Read Online The Rebel and the Baby Doctor by Joanna Neil - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joanna Neil
Ads: Link
exaggerated glance around as though to avoid any flying missiles. ‘How is the baby doing?’
Phoebe sobered. ‘Not so good, I’m afraid. I’m worried about her—because of the trauma she went through coming into the world she has a number of problems, not least the fact that her kidneys might fail.’
He made a face. ‘That’s definitely a complication she could do without, but the hospital she’s going to has expertise in dealing with those kinds of problems, doesn’t it?’ He glanced at the baby who Phoebe had placed in the specialised mobile unit that would protect her during the journey. ‘I wonder how the parents feel about all this? It must be terrible for them, being incapacitated themselves. How are they? Are they off the danger list yet?’
She shook her head. ‘Not so far. Alex reckons the mother is still very ill, but she’s responsive enough to know that her baby is being taken to another hospital. I’ve spoken to her and told her that as soon as she’s well enough she’ll be able to stay with the baby. She says they want to call her Sarah.’
Connor made a quick smile. ‘That’s good. It means she’s formed a bond with her, then, despite everything. It’s never satisfactory when mother and baby are separated. And what about the father…what state is he in? I heard he had suffered a chest injury and had to undergo heart surgery. Is there any news of him?’
Phoebe was busy gathering together all the documentation that was to go with the baby on the journey,but she glanced at him briefly. ‘Jessica reckons he’s still under sedation. The consultant is quite worried about him.’
‘I can imagine.’ He grimaced. ‘Well, we’d better do our bit and make sure that baby Sarah comes through this all right, hadn’t we? At least she’ll have the best care we can give her, with all the state-of-the-art specialised equipment and ventilatory support. Let’s make a start, shall we?’
Phoebe nodded, and made a quick check of the baby’s heart rate and blood-gas levels. ‘Okay. She’s as stable as we can manage for now.’
They wheeled her out to the waiting ambulance and spent some time making sure that all was in order as they transferred her into the vehicle.
‘How long do you think it will take us to get to the children’s hospital?’ Phoebe asked the driver after they had secured the transport unit in place.
‘Around an hour and a half, I should think.’ He glanced at the baby in the incubator and smiled. ‘She looks peaceful enough, doesn’t she? It always amazes me how tiny they are. Their little heads are covered with bonnets that would hardly stretch over a mushroom.’
The baby wriggled and moved her tiny hand against her cheek as though seeking to suck on her fist. She yawned and her legs trembled a little before settling back into place against her tummy. Phoebe slid a hand inside the incubator and delicately stroked a finger along the baby’s arm, marvelling at the softness of her skin. This was such a precious bundle and she desperately wanted her to thrive.
She straightened and glanced back at the driver. ‘She came into the world early and she’s been through an awful lot in her first few days.’
‘I know.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll make it a slow and steady drive, don’t you worry. You just keep an eye on the little mite.’
Phoebe’s mouth curved. ‘I will…but she has Connor to keep her company as well. Between us we should be able to ensure a safe journey.’
She sincerely hoped that was going to be the case, but she couldn’t help feeling a tremor of apprehension. Once the driver had secured the doors, he started up the engine and they set off along the road.
She and Connor each settled to their individual roles. Phoebe kept watch on the monitors and adjusted the various fluid lines and drips, while Connor checked the baby’s nasogastric tube and applied suction where necessary to keep the area clear.
‘She seems to be doing all right so
Phoebe sobered. ‘Not so good, I’m afraid. I’m worried about her—because of the trauma she went through coming into the world she has a number of problems, not least the fact that her kidneys might fail.’
He made a face. ‘That’s definitely a complication she could do without, but the hospital she’s going to has expertise in dealing with those kinds of problems, doesn’t it?’ He glanced at the baby who Phoebe had placed in the specialised mobile unit that would protect her during the journey. ‘I wonder how the parents feel about all this? It must be terrible for them, being incapacitated themselves. How are they? Are they off the danger list yet?’
She shook her head. ‘Not so far. Alex reckons the mother is still very ill, but she’s responsive enough to know that her baby is being taken to another hospital. I’ve spoken to her and told her that as soon as she’s well enough she’ll be able to stay with the baby. She says they want to call her Sarah.’
Connor made a quick smile. ‘That’s good. It means she’s formed a bond with her, then, despite everything. It’s never satisfactory when mother and baby are separated. And what about the father…what state is he in? I heard he had suffered a chest injury and had to undergo heart surgery. Is there any news of him?’
Phoebe was busy gathering together all the documentation that was to go with the baby on the journey,but she glanced at him briefly. ‘Jessica reckons he’s still under sedation. The consultant is quite worried about him.’
‘I can imagine.’ He grimaced. ‘Well, we’d better do our bit and make sure that baby Sarah comes through this all right, hadn’t we? At least she’ll have the best care we can give her, with all the state-of-the-art specialised equipment and ventilatory support. Let’s make a start, shall we?’
Phoebe nodded, and made a quick check of the baby’s heart rate and blood-gas levels. ‘Okay. She’s as stable as we can manage for now.’
They wheeled her out to the waiting ambulance and spent some time making sure that all was in order as they transferred her into the vehicle.
‘How long do you think it will take us to get to the children’s hospital?’ Phoebe asked the driver after they had secured the transport unit in place.
‘Around an hour and a half, I should think.’ He glanced at the baby in the incubator and smiled. ‘She looks peaceful enough, doesn’t she? It always amazes me how tiny they are. Their little heads are covered with bonnets that would hardly stretch over a mushroom.’
The baby wriggled and moved her tiny hand against her cheek as though seeking to suck on her fist. She yawned and her legs trembled a little before settling back into place against her tummy. Phoebe slid a hand inside the incubator and delicately stroked a finger along the baby’s arm, marvelling at the softness of her skin. This was such a precious bundle and she desperately wanted her to thrive.
She straightened and glanced back at the driver. ‘She came into the world early and she’s been through an awful lot in her first few days.’
‘I know.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll make it a slow and steady drive, don’t you worry. You just keep an eye on the little mite.’
Phoebe’s mouth curved. ‘I will…but she has Connor to keep her company as well. Between us we should be able to ensure a safe journey.’
She sincerely hoped that was going to be the case, but she couldn’t help feeling a tremor of apprehension. Once the driver had secured the doors, he started up the engine and they set off along the road.
She and Connor each settled to their individual roles. Phoebe kept watch on the monitors and adjusted the various fluid lines and drips, while Connor checked the baby’s nasogastric tube and applied suction where necessary to keep the area clear.
‘She seems to be doing all right so
Similar Books
