Years and Memories

Chapter 28

"We are deeply regretful of the care that you and your daughter received. It was unprofessional and reflects poorly on the medical profession. It will not happen again. Our concern is that this will be taken to the media. With the boom in the population since the Red Flu; we want to be sought out for our Labor and Delivery department, as well as our Neonatal Unit. Stories like yours will not help that. I realize that this is not about money but more in the care that future patients will receive. However, your pain and suffering is going to come at a massive cost to our hospital. I know you might see this number as hush money; but I also know; your daughter will require special care. This number will facilitate that. You don't have to accept it, you can sue us but the number that a judge or jury gives you may be less or it maybe more. I can give you our assurance what happened to Charlotte and what happened to you, Mrs. Slattery, will never, ever occur again. The mindset that because of a developmental disability, a child is not desired is completely uncalled for and has to be changed. I can tell that Charlotte is a very special baby and your family already loves her so much. Like I said, this is not hush money; more of an apology." The CEO of the hospital had shown up with the hospital's legal counsel. As he was talking; Mike and Polly looked towards their attorney who nodded at them. The CEO slid an envelope towards them and Mike took it. He figured it would have a proposed settlement for a couple thousand dollars. When he opened it, his jaw dropped.

"$25,000,000.00"

Mike showed it to Polly who had nearly the same reaction he did. She passed it to their attorney but stood up to get Charlotte out of the bassinet, she was fussing slightly. As soon as Polly picked her up, she settled and Polly brought her back to the table where they were all sitting. Charlotte immediately smiled at the CEO and attorney and then started sucking on her thumb.

"Can I ask for a moment with my clients?" Mike and Polly's attorney asked and the CEO and hospital attorney stood up and walked out to the porch. As soon as the door shut; their attorney began talking. "I don't think you will get a better offer. I realize this is not about money but we can make some stipulations. An annual review of their cases to make sure they properly treat their patients. Or, you all can just be done; take the money and put this all behind you. I recommend that."

The attorney also stood up and went outside and Mike and Polly sit for a moment, just looking at the envelope. Finally, Polly spoke; "Mike, I know you are a fighter and you want to make sure this is made right. I want to put the last several months behind us and just enjoy this little girl. If we pursue this, in whichever way; we will be reliving it constantly. I don't want that and I don't think we can afford it, as a family. I don't care about the money but he made a point. Charlotte deserves the best and so do the other kids. I think we should accept it and go on with our lives. Just take the hospital's word that this won't happen to another patient."

"I agree. Mostly because this has done so much damage and we need to put that behind us. You don't want to think about it or pray about it?" Mike asked her as he bent down and kissed Charlotte's nose.

"No, I just want to be done. We put the money in the bank and raise our kids." Polly told him as she gave him a kiss.

"Alright. I will go get them. I do have to teach Charlotte not to flirt with every man she sees. This could get embarrassing." Mike told Polly before he walked out to get the attorneys and the CEO. The three men followed him back in and sit down, immediately earning them a smile from Charlotte.

"My wife and I have come to an agreement. We accept the offer and we will not be going to the media or pursuing this in any other manner. We will trust that you will treat future patients with more care, respect and understanding. We simply want to raise our daughter. You can set up reviews or whatever you want; but my wife and I want no part in it. For the past several months, we were told to abort our child because she would be born with disabilities, then we were told she would die soon after her birth, when we still refused to abort her; she was considered undesirable and we were lectured, told we were horrible parents and that we were stupid. I don't know if the care that Polly and Charlotte received was some sort of punishment but you cannot imagine the hell it caused us and especially, our other children. After she was born; we weren't told if she was alive or dead, or what was going on. She was left in a room; without food, in a wet diaper, without a blanket for several hours. No human contact until my brother in law got to her. My wife was allowed to be ripped open and then left unstitched for over twenty four hours exposing her to infection. She also went without food. Had it not been for my brother-in-law and my oldest daughter, Polly and Charlotte would not have been cared for. I do know that my brother-in-law is working a criminal investigation, that will be continued, but my wife and I will go no further civilly. If we are subpoenaed on the criminal case, we will testify. We will not approach the media in any manner and will give no comments if we are approached. Is this agreeable?" Mike used the same tone he would have taken in the Navy and Polly nodded at them firmly.

"I see no problem with that. I will have a check delivered here by the end of the day. I do have one question and you, by all means, can say no?" The CEO hadn't stopped looking at Charlotte who was smiling back at him.

"Sure." Mike gave his attorney a confused look.

"I would really like to hold Charlotte. I had a granddaughter with Down's. She died during the Red Flu. I won't hurt her in anyway, I promise." The CEO had asked quietly and Polly nodded at Mike and then passed him the baby. Mike immediately handed her over to the CEO who took her and held her closely.

"I am sorry about your granddaughter. I lost a son to the Red Flu. He's been gone for years and I still…miss him every day." Mike wasn't even sure why he had said it but the CEO had the same look on his face that Mike would get when Matty laughed or Mikey showed him his new toy dinosaurs. Under the table; Polly grasped his hand and squeezed. He rarely spoke about Lucas to people that were not in his family.

"I'm sorry. My granddaughter's birthday was today. I guess when I see Charlotte, I was reminded of Katie." The CEO smiled at Charlotte who immediately gave a smile back.

"She was born on Lucas' birthday. It was...at the time; when Polly went into labor; I was angry. We thought that Charlotte would die soon after birth and so the one day of the year that I just don't cope; my son's birthday, I was going to have another child die. It was hellish and then when we didn't know for so many hours…anyway, we just want to focus on her and our other kids, of course." Mike wasn't sure why he had shared so much; but it just felt right. Polly rubbed his arm; reassuredly and Charlotte smiled back at him.

"I can't imagine. And I don't want to ever hear another story like that. That number seems smaller now but it is all I am authorized to give you from our board." The CEO said as he smiled at Charlotte who was watching closely.

"Sir, we need to be going." The hospital attorney told the CEO quietly.

"Right, here you go. Like I said; I will have the check here by the end of day and what happened to you all; will never happen again. My deepest and sincerest apologies." The CEO said as he stood up and handed Charlotte to Mike. The two men from the hospital left, leaving Mike, Polly, their attorney and of course Charlotte who was getting sleepy.

"I think you all did the best thing you could have done. You made it very clear that this wasn't a money matter and I truly think the hospital will not allow something like this to happen again. It was a really bad situation. I also had better get going. My advice is, get wills and trusts set up as soon as possible. I don't care if you go to me or another attorney; but it needs to get set up. I would also advise to get that check deposited as quickly as possible. Even if it is just in your checking account; they'll hold the funds for three days anyway and after that you can start setting separate accounts up. For each kid or whatever you want. Just some personal advice." The attorney had told them as he stood up. He bent over and tickled Charlotte's belly.

"Thank you. We'll make an appointment first thing tomorrow. I'll show you out." Polly started to stand up but when she groaned in pain the attorney stopped her.

"No need. I'll show myself out. Contact me if there are any questions or concerns." The attorney said as he walked out, leaving Mike, Polly and Charlotte alone; staring at the piece of paper with the amount of money on it.

"Do you think it was hush money?" Polly asked Mike as she put the paper in the envelope.

"I don't know, maybe. What I do know is; this…it almost destroyed our family. Almost destroyed our kids. This money won't make our family any stronger but we cannot allow it make us weaker." Mike cuddled Charlotte close and kissed her cheek.

"I agree. I don't know what your plan is; but I would like to set up some sort of account for Charlotte, so that when you and I are gone, she isn't a financial burden to the older kids. She can be properly cared for and I would prefer that she isn't placed in a facility." Polly said as she carefully stood up and walked to the kitchen to start dinner.

"We will be lucky if they don't fight over her and not because of the money. Charlotte is one very well loved little girl and she has siblings that are vying for her top spot." Mike told Polly as he carried Charlotte over to her bassinet and laid the now sleeping baby down.

"And you wouldn't change that for anything." Polly said as she took a prepared casserole out for supper.

"Nope. So, what do we tell the kids?" Mike asked as he sit down at the kitchen island. Polly paused for just a moment and looked out the kitchen window.

"It may be wrong of me but what if we don't tell them?" Polly asked Mike.

"Not sure it's a good idea. It could create some hard feelings if we do. I understand what you're saying but if they; by chance, hear it around; it could cause a lot more problems than what we would want." Mike said as he got up and walked around the kitchen island and hugged Polly. She seemed to be in a bit more pain and leaned into him. "Why don't you go lay down? I'll work on supper and Charlotte is asleep. I have to go get the kids in about a half hour but the casserole won't be done by then."

"I may take you up on that. Just on the couch though. Don't put it in until you get home." Polly told Mike as she cuddled into his chest. "Or, I have a better idea, set your alarm and lay down over there with me. That's what I really want."

"Your wish is my command." Mike said as he released Polly, locked the door, checked on Charlotte, set his alarm and laid down on the couch next to Polly. He knew he wouldn't sleep and he did have things that he needed to do but he wouldn't deny Polly something so simple. She fell asleep with her head on Mike's chest and he would hate moving her when it was time to get the kids. All the emotional trauma and pain had done a number on Polly and she seemed so shaky. It scared and worried him and no amount of money would fix that.