organs, scarred emotions, they could all heal. Brain damage was permanent. Irreversible.
“You never know with a brain injury, Ms. Andrews. But it wasn’t too severe and the swelling started going down quickly. The MRI, CAT scan and SPECT scan all looked fine. It looks like the only issues he may have to deal with would be psychological.”
“What else?” Libby asked with a stronger voice.
“Corporal Andrews…”
“Please, call him Cole,” Libby whispered, as she stroked his hand.
“Cole’s right femur was broken and had punctured through his thigh. The bone nicked the femoral vein, which again, was lucky.”
“How so?”
“Had the bone nicked the artery, Cole would’ve lost his leg and more than likely, his life. The artery wouldn’t have been able to deliver the oxygenated blood to the lower leg and the tissues would have started to die very quickly. But it was the vein that was nicked so the lower leg still received oxygen before the blood was lost. It seems that Cole was in and out of consciousness while he was trapped and was able to use his belt to create a tourniquet above the wound and use a bootlace with part of his shirt to apply continuous pressure to the wound. It would’ve been extremely painful to put pressure on the leg but he managed to stay conscious long enough to control the bleeding.” She pointed towards his leg, which was thickly bandaged.
“Will he lose his leg?” Libby almost couldn’t ask but she wanted to know everything.
“He had surgery yesterday to put a rod inside the bone. Since it was an open fracture everything inside the leg has been exposed to the elements, the chance of severe infection is very great. He’s on some very high-powered antibiotics but we’re keeping a close eye on it. There’s a slight chance, especially if he develops a bone infection, but the doctor shouldn’t have to amputate.” Libby let out the breath she’d been holding and squeezed Cole’s hand. She took another deep breath.
“What else?”
“He has 3 broken ribs; one of them punctured his spleen…” Libby gasped. “They didn’t have to remove it though.” The nurse explained. “The rib basically kept the bleeding to a minimum. When he got here, they removed the rib and the bleeding wasn’t too serious. It basically healed on its own.”
“What are these other bandages?” Libby pointed at various parts of Cole’s body. He seemed to be hurt everywhere, except for the hand she was stroking.
“Cole had some pretty severe gashes and burns,” she explained. “A few of the ones on his arm and the back of his neck will require skin grafts. A broken nose and some shrapnel embedded in the cheek muscle. A plastic surgeon will remove it later.” She paused, seeing the tears sliding down Libby’s face.
“His wounds are pretty serious…mainly the brain injury and leg but he isn’t nearly as bad as we’ve seen here.” She seemed to shudder involuntarily as she explained. “The seizures are a bit complicated though. The doctor thought with the brain-swelling going down that they would taper off but they seem to be happening more frequently. In fact, this is the longest time he’s gone between them today, since you got here.” She smiled. “You know, it’s been my experience that there’s some things medicine can’t fix.” Libby looked away from Cole for a moment. The nurse was smiling at her. “I think he needs you.”
“What can I do?” Libby’s voice was hoarse with tears as she looked back at Cole.
“Just love him for now.” The nurse chuckled, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. “Talk to him and love on him. The hardest parts will come when he starts therapy.” She chuckled a little to herself but then stopped when she realized that Libby wasn’t catching onto the joke. “Sorry,” she mumbled with a guilty smile.
“It’s alright.” Libby smiled back. “I think you’re entitled to a little humor with all the things you probably see
“You never know with a brain injury, Ms. Andrews. But it wasn’t too severe and the swelling started going down quickly. The MRI, CAT scan and SPECT scan all looked fine. It looks like the only issues he may have to deal with would be psychological.”
“What else?” Libby asked with a stronger voice.
“Corporal Andrews…”
“Please, call him Cole,” Libby whispered, as she stroked his hand.
“Cole’s right femur was broken and had punctured through his thigh. The bone nicked the femoral vein, which again, was lucky.”
“How so?”
“Had the bone nicked the artery, Cole would’ve lost his leg and more than likely, his life. The artery wouldn’t have been able to deliver the oxygenated blood to the lower leg and the tissues would have started to die very quickly. But it was the vein that was nicked so the lower leg still received oxygen before the blood was lost. It seems that Cole was in and out of consciousness while he was trapped and was able to use his belt to create a tourniquet above the wound and use a bootlace with part of his shirt to apply continuous pressure to the wound. It would’ve been extremely painful to put pressure on the leg but he managed to stay conscious long enough to control the bleeding.” She pointed towards his leg, which was thickly bandaged.
“Will he lose his leg?” Libby almost couldn’t ask but she wanted to know everything.
“He had surgery yesterday to put a rod inside the bone. Since it was an open fracture everything inside the leg has been exposed to the elements, the chance of severe infection is very great. He’s on some very high-powered antibiotics but we’re keeping a close eye on it. There’s a slight chance, especially if he develops a bone infection, but the doctor shouldn’t have to amputate.” Libby let out the breath she’d been holding and squeezed Cole’s hand. She took another deep breath.
“What else?”
“He has 3 broken ribs; one of them punctured his spleen…” Libby gasped. “They didn’t have to remove it though.” The nurse explained. “The rib basically kept the bleeding to a minimum. When he got here, they removed the rib and the bleeding wasn’t too serious. It basically healed on its own.”
“What are these other bandages?” Libby pointed at various parts of Cole’s body. He seemed to be hurt everywhere, except for the hand she was stroking.
“Cole had some pretty severe gashes and burns,” she explained. “A few of the ones on his arm and the back of his neck will require skin grafts. A broken nose and some shrapnel embedded in the cheek muscle. A plastic surgeon will remove it later.” She paused, seeing the tears sliding down Libby’s face.
“His wounds are pretty serious…mainly the brain injury and leg but he isn’t nearly as bad as we’ve seen here.” She seemed to shudder involuntarily as she explained. “The seizures are a bit complicated though. The doctor thought with the brain-swelling going down that they would taper off but they seem to be happening more frequently. In fact, this is the longest time he’s gone between them today, since you got here.” She smiled. “You know, it’s been my experience that there’s some things medicine can’t fix.” Libby looked away from Cole for a moment. The nurse was smiling at her. “I think he needs you.”
“What can I do?” Libby’s voice was hoarse with tears as she looked back at Cole.
“Just love him for now.” The nurse chuckled, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. “Talk to him and love on him. The hardest parts will come when he starts therapy.” She chuckled a little to herself but then stopped when she realized that Libby wasn’t catching onto the joke. “Sorry,” she mumbled with a guilty smile.
“It’s alright.” Libby smiled back. “I think you’re entitled to a little humor with all the things you probably see
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