I arrived at George Bush International Airport at around 10.30pm local time. As I was collecting my suitcase, I switched on my phone and discovered a message from my mother. It read that George, my older brother, would be waiting for me outside of the Domestic flights terminal. I stepped outside the terminal, and there he was, on the other side of the road, in his red pickup.
My brother and I have never been close. He was born only two years before Missy and I, but we never had anything in common. He was always fighting, going after girls or messing around with his group of friends. And he used to bully me at home. I guess we simply never understood each other, as he has never had any interest in school, science or even video games; George was good at sports and mechanics, neither of which I like. George has always made my father proud, probably because they were very much alike, but I think he has always been jealous of my special bonds with my mother and with Meemaw. Now, as adults, we don't really talk to each other much, except when I come back home. George is a mechanic in Galveston, around 30 minutes away from my mum's house.
We shook each other's hand as he greeted me politely. I thanked him for picking me up that late, and he simply nodded; He told me that mum was at home, waiting for me, with Missy and Missy's boyfriend, Steve. The three of them and George had spent the whole day at the hospital. I asked George to tell me a little more about what happened to Meemaw.
He told me that yesterday night, Meemaw had had dinner with mum like every evening. But when she stood up to go to her room, she fell to the ground and laid there unconscious. Mum called immediately for an ambulance, then called George. When he arrived, the ambulance was taking Meemaw to the hospital. George drove there with Mum. After long minutes, Meemaw's doctor told them that it was a stroke and the CT scan confirmed it had been provoked by a blood clot. They said that the best way to get rid of the clot was to inject some treatment, George could not remember its name. They could not tell if Meemaw would wake up though. The doctors allowed George and Mum to see Meemaw this morning, and again tonight with Missy, but not for long.
When we reached the house, my mother was standing outside, with Missy and a man I assumed was her boyfriend Steve. I kissed my twin sister, shook hands with Steve, whom Missy introduced to me, and I hugged my mother.
Missy and Steve were leaving, as they had a long drive back home to Cypress, where Steve has a house. George also left. They all promised to call Mum tomorrow, but neither of them thought they could go to the hospital as they had to work. Then Mum and I finally got inside the house. Mum gave me a little more details about Meemaw's condition. I told her I would ask Amy for her professional opinion on it.
Mum looked exhausted. She said she had to go to bed, as she had been up for around 24 hours and needed to sleep. She kissed me goodnight, after telling me we'd leave for the hospital at 8am tomorrow morning. I also retreated to my room as I was very tired as well. I sat on my bed for a minute and looked around: nothing had changed since I was a kid, or almost. My old Star Wars posters were on the walls, my physics trophies on the shelves, the rockets and satellites I have built over the years hanging from the ceiling… I was home; but under very special circumstances.
It was 10pm in California. After pondering for long minutes whether it was too late or not to call Amy, I decided I would. After all, Amy said before I left that I could call whenever I needed to, and at that exact moment, I did. I switched on my computer, and checked if she was on skype. She was not. So I decided to text her, asking her if I could call now. I did not have to as she called me back almost immediately.
"Allo Sheldon! What is going on?" she said, as her face appeared on my phone screen. She looked worried.
"Don't worry Amy, I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to you a little, as you said I could call anytime…"
"Of course, Sheldon."
"Amy, my mother told me a little more about what happened and she gave me the notes she took when the doctors were talking to her. You were right, Meemaw had an ischemic lost consciousness after dinner yesterday night. The ambulance arrived very fast, within 10 minutes, and Meemaw arrived at the hospital 40 minutes after the stroke occurred. The doctor said they would use thrombolysis. They also said they don't know yet when or if she is going to wake up." I paused to let her think "What do you think? What does that mean?"
"Okay." She spoke softly "So your grandmother suffered a cerebro-vascular accident. Apparently, in her case, it was caused by a clot that blocked a blood vessel. It means some area of her brain did not received oxygen for 40 minutes. It is quite frequent for elderly people, Sheldon. Usually, the patients who are having a stroke lose the mobility in one side of their body, or cannot speak properly anymore, or whatever. But sometimes, the patient loses consciousness, as your grandmother she has been taken care of within one hour, the area was very localized. So the most obvious choice to try to heal her is thrombolysis, or clot busting if you prefer. It is performed by injecting directly into the veins drugs that will break down the clot. Once the pressure is release, the impacted area can receive oxygen again. Am I clear, Sheldon?"
"Yes. So are you saying you think the doctors did right?"
"Yes, I think so, but I don't have all the details." She obviously did not feel very comfortable.
"Fair enough. I do have a few questions though."
"Alright, I'll try to answer, but not knowing the exact details, I can only interpret from what you told me."
"After her brain is supplied with oxygen again, will she wake up? When?"
"Okay, it depends. She could wake up today, tomorrow, in a month or in a year, you cannot predict how someone will react to the treatment. But like I said, she has been taken care of quite quickly, so she has fair chances. Although, with strombolysis, there is an additional risk of hemorragie." She went on. "Also, Sheldon, you have to be aware that if she wakes up, she may have sequelae, either permanently or for a shorter period of time; she could be blind, or be unable to move one arm or one leg, or she could lose the capacity of speech, among other things." There was a long silence "Sheldon, are you alright? I am sorry I have to tell you all that like this."
"Yes Amy I am alright" I tried not to cry. "Is there anything we can do?"
"I'm afraid there is nothing more to do now Sheldon. Just wait." She paused "I wish I could tell you more, or tell you she will wake up for sure, but I can't say that. Only time will tell us what will happen." I could tell by the tone of her voice that she was truly sorry. But I was grateful for her honesty. "Sheldon, if you can visit her, don't forget to talk to her. I told you earlier, she can hear you."
"Thanks Amy. Thanks for helping me understand it all, and thanks for being honest with me. I appreciate it." I tried to smile to her "I will either text or call you tomorrow to keep you updated." I frowned as I looked at her onscreen "Wait Amy, why are you in my apartment?"
"Oh, I was at Penny's when you called. I wanted some privacy, so Penny suggested I came here and gave me her spare key. Do you mind?"
"Of course not. I was surprised, that's all. Thanks again Amy. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Sheldon. Try to sleep at least a little; you will need all your strength tomorrow."
I hung up with Amy, and tried to go to sleep. But of course all I could think of was Meemaw. All my happy memories as a kid were somehow linked to Meemaw. She has always accepted my difference and was always comforting me when the others were mean to me. After Pop-Pop died, Meemaw was the only one who tried to understand my love for science, science-fiction, comic books and video games. I spent hours with her, explaining my new discoveries, talking about my readings, and my inventions. She gave me my first chemistry kit, my first Nintendo console, my first Mr Spock action figure; she came with me to conferences which I know she found boring. She baked and cooked for me, and still does when I come and visit. She taught me how to cook too. We speak every two weeks on the phone, and she is always encouraging. It is so painful to know she might not wake up from the stroke, or if she does that she might never fully recover. I fell asleep crying.
I slept terribly. I woke up at 7am, took a quick shower and went down to the kitchen. My mother was already awake, cooking bacon and eggs for the two of us.
"Good morning Shelly! Sit down, your breakfast is almost ready. I was about to call you."
"Good morning mum. It smells good." I sat down.
After she gave me my plate, she asked me "Shelly, have you talked to your friend Amy about what the doctors said?"
"Yes. She said that considering what I told her, she thinks they made the right decision."
"And did she tell you if and when she will wake up?"
"She said she can't tell. Nobody can. We will have to wait." I stood up and went next to my mother, thinking about what Amy told me, that I had to be there to support her. "Mummy, she will be alright. She is strong, she will fight, she will come back. I am sure of it." I took her in my arms. She seemed surprised, but opened her arms and held me close.
She whispered "Thanks Shelly-bean" then pulling away. "Now let's have breakfast, and then we will go and visit your Meemaw." We set off a half hour later.
When we arrived at the hospital, I realized I was not prepared to see Meemaw like that; As we got in her room, there were two nurse's aides busy next to Meemaw. But I could not take my eyes off Meemaw: shehad tubes going in and out all over her body. Mum and I got closer to the bed. She sat on the armchair next to the bed and started talking to her mother with a determined voice.
"Good morning Mother! Look who is here to see you today! Your moonpie!"
I felt tears building up in my eyes. I tried to hold it, but I could not; I had known for a day now that she was in a coma, but facing reality like that hurt terribly. "Hi Meemaw!" I mumbled.
The two nurse's aides left us, probably realizing we needed privacy.
My mum looked at me and said "Shelly, I will go and see if I can talk to her doctor or to a nurse. I'd like to know if there is some news about her condition. Keep talking to her please darling." She left the room. I sat next to the bed, still staring at Meemaw. I took her hand in mine and started talking slowly next to her ear, remembering Amy's words. "Meemaw, I love you, I need you, please come back!" and I burst in tears.I was glad my mother was away at that moment. I needed to pull myself together before she came back. I wiped away my tears with tissues I had in my pocket. I breathed in and out slowly, then went on talking to her. I told her all the things I usually write in my weekly letters: I talked about my work, about Leonard and his project in the North Sea, about Amy. When I was talking about Amy and our last date playing Super Mario Bros, my mother came back to the room.
"The doctor says there is nothing new." I carefully let go of Meemaw's hand and got up from the chair to let my mother sit there. I found another chair that I moved next to my mother's.
"Shelly, I'd like us to say a prayer together for Meemaw. Give me your hand." Usually I am reluctant to give in to my mother's faith, but today I was ready to try anything for Meemaw.
A/N: Very interested to know what you guys thought about that one. I will be away for a few days, so no updates before next week. Expect a surprise guest's POV for next chapter.