Showdown
Part 11
A hand reaches down and shakes a sleeping Jing-Mei up. She looks up to see Carter standing over her.
Jing-Mei
(groggy): Oh, John, it's just you. What time is it?Carter:
It's past noon.Jing-Mei:
That late. Where did the time go?Carter:
After you had breakfast with Luka, you came back over to see if there was any news and then fell asleep in the lounge. Dr. Weaver said to leave you alone but you started tossing and turning on the couch, I was afraid you might fall off it.Jing-Mei:
News? Dave, oh my god....have you heard anything about him?Carter:
He's still in surgery the last time we checked.Jing-Mei:
You checked up on him?Carter:
Kerry insisted so that when you did wake up we'd have something to tell you. Why? Does that surprise you?Jing-Mei:
A little. I didn't think you guys cared about Dave.Carter:
You know better than that. We do care but, like Dave, it's hard to show it and even harder for certain patients like Malucci. Besides, I have a special interest in his recovery. Everytime I look at him, I know it should have been me instead.Jing-Mei:
Let's not go through that again. I told you that none of us blame you for the attack on Dave.Jing-Mei suddenly gets a panicked expression on her face as she desperately looks at her watch.
Carter:
What's wrong?Jing-Mei:
Did you say it was past noon?Carter nods.
Jing-Mei:
Dr. Casin said Dave's surgery should only last about 2-3 hours. He should have been out at least an hour or so ago.Carter:
Speaking as a former surgical intern, I can tell you that no surgeon, no matter how good they are, can predict how long an operation will take, especially heart surgery. There are so many things to consider like getting hold of the right drugs, checking oxygen levels, transfusions and all sort of other complic....never mind.Jing-Mei:
Complications, right. Isn't that what you were going to say?Carter remains silent.
Jing-Mei:
Something's wrong. I just know it. I've got to get upstairs and find out.Carter:
Deb, if they are still in surgery they aren't going to tell you a thing. Now, just relax. Sure, they've gone over their expected time for the surgery but that may be a good thing.Jing-Mei:
You've lost me now.Carter:
Well, if Dave was in trouble then, the surgery would be over now and they would have paged you or come down to speak with you. Since that hasn't happened, there's a good chance that everything is fine and Dr. Casin is being extra careful and thorough with your husband. That's probably what the delay is.Jing-Mei:
Doesn't your glass ever empty out?Carter:
Now, what's that suppose to mean?Jing-Mei:
You always have to be optimistic---looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty. Sometimes it's good to be pessimistic. This way you don't get your hopes up and have them shatter in front of you.Carter:
I like to believe that everything happens for a reason and maybe this surgery was a good thing because Dr. Casin is upstairs right now fixing Dave's heart as good as new and he won't have any more problems with it---ever.Jing-Mei:
God, it must be great to live in that happy little bubble that you live in, John. Jeez, you work in the ER. You know firsthand that all stories don't have a happy ending. You've seen lives destroyed right before your eyes...Chuny sticks her head in the lounge door.
Chuny:
Dr. Chen, Dr. Casin is down here looking for you. Should I send him in here?Jing-Mei:
No, I'll be out in a moment.Chuny leaves letting the door shut behind her.
Carter:
Let's go. This is what we've been waiting for---unless, you want to go it alone.Jing-Mei:
No, please come. I think I'm going to need all the emotional support I can get now. Just give me a second. I think my heart just skipped a beat there for a moment and I need time to gather my thoughts.Carter waits patiently the couple of minutes that Jing-Mei needs.
Carter:
Ready?Jing-Mei:
Yeah, let's go.Jing-Mei and Carter head out to the admit desk and find Dr. Casin talking among the other staff.
Jing-Mei:
Sorry, to keep you waiting.Dr. Casin:
That's okay. Take your time, I'm in no hurry. I just have to do my last rounds and then I'm out of here.Jing-Mei:
Well, by that tone I can assume that everything went smoothly with Dave's surgery.Dr. Casin:
Dr. Malucci is in recovery but no everything did not go the way I had hoped it would.Jing-Mei:
I knew something was wrong when it took so long for you to finish.Mark:
What happened?Dr. Casin looked around at the small crowd that gathered then at Jing-Mei.
Jing-Mei:
It's alright. You can tell them. They're Dave's friends.Dr. Casin:
My intentions were to send the catheter with the balloon in it to open the blocked artery then open the chest and fix the deformity...Luka:
But that's not what happened, is it?Dr. Casin:
No. As my assistant, Dr. Mackenzie was preparing for the angioplasty, I noticed an artifact in his heart monitor. There was definitely a problem going on inside his chest that we needed to get to. So, I cracked his chest and saw the problem.Abby:
Which was?Dr. Casin:
His pericardium was filling with blood and fluid wasn't draining properly. The blood was actually starting to squeeze his heart from the outside in. I needed to drain it as soon as possible before there was a puncture to the muscle and he would have suffered another heart attack on the table.Jing-Mei:
But he didn't, right?Dr. Casin:
No, thank god. We drained the excess blood and fluid away and put in a shunt for regular drainage. Then we did the angioplasty, which cleared the blockage and I repaired the damaged valve and inserted two stents to help with the blockage and new valve. Also, as I told you I checked out his pacemaker and apparently the pacemaker itself was fine. The leads were corroded. Signals from the pacemaker were being sent but they never reached the boy's heart so I put in a brand new pacemaker with a one year battery.Jing-Mei:
No wonder that poor boy was in so much pain. Dave is going to be fine then?There was no expression on Dr. Casin's face to give the ER staff a slight clue.
Jing-Mei:
Dr. Casin, why just a one year battery? (pause) You don't think Dave is going to...you think the battery is going to outlive him, don't you?The staff look at Dr. Casin, who continues to look unemotional. Finally, he breaks his silence.
Dr. Casin:
Jing-Mei, I only put in a one year battery because I want to make sure that Dave has it routinely checked and doesn't, as many of my patients do, ignore his condition. You have no idea how many of my patients die because they don't come in regularly for their check-ups and with what just happened up there. I'm only looking out for my patient's best interest.Jing-Mei:
So, you are telling me that when Dave recovers from his surgery, he's going to be in the same shape as he was before his last heart attack?Dr. Casin:
Not exactly.Jing-Mei:
I knew there was something you weren't telling me. What is it?Dr. Casin takes a deep breath, runs his hand through his hair and exhales.
Dr. Casin:
Jing-Mei, Dave is in a coma.Kerry:
He will come out of it though?Jing-Mei:
Sure he will. He has to. He knows that we're planning our wedding so he has to get better for that.Dr. Casin:
I'm afraid that even if he does come out of the coma, Jing-Mei, his heart is badly bruised from the pressure of the blood that it's very weak. In other words, he may regain consciousness but he'll probably remain a cardiac cripple for the rest of his life.Haleh:
What do you mean cardiac cripple?Dr. Casin:
He'll be too weak to get up out of the bed, long periods of consciousness will be a thing of the past and he more than likely won't have the strength to even lift his head up off the pillow. Most of his natural functions will be gone. We have a catheter in him now for bowel purposes, but he won't be able to move most of his muscles, speak, chew and swallow.Jing-Mei:
You can't be serious. I promised him Thanksgiving dinner. He's looking forward to it. He even put dibs on the drumsticks. I guaranteed he'd get them if he came through this surgery and now you're telling me that even if his surgery is successful that he won't be able to eat his turkey or anything else, for that matter.Dr. Casin nods and Jing-Mei becomes hysterical. Her co-workers try to calm her. Carter puts his arms around her.
Carter:
Deb, I'm sure this will work it's way out for the best...Jing-Mei pulls away from him, angrily.
Jing-Mei:
I am sick to death of your "always look on the bright side" attitude. Is this what you meant when you said everything happened for a reason. So what's your reason? It had better be a good one for all the hell that god is putting Dave through.Carter approaches Jing-Mei in an attempt to hug her, but she steps away.
Carter:
Deb, I...Jing-Mei:
Don't John. Just don't come near me anymore with that positive attitude crap...She picks up an empty IV jar.
Jing-Mei:
See this jar. This is what a positive attitude gets you.She drops it to the ground and as the glass shatters, she becomes more hysterical.
Jing-Mei:
Dr. Casin, may I see my husband now?Stunned by Jing-Mei's actions, Dr. Casin shakes out of his daze state.
Dr. Casin:
Yes, you can. For a few minutes only. He should be moved into the CICU by now.Jing-Mei starts to shake as she heads for the elevator. With Kerry's permission, Abby goes with her.
Upstairs in the CICU, Jing-Mei and Abby take a minute or so before entering Dave's room. When they enter, they see the shell of a man who once was so hyperactive that it took Luka 10mg of Haldol to calm him down and whose mouth moved almost as fast and as much as he did. Neither woman knew what to say. They just stood and stared at Dave. He was laying unconscious in bed, with tubes and wires coming out from every part of him. He was shirtless so his tan, olive skin glistened in the fluorescent lighting and his muscles bulged out appropriately enough to draw the ladies' attention away from the many machines he was connected to. What they couldn't ignore was the huge bandage covering Dave's chest and the sight of the betadine that was still seeping out from under it.
Jing-Mei:
How many times can they possibly crack that boy's chest open and not cause permanent damage?Abby:
I'm no surgeon, hell, I'm not even a med student anymore, but maybe it gets easier opening up a chest the more it's done. You know the breastbone is fragile and easily broken and inside is a bunch of wires holding everything together that they just have to cut throu...Jing-Mei gives her a stern look.
Abby:
Sorry, I shouldn't be talking that way about him. After all, he's a human being not some dismantled circuit board and as you mentioned... he's a friend.Jing-Mei glances back at Dave and then lets out a small giggle.
Abby:
What's so funny?Jing-Mei:
Sorry, but I couldn't help thinking just how much you sounded like Dave there. That sounds exactly like something he would have said back in his days as a doctor.Abby returned the giggle and then both women got a serious look on their faces.
Jing-Mei:
You'd think by now, I would get use to seeing him like that. But, you don't. You never get use to seeing someone you love hurting. (pause) You know, Dave's sister, Sophie said those exact words to me when she first came over from Italy with Rusty. She, Rusty and I walked into his ICU room and she said, "I should be use to seeing him like that, but I'm not." Until now, I didn't really understand what she meant.Abby:
She visited Dave in the hospital before then?Jing-Mei:
Many, many times while they were growing up. I guess seeing him like that again just brought back bad memories for her.There was deep silence in the room, except for the sounds of Dave's machines, when Abby looked at her watch.
Abby:
Dr. Weaver said I could come with you and make sure you were alright, not spend the day up here. So, I had better get back to work. You going to be okay?Jing-Mei:
Yes, I'm fine. I want a few minutes alone with him anyway before the nurses chase me out.Abby pats Jing-Mei's shoulder and leaves the room. Jing-Mei takes small steps towards Dave and sits in a chair by his bedside. She takes his hand into hers.
Jing-Mei:
Hey, sunshine. You gave us all a nasty scare again. (pause) Where ever you're at, it's okay for now, but you have to leave there and come back to us soon. Thanksgiving is coming up soon and if you're not home for it, I can't guarantee you a drumstick.Jing-Mei gives off a small laugh and starts to cry.
Jing-Mei:
Dave, this is just a small setback. You'll be up and moving about again in no time. I know what the doctors say about your prognosis but they don't know everything. You are going to get better real soon, and come home with me and your sons and this incident will all be a memory...Carter:
Now, who's doing the positive thinking.Jing-Mei:
John, you scared the hell out of me. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on someone.Carter:
I didn't sneak up...I walked in. You were too busy making goo goo eyes at you hubby that you didn't notice. So, how's he doing?Jing-Mei:
Alive. Apart from that, I don't know. He seems so drained, worn out...you know what I mean. Like he's here but then...he's not.Carter:
Well, he's in a coma. What would you expect him to be doing...the Macarena.Jing-Mei:
Is Dave's personality rubbing off on everyone?Carter:
Huh? Never mind...uh, what happened to all that positive attitude I heard when I came through the door?Jing-Mei escorts Carter by the arm to the opposite side of the room.
Jing-Mei
(whispering): I do that for Dave's benefit. I don't want him to think that we've given up on him...Carter:
But, deep down you still believe what Dr. Casin said, that he's going to remain a cardiac cripple for the rest of his life.Jing-Mei
(whispering): Keep your voice down please. I try not to believe it but the more I look at Dave and his stats, the more I know that Dr. Casin is probably right...The two doctors conversation is interrupted by a nurse.
Nurse:
Sorry, but you'll have to leave now. It's time to suction him.Jing-Mei:
I'll do that.Nurse:
That's alright. It's my job.Jing-Mei:
I don't mind. I do it all the time for him at home.Carter:
But you're not at home, so give yourself a break and let the nurses do it. Let me drive you home.Jing-Mei:
I want to hang around here for awhile. Maybe I'll get a chance to come back in to see him. Besides, I have my car downstairs.Carter:
Go home, Deb. Dave isn't going anywhere and he's in good hands. I'm sure the boys need you with them now and you look as though you could use a good night's sleep in your own bed.Jing-Mei:
I do have to work tomorrow and I would like to take a long, hot soak in the tub and see my children. Okay, but let me just leave word at the desk that if there is any change in his condition to let me know.Jing-Mei heads over to Dave's bed and gives him a final kiss on his head and squeezes his hand one last time before leaving for the night.
Jing-Mei comes into the house and is stormed by two small boys and two dogs.
Jing-Mei:
Hello, fellows. Have you eaten, yet?Mrs. Peterson:
Yes. They've been fed and now they're ready to play before they go to bed.Antonio:
Da....da....Da...daRusty:
'Tonio wants to know how papa is. He's okay?Jing-Mei:
You're daddy's had his operation and he's resting in the hospital now.Rusty:
We go see him.Jing-Mei:
As soon as the doctors give their permission.Rusty:
Rascal and Lucky, too.Jing-Mei:
Sorry, not this time around. I don't think the doctors will allow the dogs to go up to CICU. But, look at it this way...your papa loves the dogs so much he's going to get better faster just to get home to see them. Right?Rusty gives a debatable nod.
Jing-Mei:
Now, why don't you take the dogs and your brother and go play in the other room for awhile.Rusty takes Antonio's hand and both boys lead the dogs into the other room. Jing-Mei sits down at the table as Mrs. Peterson puts her dinner in front of her.
Mrs. Peterson:
You never answered Rusty's question. Is Dr. Dave alright?Jing-Mei:
No, he's not. There was more damage to the heart than they had thought. He's back in a coma again and his doctor doesn't think he'll come out of it.Mrs. Peterson:
Oh dear, I had no idea it was that bad. Well, what do you think?Jing-Mei begins to speak but stops and puts her hand to her mouth.
Jing-Mei:
I think...I think I'm going to be sick.At that, Jing-Mei runs from the table and into the bathroom. Rusty runs after her and is met with a closed door.
Rusty:
Mama Jing, okay?Mrs. Peterson:
She's fine...just tired. Go back and play again.Several minutes later, Mrs. Peterson checks up on Jing-Mei. She bangs on the bathroom door.
Mrs. Peterson:
Is everything alright in there, dear?Jing-Mei:
Yes, I'm feeling better now. I'm going to take a bath. Could you see that everyone is put to bed soon.Mrs. Peterson:
Sure. No need to worry I'm sure Dr. Dave will be fine.Three and then four days, went by and Dave remained the same. At one point or another, the ER staff took time to visit with him. All were being extremely careful with their words, trying not to say the wrong thing, not knowing what Dave could hear. Randi's turn came and she went up to the CICU. She sat down at his bedside, took hold of his hand and started to gently pat it.
Randi:
You and I never really talked much, except all the times you asked me out and I brushed you off. I don't even know why I did it, you were definitely hot stuff down in the ER and you still are...except now, you're spoken for. I mean, I don't begrudge Dr. Chen for sticking her claws in you. You two make a nice couple but if I had to pick two people who were better suited for each other...than I would've picked you and I. (pause)Dr. Dave, you and I are cut from the same cloth. Our backgrounds are so similar that it would only be natural that we'd be together. Like for instance: you and I grew up poor, from dysfunctional families, did time in jail and have reputations for our many sexual encounters with the opposite sex. I never in a million years would have pictured you and Dr. Chen together. She's rich and sophisticated and you...well, you...you're pool man material. You know, lower class--definitely not in her league but somehow the two of you found each other and I couldn't find a happier couple. (pause) I guess what they say is true---opposites attract. And you two are definitely opposites right down to the core. (pause) Anyhow, I digress, my point is that you are meant to be together. You know it, I know it, everyone in the ER knows it. This whole business with your kidnapping and attack is just to prove how much you guys belong together. If a relationship is still together after all you've been through, it's meant to be. So, no matter how bad you feel and think you can't go on just remember that you have a family depending on you and that alone is reason enough to get better.The alarm on her watch goes off.
Randi:
I've got to go. No reason to give Weaver an open shot at busting my chops. You know what that's like. You hang in there, big boy and don't forget what I said.As Randi walks out of the room, she looks back at the man that she hardly said two words to the entire time they worked together, and now she just spilled her guts out to. A tear ran down the side of her face.
Randi
(whispering to herself): Get well, my dearest Dave. I love you.Then she blew him a kiss and continued to leave the room, heartbroken over her lost love and missed opportunity with him.
Down in the ER, Jing-Mei is sitting at the admit desk studying a patient's chart.
Mark:
Is everything alright, Jing-Mei?Jing-Mei:
No. I've ordered just about every test for this patient and still can't figure out what is wrong with him.Mark:
Let me look.Mark takes the chart from Jing-Mei and studies it.
Mark:
You've done a spinal tap, CAT scan, MRI, various blood tests, urinalysis and everything comes back negative.Jing-Mei:
Yes, but he's still throwing up blood and having bouts of explosive diarrhea.Mark:
Well, did you try a...wait a minute.Mark glances through the chart more carefully when he comes across the name.
Jing-Mei:
What, did you find something that I missed?Kerry:
What's going on here?Mark:
Nothing, it looks like our old friend George McHarris is back---again.Jing-Mei:
Who's he?Kerry:
That's right. You were on your leave of absence the last time he was in. He's on his way to being a regular patient with us.Jing-Mei:
What's wrong with him?Kerry:
Nothing that psyche can't handle.Jing-Mei remains confused.
Mark:
The only thing wrong with Mr. McHarris is a case of Munchausen Syndrome.Jing-Mei:
You mean he's doing that to himself.Kerry:
Everytime he has a fight with his wife, he shows up here with a new symptom. Call psyche.Jing-Mei:
Could you please do it for me? I don't want anything more to do with this case.Jing-Mei runs into the bathroom while Mark makes the call to psyche.
A few minutes later, Kerry and Mark enter the lounge but see only Cleo, Luka, Carter and a couple of nurses in there having coffee.
Kerry:
Have any of you seen Jing-Mei?Cleo:
No, why?Mark:
She was upset....Jing-Mei walks into the lounge like she just swallowed some bad fish.
Kerry:
Are you alright?Jing-Mei:
Just a bit of the flu bug and patients like that Mr. McHarris make me sick.Lydia:
Is he back again?Jing-Mei:
I don't understand how a healthy person can deliberately hurt themselves while my poor husband is lying up in CICU, comatosed and fighting for his life because of something someone else did to him. Don't people realize that they are so lucky to be healthy. Dave would give anything to have his health and life back again. No one knows how hard he tries to get back everything he's lost---just the simple things like getting up out of bed on his own, showering, shaving, walking, talking---it all comes so hard to him. Then you have people who are trying to damage their bodies. I just don't get it.Luka:
It's a disease. A psychological disease but nevertheless an illness. Some people can't help the attention they get from harming themselves.Jing-Mei:
Well, I think you should put one of those patients in a hospital room with someone like Dave and then maybe they'd get an idea about what real illness is all about...that should shake them....Before she could finish, she passed out on the floor. Her co-workers come to her aid.
Carter:
Get a gurney! Deb, can you hear me?Malik and Yosh run out into the hall and within minutes return with a gurney. They lift Jing-Mei, still unconscious, up onto it and wheel her into exam one where Cleo starts to examine her.
At the admit desk, the others wait for word on her condition.
Kerry:
I knew she didn't look good when she came into the lounge.Lydia:
What do you think can be wrong with her?Carter:
You have to ask. With everything going on with Dave now, raising two small boys and two dogs, I'm surprised she lasted this long under the stress.Jerry:
Phone for you, Dr. Weaver.Kerry
(on the phone): Dr. Weaver, here.(pause) Are you sure? (pause) I'll be right up.Kerry hands the phone back to Jerry.
Carter:
Is something wrong, Kerry?Kerry:
No, for once something is right. That was CICU. Malucci is coming out of the coma. I have to get up there. Let Jing-Mei know as soon as Cleo is finished with her.Kerry heads up to the CICU and enters Dave's room. She confronts Dr. Casin.
Kerry:
How are we doing, here?Dr. Casin:
Well, he's more responsive to light and he's showing some purposeful movement. That's a good sign.Kerry:
That's a great sign.Kerry stands by while Dr. Casin continues his assessment of Dave. She feels a tap on her shoulder and turns to see Jing-Mei standing behind her.
Kerry:
I see they gave you the good news.Jing-Mei:
Yes, and I couldn't get up here fast enough to see him.Dr. Casin finishes and approaches the two female doctors.
Jing-Mei:
Well, what do think?Dr. Casin:
I'd like to run some tests to be absolutely sure but it looks like your husband is on his way back to us.Jing-Mei:
I knew he would be. May I have a moment with him?Dr. Casin:
By all means.Dr. Casin and Kerry leave the Maluccis alone. Kerry arrives down in the ER just in time for a trauma to arrive.
Jing-Mei sits by Dave's bedside holding tightly on to his hand.
Jing-Mei:
Hi sweetheart. I don't know if you can hear me or understand what I am saying but I know you're coming to. You're not quite here yet, but in time. I realize you're tired but just try to stay with me here because I need to talk to you.After an hour, the ER dies down again to a subtle roar and the staff relaxes at the admit desk.
Luka:
So, Kerry you never told us...how is Malucci?Kerry:
He's making purposeful movements and is responding to light but he's still pretty much out of it. Dr. Casin has high hopes that he will be fully conscious soon. But as far as changing his previous prognosis.Haleh:
Hey, that's good news anyway.Kerry:
Jing-Mei certainly flew up there fast enough.Carter:
Yeah, good thing she was feeling better. It would have been a shame if Dave made progress and then she got sick.A voice comes out from behind the staff.
Jing-Mei:
Not sick, John. Pregnant.To be continued. Please read and review.
