Read Online Loving A Firefighter (Loving Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Leigh Carlton
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surgery, honey, He’s still alive. The doctor says he has a chance.”
“What about Nathan? Why’d he shoot us?”
“Nobody knows, honey. He’s dead. He shot himself. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Mama, am I going to die?”
“No honey, you’re going to be fine. They removed part of your spleen and sutured your liver. You’re going to be all right. They’ll probably keep you here about five days.”
“Where are we?”
“You’re at Parkland, honey. Where I can keep an eye on you. Chip’s here too. I’ll watch out for both of you.”
“Mama, I really do like Chip. He’s so nice.”
“Well, you can tell him in a few days. He’s in CICU now.”
“That’s nice.” The eyes closed and she was sleeping again.
Carrie was kept on the surgical floor for two more days and then moved to a regular room. The nurses had her up and walking with a sash around her waist and held by a nurse , the day after the surgery. She would begin therapy when she moved to a regular floor.
Cheryl brought some clothes to the hospital and planned to sleep on a cot in the nurse’s lounge until Carrie was moved. Each visit began the same way. “Mama, how’s Chip?”
The answer was the same. “He’s still fighting, baby. He’s not giving up. His heart stopped two times during the surgery. He almost didn’t make it.”
“Mama, he saved my life. He told me to run and then he shoved me out of the way and moved toward Nathan. That’s when he got shot. He kept moving and then was shot again. He was protecting me.”
“He was shot three times honey. Once in the liver and once in the heart and one nicked his spine.”
“He was shot in the heart?”
“Yes, the bullet is still in there. It was too risky to take it out.”
“Mama, when can I see him?”
“Not until he’s moved from CICU. I’ll let you know.”
“Poor Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Reynolds. They’re such nice people. Chip took me to meet them. She told me I was the first girl that he brought home in a long time.”
Carrie ’s mother visited her several times during her shift and was there when she was off shift. According to the doctors and her chart, she was doing well. She had been moved to a regular room on another floor the next day and would start therapy the next morning. Barring any complications, she would be discharged in four days.
Cheryl checked and found his parents in the waiting area and went in to talk with them. She knew his condition but she asked them about him anyway. “The doctor says there are some slight signs of improvement, which is why they moved him. He says odds are looking better that he will survive.”
“How is Carrie?”
“The timeline they’ve given me is that I can take her home in four days. She starts therapy tomorrow morning but she has been up and walking with assistance.”
“You must be so relieved.”
“Oh I am. She’s all I have here. Her brother has moved away so it’s just Carrie and me. I don’t know that I could take it if I lost her.”
“I know what you mean. Chip has an older brother and a younger sister and he calls himself the forgotten middle child. He’s joking of course because he knows we care. Our daughter made us grandparents a couple of weeks ago and he was proud of being an uncle. He’s a special , caring young man.”
“That’s what Carrie was telling me after she asked about him when she first woke up after the surgery. That’s also why I’m up here right now. She asked me to check on Chip. She thinks he’s special too. She told me last night how much she liked him. Don’t let her know I told you that. It would add to the list of the times I’ve embarrassed her. I need to get back to her with the word.”
“Thank you, Cheryl. We appreciate it.”
“Would you mind if I brought Carrie up in a wheel chair to see you and maybe him?”
“Of course not. By
“What about Nathan? Why’d he shoot us?”
“Nobody knows, honey. He’s dead. He shot himself. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Mama, am I going to die?”
“No honey, you’re going to be fine. They removed part of your spleen and sutured your liver. You’re going to be all right. They’ll probably keep you here about five days.”
“Where are we?”
“You’re at Parkland, honey. Where I can keep an eye on you. Chip’s here too. I’ll watch out for both of you.”
“Mama, I really do like Chip. He’s so nice.”
“Well, you can tell him in a few days. He’s in CICU now.”
“That’s nice.” The eyes closed and she was sleeping again.
Carrie was kept on the surgical floor for two more days and then moved to a regular room. The nurses had her up and walking with a sash around her waist and held by a nurse , the day after the surgery. She would begin therapy when she moved to a regular floor.
Cheryl brought some clothes to the hospital and planned to sleep on a cot in the nurse’s lounge until Carrie was moved. Each visit began the same way. “Mama, how’s Chip?”
The answer was the same. “He’s still fighting, baby. He’s not giving up. His heart stopped two times during the surgery. He almost didn’t make it.”
“Mama, he saved my life. He told me to run and then he shoved me out of the way and moved toward Nathan. That’s when he got shot. He kept moving and then was shot again. He was protecting me.”
“He was shot three times honey. Once in the liver and once in the heart and one nicked his spine.”
“He was shot in the heart?”
“Yes, the bullet is still in there. It was too risky to take it out.”
“Mama, when can I see him?”
“Not until he’s moved from CICU. I’ll let you know.”
“Poor Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Reynolds. They’re such nice people. Chip took me to meet them. She told me I was the first girl that he brought home in a long time.”
Carrie ’s mother visited her several times during her shift and was there when she was off shift. According to the doctors and her chart, she was doing well. She had been moved to a regular room on another floor the next day and would start therapy the next morning. Barring any complications, she would be discharged in four days.
Cheryl checked and found his parents in the waiting area and went in to talk with them. She knew his condition but she asked them about him anyway. “The doctor says there are some slight signs of improvement, which is why they moved him. He says odds are looking better that he will survive.”
“How is Carrie?”
“The timeline they’ve given me is that I can take her home in four days. She starts therapy tomorrow morning but she has been up and walking with assistance.”
“You must be so relieved.”
“Oh I am. She’s all I have here. Her brother has moved away so it’s just Carrie and me. I don’t know that I could take it if I lost her.”
“I know what you mean. Chip has an older brother and a younger sister and he calls himself the forgotten middle child. He’s joking of course because he knows we care. Our daughter made us grandparents a couple of weeks ago and he was proud of being an uncle. He’s a special , caring young man.”
“That’s what Carrie was telling me after she asked about him when she first woke up after the surgery. That’s also why I’m up here right now. She asked me to check on Chip. She thinks he’s special too. She told me last night how much she liked him. Don’t let her know I told you that. It would add to the list of the times I’ve embarrassed her. I need to get back to her with the word.”
“Thank you, Cheryl. We appreciate it.”
“Would you mind if I brought Carrie up in a wheel chair to see you and maybe him?”
“Of course not. By
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