Chapter 37: Neverland Misadventures - The Physio I

(When: Approximately 6 Years and 2 Months Ago)

"Mrs. Pan? Mrs. Pan? Mrs. Pan, can you open your eyes?"

Wendy stirred. Everything sounded hazy. Her ears felt stuffed. But after several repetitions, she gathered that someone was urging her to wake up. She tried. Her eyelids were heavy. But with an extraordinary effort, Wendy managed to squint upwards like a baby bird.

Someone was hovering over her. Someone with green eyes inside a blurry face. Slowly, the blurry features pixilated into a girl wearing grey scrubs and a bright expression.

The girl smiled. "Good morning."

Wendy blinked. She had no idea who this was. However, the girl had wished her good morning, so Wendy opened her mouth to respond.

Nothing came out.

Wendy tried to speak again, but she couldn't. Her voice was reduced to scratches and whistles.

Wendy moved reactively, rotating to grab her throat. Instantly, sharp pains radiated across her stomach. Wendy flumped back. A wire attached to the oxygen monitor snarled behind her ear. The wire pulled. Wendy reached to untangle it, but her IV line was too short. The lined yanked, painfully jarring the IV cannula in her forearm.

Wendy started to panic. Where was Peter? Where were Ariel and Jim? Her children! Where were her children? Why was she alone? Where were Eris, Pitch, and Captain Hook? Why did she hurt EVERYWHERE?

The girl touched Wendy's shoulders.

"It's okay. Lay still for a second."

Wendy froze. She watched as the girl carefully unraveled the complex tubing.

"You can't speak because you were intubated." the girl explained. "That means a tube was placed down your throat to help you breathe. You've only just started breathing by yourself again. The intubation tube got removed, or extubated, last night."

The girl ran two fingers along her neck. "When the intubation tube gets pulled out, it can bruise the tissues inside your windpipe. That can cause you to have a really sore throat and difficulty speaking. Once those tissues heal, your voice will come back. Please try not to panic."

Wendy settled into her pillow, but it almost impossible not to panic. Her memory of Captain Hook and the kidnapping was extremely threadbare, and the details that she did remember were harrowing.

Wendy knew she had been badly hurt. She also knew she was in a hospital, although the location was still a mystery. She knew that she had tried to shadow work the medical staff, but Jim had stopped her. Therefore, Jim was somewhere in the hospital and she assumed Ariel and Peter were with him.

But the children. Where were her children? Where was her baby boy? Was he...alive?

Wendy closed her eyes, wishing desperately for Peter. She heard the beep, beep, beep of the heart rate monitor increase with her anxiety.

Wendy opened her eyes. She dabbed her forehead. Because there was no one else in the room, she looked at the girl.

The girl smiled. "Freaking out a little?"

Wendy nodded. She certainly was.

"That's totally normal." assured the girl, stacking her clipboard and stethoscope behind the IV. Wendy noticed that she also set aside a walker before crouching down and continuing her reassurance.

"Being in the hospital is traumatic, but when you wake and you have no idea where you are, it's scary as hell. So, let me try to help. You are in the Uranus Medical Station. This is the Milky Way Galaxy. You came with your family on a solar sailer ship. I believe it was a crash landing. But you all made it okay."

Wendy processed the information. She nodded slowly, although she still wondered about her children.

The girl seemed enthused by their interaction.

"I have to say Mrs. Pan, it's nice to finally see you awake! I heard that you woke up during the ...er...shadow incident, but this is the first time you've been awake and fully oriented. I've actually been coming in to move your arms and legs for the past three days, just to make sure your joints stayed healthy. Do you remember me?"

Wendy squinted. Move her joints? Past three days? She shook her head. No.

The girl smiled. For a second she looked smug, but not in a malevolent way. It was more of an adrenaline smile; she looked like a child that peeked her Christmas presents early.

"That's okay if you don't remember me." the girl shrugged. "You were groggy. I know you've been through a lot, and you probably feel weak. But don't worry – that is why I am here."

The girl tapped her medical badge. She flowed into a clearly rehearsed speech but delivered it well.

"My name is gi. Like the letter g. I spell it all lowercase. It's easier to remember that way. I am a physical therapist and I've been sent by your doctor to help you move."

Wendy frowned.

gi read her mind.

"Sounds funny, right? Basically, my job is to make sure you can go home without falling. That means I have to make sure your muscles are strong, your balance is good, and you have enough stamina to get through each day."

Wendy nodded diligently, but with an air of skepticism. Admittedly she felt a little feeble, but she certainly wasn't crippled. After a cup of tea she'd be right as rain.

gi sensed Wendy's skepticism.

"Don't doubt me just yet," she warned lightheartedly, "You'll understand what I mean once you get up and try to move. Trust me. It won't be easy the first time. You've just had surgery and you've been asleep for a few days. Both of those things decondition your muscles, make you weak. Plus, you're incision – "

gi motioned across her stomach. Wendy felt the stitches in her abdomen tingle.

"—your incision complicates things. I'll have to teach you safe ways to get out of bed and stand up. So we've got a lot of work ahead of us. However, I think we should start by getting out of bed. Sound like a plan?"

Wendy remained dubious. But gi looked outrageously excited to help her out of bed. Wendy softened. This girl was similar to Ariel: she was overflowing with energy.

So, Wendy resigned.

"Okay!" gi grabbed her clipboard. Deftly, she started untangling Wendy's lines and tubes. As she cleared the space, gi spoke.

And boy: how she could speak.

"Now Mrs. Pan, I do have some questions about your home environment. I need to know what sort of home you are going to, so I can teach you how to move safely inside it. However, since your throat is still healing and I hear that your family is in the hospital, I think we can skip that part and proceed with the movement part of my evaluation. Let's check your vitals first. SpO2 good – heart rate excellent – blood pressure little low, but within normal ranges. We'll just have to make sure it doesn't drop when you go from supine to sitting, you know, orthostatic hypotension and all that – "

Wendy blinked. gi was talking a million miles an hour! (And Peter thought that she talked too much!).

Not only was gi talking a million miles an hour, but she was also moving a million miles an hour. She powered through her routine. Wendy was amazed. gi was a petite little thing, actually about Wendy's size, but there was an athletic aggressiveness to each step. However, Wendy was humored to find that gi was also a tad clumsy. She'd drop her clipboard or bump into the IV, but dismiss it with a bashful shrug.

For some reason, Wendy found that comforting. Moving aside her covers, she prepared to rise.

"Okay. Thank you for waiting." gi unfolded the walker. She placed it at the head of the bed. "Ready?"

Wendy nodded. She patted the mattress, emphasizing her readiness.

"Good. Take this."

gi surprised Wendy. She handed her a pillow. "Hold this against your stomach."

Wendy obeyed, although she felt silly.

"It's for your incision." gi explained. "When you sit up your stomach might feel like it's falling out. The pillow will make you feel more comfortable."

Wendy grimaced. Again she was doubtful, but the description was gruesome enough to force her compliance. Yieldingly, she clutched the pillow.

"Now..." gi elevated the head of the bed. Slightly. "I'm going to teach you how to log roll. This is the safe way to get out of bed. First, roll on your side."

Wendy did.

"Next," said gi, "Put your bottom arm against the mat. This will help you sit up. Put it there now."

Wendy did.

"Okay finally. You're going to swing both legs over the side, like a pendulum." gi crouched, ready to assist. "Then you are going to push up with your arm. Okay? Ready? One...two...three..."

Wendy was amused by gi's hypervigilance. However, when she tried to sit up –

"Whoaaa. Okay, okay. Don't panic."

Wendy gasped. She was dizzy. She felt sick. gi was right! Her stomach felt like it had splurged onto the floor. Her vision blackened, vomit burned in her chest, up her mouth.

gi supported Wendy halfway, preventing her from tipping sideways onto the mattress. Firmly, she completed the motion, drawing Wendy upright.

"You're doing great." she soothed, rubbing Wendy's back. Eyes on the monitor, she held a bedpan under Wendy's chin. "Bucket is here if you need it. Just breath in and out...deep breathes...hold the pillow."

Wendy remembered. She squeezed the pillow. It felt supportive, like a brace holding her stomach together. Determined not to vomit, Wendy turned from the bedpan. She took a breath. Then another. Then another.

It was horrifying. It was humiliating. She could hardly sit upright.

"Just breathe." reminded gi. "Just breathe."

Minutes passed. Finally, Wendy stabilized.

"Alright." gi's hand rest on Wendy's back. "Blood pressure is back to baseline."

Tilting, she caught Wendy's eye. "You okay?"

Wendy exhaled. She was sweating. However, she gave a stiff nod.

gi crouched, one hand on Wendy's shoulder, the opposite on her hip. "Phew. What a workout, huh?"

Wendy attempted a smile.

gi gently released, allowing Wendy to sit on her own. "No worries, you're doing great. Don't get discouraged. Like I told you, it's tough the first time."

Wendy nodded. She placed a fist on the mat, supporting herself. The other she kept against the pillow.

gi studied her a moment. "Can you use your core muscles to sit upright?" she asked, pointing to Wendy's hand on the mat. "You're leaning awfully hard on that arm."

Wendy was almost insulted. This girl was demanding!

Again, gi seemed to read her mind. "I know you're working hard.I know you're tired. But it's my job to push you."

Wendy's reproachfulness faded. Pursed-lip, she pushed off her shaking arm and sat upright.

gi rocked her first. "Nice. Think you can try standing? I'll be right here to help you."

After the disastrous sitting attempt, Wendy was nervous. But she nodded.

"Great. You're a fighter, I like it. Okay..."

gi stood to the side. She placed the walker at Wendy's feet. "You look about my size, so we'll go with this height for the walker. You always want the walker handles to reach your wrists. Okay...here's what you're going to do..."

gi spoke meticulously. Wendy hung on every word.

"Scoot to the edge of the mat. Put your feet back, behind your knees. Push up with your hands. Lean forward. Then stand. You can grab the walker once you are up. Okay?"

Wendy nodded. She glared at the walker, determined not to use the device.

gi counted to three. They stood.

Wendy almost threw up.

"Walker." gi instructed.

Helplessly Wendy obliged. She grabbed the walker, both hands. The pillow fell. Her stomach felt like it split open.

"Your stomach is fine." gi placed a hand on Wendy's stomach. She pressed lightly, proving that the stitches were still there. Standing slightly behind, she positioned herself to catch Wendy if she buckled. "And you are doing great. Just breath. Push down on the walker handles. Look up."

Wendy obeyed. She breathed. She pushed down on the walker handles. She looked up.

She stood a little straighter.

"And..." gi smiled. "Now you're standing. Hard part is over. Okay...let's try to walk. The destination is that bedside chair. Move the walker forward, then take a step..."

The therapy session didn't last more than 20 minutes. But by the end, Wendy was exhausted.

But gi was ecstatic.

"Made it to the chair! Nice! So..." gi poured Wendy water. "We've got a little work to do."

Wendy gratefully accepted the water. She gulped and then gave a look. A little?

gi laughed. "Okay, so a lot of work to do. But, if we both work together, you'll be on your feet in no time."

gi scribbled on her clipboard. "Okay Mrs. Pan – what is your pain number?"

Wendy cocked her head, confused.

"Oops." gi apologized. "Sorry. So easy to forget, most of my patients just shoot me the number automatically. On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no pain and 10 being I'd have to call the emergency room, how much pain are you in? Your abdomen?"

Wendy considered. She felt her incision, compared it to the moment Captain Hook gutted her...

4.4 she decided, using her fingers to mime.

gi grinned. "Okay. Four point four it is. Thank you. Alright Mrs. Pan, I am going to leave you now. But I would like for you to sit upright in your chair as long as possible. You don't want to stay in bed too long – that's not good for the body. Okay?"

Wendy nodded, chipper and resolute.

gi placed a glowing button on Wendy's lap.

"This is a call bell. If you want to use the ladies room, please notify one of the nurses. The nurses are on terribly busy schedules, so call in advance. I'll leave the walker here – you can start walking with the walker only if a nurse is with you. Not with family, and not on your own. Okay?"

Wendy nodded again, but she was glum. She fingered the call bell, ashamed by her invalidity.

And...afraid.

gi paused. Kindly, she lowered.

"Hey. This is a process. Strength is easy lost over a short time. I will see you at least once a day and twice if I can. If you work hard, I will get you better. Okay?"

Wendy nodded. Sadly.

gi bit her lip. "I read your medical note. And I don't want to be too forward but...I'm sorry. About your baby. The way...it happened."

Wendy darkened. She didn't know what had happened to her baby boy, but without Peter or Jim to confirm, she feared the worst.

Vigorously, gi rubbed Wendy's knee. "All will be well. It will. I'm sure your baby is fine. Let's just get you strong so you can get to him?"

She extended a hand. "Deal?"

Wendy smiled. She gasped gi's hand. She wasn't surprised to feel a strong grip – the grip of someone that works with her hands.

Wendy shook heartily as she was able. Thank you.

"No problem." gi shouldered the walker. "See you tomorrow?"

Wendy nodded.

"Okay. I'll leave this sheet for you and your family to fill out. It's a questionnaire about your home environment. In the meantime..."

gi saluted. "Keep moving your legs and ankles. We'll start you on a formal exercise program tomorrow. Have a good day Mrs. Pan! Think happy thoughts!"

Wendy waved, gazing after gi as she jogged down the hall. Then sitting back, she sighed and overlooked the sheet.

Three seconds later, she was fast asleep.

She was awoken by Peter, Ariel, and Jim.

The three entered in the middle of a heated argument, bickering about something that Wendy couldn't quite discern. However, when they saw her –

"You're up!" Ariel beamed. Morph burst into confetti behind her as she shrieked. "Wendy you're up! You're up! You're –"

Bang! Peter lifted so high, he crashed into the ceiling. When he came down, he blocked Wendy's view. He hugged her. He kissed her. He sent her heart rate into outer space.

"I love you!" Peter wept, "I love you! I love you! I love you!"

Jim lifted a hand, staying the nurses. "Give us a minute," he said, "A long one."