get her ready for her exam.” She smiled at Scott as he turned to leave but it wasn’t an admiring smile like when a young girl has a work crush. It was a professional “I’ve got it” kind of smile.
Melissa pulled the rolling stool in the room closer to the bedside and took a seat. “I suggest you keep that raised up while we do this. It should help lessen the pain. I can’t give you anything for pain until a doctor orders it. I’m sorry about that.”
“S’ok. I figured. Not my first injury but probably my dumbest.” I had once spent close to two weeks in a hospital as a teenager after a skiing accident left me with a fractured leg and arm. I had a couple of surgeries and was kept there for what seemed like forever. I’ve hated hospitals and their restrictions ever since.
“Let’s get this filled out.” She spent about ten minutes asking me questions and filling in answers. I handed over my driver’s license and insurance card, which she took someplace to make copies. When she came back, there was another woman with her wearing dark blue scrubs, a lab coat, and looking very official with her dark hair pulled up into a bun.
“I’m Dr. Greenwood. I understand you had a mishap involving a knife?”
The doctor moved smoothly into the room, while Melissa pulled on gloves and asked permission to take my arm out of the button down flannel shirt I had tossed on but left unbuttoned. I did it at the last minute to cover the blood on my shirt but I didn’t want to take additional time to change. Melissa gently laid my arm on a metal table that she covered with a blue plastic cloth which was lined with absorbent material. I watched as she unwound the bandage rather than cutting it away.
“Why aren’t you using scissors?” The waiting was killing me and I wanted her to get it over with already.
“I don't want to disturb the last layer. The doctor will remove that when she’s ready.”
Dr. Greenwood turned to me from the sink where she had just washed her hands and snapped on a pair of gloves. “Your history looks good, no major issues. Care to fill in the details of today’s injury?”
I described the morning mishap and but watched the doctor while she pulled items from cabinets. “So, I had this great white-tailed buck and I just don’t know what happened. Must have been the way he went down or something because when I was cleaning him, things just weren’t all in the normal places. I wasn’t paying enough attention, and cut where I thought I should but got myself instead.”
Greenwood’s head swiveled toward her. “Things weren’t where they should be? What do you mean?”
Her eyes looked curiously at me but there was something else I couldn’t identify in them. “I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve cleaned plenty of deer before but the lungs and digestive stuff were just not the right sizes I think. Or maybe they shifted when he went down. Who knows? Maybe there was something off and that’s why he didn’t go after the salt lick in the first place.”
Dr. Greenwood moved into position next to my hand and slowly dribbled water from a sterile bottle over the bandage to wet it down, letting the water run into a basin that Melissa held beneath my hand. “Sorry if this is a bit cold. I need to wet the bandage before I remove it to ensure that it doesn’t stick to anything.” She focused on her task then motioned to Melissa to move the basin. “You were saying the deer didn’t go after the salt lick? I’m no hunter but that strikes me as odd. Perhaps you shouldn’t eat the meat just in case it was sick. The meat might be affected.”
I considered that while trying to ignore the pulling of the final layer of bandage material being removed. “I suppose I can get some tested, right? I’d hate to have killed it for nothing. I always thank the animal for its gift of life to keep me fed. To waste it seems like I’m dishonoring his life.”
The doctor removed the final bits of wrapping and with quick and economical motions cleaned it with a fresh bottle of sterile saline over the newly emptied basin held by Melissa. “I suspect that you keep that hunting knife pretty sharp. Clean edges mean less scarring at least.” The doctor reached up and moved a bright light closer. “Looks like it runs pretty deep. Do you have any issues with moving your fingers?”
I dutifully wiggled all my left hand digits, wincing but feeling them function fully. “I’m sure it’s fine. Can I just have my stitches?”
Doctor Greenwood let out a soft bark of laughter. “I’ve never had anyone so impatient to receive stitches.” She then had me turn my head and used something to poke at my fingers and I had to tell her which finger was being prodded. “Looks good. Let’s get some blood work and then we can work on closing you up.”
“Blood work? Is that really needed?” I was starting to wonder if this lady even knew how to sew up my hand. So far it seems like an awful lot of poking and no closing.
A few whispered comments to Melissa and the doctor turned to me and sat on the same stool that Melissa had moved earlier. My hand still lay on the metal table but was covered by a second cloth with plastic backing. I waited but I was starting to feel grumpy. Melissa moved to my good arm, tied the tourniquet, found a vein and slid a needle in quite easily. She attached stuff, pulled blood into four tubes, then linked me up to an IV bag that I hadn’t noticed her set up.
“Relax. You lost some blood volume and I just want to replenish some of it with fluid. It will help settle your system down and make it easier for you to heal. Now, let me go over our options with you.”
I nodded, a bit numb now. Everything was catching up with me and I was feeling pretty tired. “Did you give me something in that bag? I’m getting kind of tired all of a sudden.”
“No, just normal saline. I didn’t want to add medication until we choose a path for your hand. Lie back and let’s talk.” She paused, pulled her buzzing phone from her hip holster, glanced at it and returned it to its place. “Sorry, hazards of the job. I get tracked down a lot. It can wait.”
“Do you need to call someone or something? I can wait. I’ve waited this long.”
“No, this is important. We can just patch you back together but the depth of the injury concerns me. You sliced close to a tendon and there could be some damage that I can’t see without examining it with more detail. I’m also concerned about missing capillary damage or nerve damage without going in surgically to do this repair.”
“Wait. You want to operate? C’mon Doc, it’s just a basic slice. Can’t ya just glue it or sew it and be done?” I was starting to feel frustrated but also a small trickle of fear went through me.
“I could and if that is the route you choose, we will do our best. However, I’m worried because I can’t properly visualize the full extent of the damage this way. I’m not trying to brag, but I assumed someone had discussed surgery with you before I came down. I’m the best hand surgeon in the area.”
“Where would this be done? This isn’t even a hospital. I have things to do. What kind of recovery time are we talking about? I’m a writer, I need to be able to type with both hands.”
“Slow down, Ms. Monroe. First, we have operating suites on site. This is a very up to date center and I’ve done microsurgery here dozens of times. Second, healing time depends on
many different factors, not the least of which is how much damage we find when I get inside. Assuming no significant nerve damage and the signs are looking good for that, I see no reason why you won’t be back at your computer writing away with very little time spent with rehab. Right now, I just want to get the lab work back, get your permission, and I will clear my schedule to get this done this afternoon. It could take a while, as hands are tricky and small so we have to take our time. Is there someone you would like us to call for you? Or someone you wish to call yourself?”
I mulled that over for a moment. I thought I should call my agent but then changed my mind.
“I would like to call my folks. They’re too far away to come up but it would be better if I could let them know. I’d like to talk to them before I decide. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is. I’d be happy to assist in explaining things to them for you with your permission. Do you have a phone with you?”
I awkwardly reached my good hand into my left front pocket to grab my phone. I was having trouble and Dr. Greenwood stepped close to help me. That’s when I noticed it. She didn’t smell like hospital. She smelled good, like a green forest on a spring day. She moved back and handed me my phone.
“Thanks. Let’s see if anyone’s at home.” I hit my favorites list in my phone app and picked out my parents' house phone. I swore they were going to have a landline until hell froze over; I couldn’t convince them that their cells were the only phones they needed. I waited, heard the call ring through and then my mother’s voice came on the line.
“Mom, it’s me. Is Dad around too?”
“He’s right here, Tori. Did you want to speak to him?”
“Actually, can he get on the extension? I need to talk to you both.” I heard her cover the handset and then I heard him pick up the extension.
“What’s up, Peanut? Your mom says you want to talk to us both? Did you finally meet the woman of your dreams?” I felt a familiar sense of safety. He’d called me Peanut since he first learned my mom was pregnant with me. He said that the doctor told him that I was about the size of the infamous nut at the time. It’s been my nickname ever since. He asked me about the woman of my dreams every time I called home too.
“Not exactly. I did meet a hand surgeon.” I heard their gasps and half-started questions. “Hang on, hang on. I’m fine, really. I was hunting earlier and I took down a buck and while I was dressing it I had a slip with my knife.”
“Peanut, are you okay? Do you need us to come up there?” Dad was always the first to start packing and get in the car if he believed I was in danger.
“I’m okay, Dad. It’s just, the doc, well, she wants to operate a little to close things up neater. She’s here, can she explain it all?” They quickly agreed and Dr. Greenwood took the cell from me and I lay back down on the emergency room bed.
Considering it wasn’t the most comfortable of beds, I was surprised to find that I dozed off while the doctor talked to my parents. I woke to her touching my arm.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Ms. Monroe. Your parents would like to speak with you again. I’ll just step outside. Ring if you need anything.” She placed the call bell on the bed with me and left, swishing the curtain back into place.
“Hey guys, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you but when she started talking surgery—”
“You did the right thing, of course we would want to know. The doctor, she’s good?” I presume mothers always worry about their kids.
“Yeah, Mom. I think she’s really good. So, should I do it?” I was scared to make the choice myself. Here I was, thirty years of age just last month and still checking with mommy and daddy about things.
“Peanut, I think it’s safer to let her do her thing. Let her make certain it’s all cleaned out and closed right. If you’re worried about your writing, you could always get that software that lets you talk to the darned machine.”
Mom chimed in. “I agree with your father. Let them take care of you. She said you would stay there for a couple of days after the surgery to make sure you could take care of yourself. But you can always have us come up too. We can bring you home and you could stay here for a while, or we could stay with you.”
I knew my mother meant well, but my place wasn’t truly set up for an extended visit of two additional people. “I’ll let you guys know, okay? If I agree to do what the doc says, you agree to stay home for now, deal? I don’t want to worry about you two driving up here.”
“Tori, you do realize that your mother isn’t even fifty yet and I’m just fifty-three? We aren’t doddering old people.”
“I know, I know. I just would feel better if you guys stayed home. I can always come down while I heal if I need to but for now, I’m just fine. I’ll let them operate. I better go so I can let them know.”
We said our goodbyes and I rang the call bell after setting the phone down. Melissa responded rapidly.
“What can I do for you, Ms. Monroe?”
“Can you let the doctor know that I’ve decided to go ahead with the surgery she suggested?”
“Oh, of course.”
“What?”
“Nothing, I just assumed you had already decided. I was gathering the papers for you to sign when you rang. She’s already gone up to the surgical floor to prep.”
“She’s confident, I’ll give her that. Let’s do this.”
I AWOKE FROM anesthesia with a mouth full of cotton and a sore throat. My left hand was swathed in white bandages and I felt a need to pee in the worst way. Thankfully, an older woman came over and noticed my open eyes. She pulled the oxygen mask from my face and spoke.
“Good to see those big brown eyes. Come now, have a few sips of this water to wet your whistle. I’m Annie, your recovery room nurse.”
Annie held a paper cup with a straw in it toward me. I sipped from the bent straw and relished the cool water as it brought my Sahara dry mouth back to life.
“Did it go okay? Is my hand going be normal?”
“The doctor will be by once you’re moved to your room. She’ll fill you in. For now, rest and relax and know that you came through everything like a trooper.”
“Um, can I use a restroom?”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll just wheel your bed closer to the bathroom then help you up. Let’s see how steady you are before you get up on your own.” She reached around me until I could stand on my own. Annie walked me to the door and waited outside until I needed her.
Several minutes later, I was much relieved. Annie helped me wash my good hand before she guided me back to my bed. As she rolled me back into my parking space I noticed a few other beds were occupied as well but the lights were dimmed so low that it was hard to make out their inhabitants.
I was still sleepy and dozed off. The next time I awoke, my whole world would start slowly shifting on its axis.
Chapter Two
A SOFT RAIN was falling and the winds smelled of the awakenings of springtime. I followed the others to the outskirts of the forest and entered the glade with some hesitation. I was nervous and checked around me, sure that danger lurked from someplace close by. I couldn’t resist the lure of the tender green shoots in front of me. Apprehensive or not, I felt myself drawn to them. Then a shot was fired and I jerked awake in terror.
I sat up in bed, fast enough that I felt the tug of my IV. I both heard and felt my heart racing as the monitor next to my bedside exploded in sound. Steps hurried to the doorway and a young woman in scrubs came in and silenced the alarms.
“Ms. Monroe, Tori, calm down, you’re in the hospital and you’re safe. That’s it, slow your breathing down. Here’s some water, take a few sips of that and it will help slow everything down.”
I did as I was told and I could feel my heartbeat go from thundering in my ears to barely discernable. Talk about fight or flight response, but it's the only thing I had to grasp onto to make sense of the way I woke up.
“There you go. That’s much better. While
I’m here, I’m going to check your dressing and vitals and then I’ll let the doctor know that you’re awake. By the way, I’m Beth, your night nurse.”
All I could do was nod my thanks and hope that whatever crazy drugs were in my system worked their way out soon. A weird trip was the only way to explain that vivid dream.
By now I was fully awake and took another sip of the water that Beth had left on my bedside stand. I tried to take in my surroundings while Beth moved about. I was starting to suspect she was keeping an eye on me more than doing anything meaningful in the room.
“Beth, why am I in a private room? I’m not sure my insurance will approve that kind of expense.”
“Oh, that’s easy. Almost all of our rooms are private rooms. The birthing center is more like a suite to allow for families to take part in the experience but we find that patients do better with some privacy. There are exceptions but we at least start out this way.”
“I see. Well, as long as the insurance company doesn’t mind, I sure don’t. I tend to be a bit of a recluse anyway.” Yet here I was being pretty chatty, I realized. “Um, so the doctor? I assume she went home by now. I gather I’ll see her in the morning?”
“Actually, Dr. Greenwood stayed the night in her office. I was to call there once you were awake enough to talk to her. I guess I’ll go do that now. Anything else I can do for you before I go?”
I shook my head and thanked her before lying back against the slightly raised head of the bed. I continued to take small sips from my water cup until it was finished. Just as I set the empty cup down, Dr. Greenwood knocked on my open door.
“Ah, good to see you awake again, Ms. Monroe. I’m sorry, may I call you Tori?”
“Of course, you’ve been inside my hand, might has well let you call my by my first name.” I attempted humor but suspect that it came off as something else. “Never mind, I’m lousy at jokes. Comes from too much time alone. Please, call me Tori. Can I ask how everything turned out?”
Stranger Than Fiction Page 2