Chapter 36

It had been an hour or so since he brought her back down to her room. She tried fighting the sleep that was taking over her knowing it would ruin her chance to see her son the first chance she got. David was fighting his own battle with sleep but noticed her fighting hers. He laid down on his right side behind her in the bed and wrapped his arms around her. He whispered in her ear not to fight it anymore and she finally conceded to sleep. They both lay sleeping there for almost an hour when Bianca came in the door and saw the two of them.

She didn't want to wake them but she knew her mother would kill her if she didn't. She walked up to them and tapped David on the shoulder slightly as not to startle him but enough to wake him up. He opened his eyes to see Bianca's figure standing behind him. He looked quick at Erica to see if she was awake but she was still fast asleep.

"Bianca what is it? Is everything ok?" He asked not sure for what reason she was waking him up.

"Nothing is wrong, Dr. Ross said that they are done with the transfusions and they are running some of the tests you discussed but you should be able to see him in a few minutes. He also said he would discuss the results with you then."

"Thank you for letting us know Bianca. I appreciate you keeping an eye on your brother for us."

"It's no problem David. I know you have your hands full with mom and you can't be two places at once." Bianca said in an understanding tone. During their quick conversation Erica had woken up and was stirring next to him. "I am going to go get a quick bite to eat and then I'll be back."

"Sure you need to take care of yourself too. Thanks" He said before she walked out the door.

"Hey, who was that?" Erica asked coming out of sleep.

"It was Bianca."

"Bianca? What did she say? Is everything ok?" Erica asked worried something had happened to her son while she was here, asleep.

"It's good news, I promise. She said that he is done with the transfusions and they are running some tests now. We can see him in a little bit." He said caressing the side of her face with his hand

"Okay then we should go up there now. I want to be there the moment we can see him."

"I don't know how long it will be. Do you really want to sit there and wait?"

"It's better than waiting down here. I need to be up there, closer to him."

"Alright I'll take you up now, but don't be driving me insane because we have to wait."

"I'll try not to." She said giving him a quick kiss on the lips

"Ok then let's go." He said kissing he back

It only took them a few minutes to make their way up to the NICU as Erica was in a hurry. He stopped outside of the room and they could see DJ in there.

"David he is in there do you think we can see him now?" She asked staring intently on her little boy.

"I don't know. I should find Dr. Ross and ask him." He said looking around for the doctor. It wasn't a minute when Dr. Ross came walking down the hall on his way to speak with them.

"I was looking for the two of you. I thought your daughter went to go get you." He said looking at both of them.

"So what is the result from the treatment and are there any residual complications from the HDN?" David said as he took control of the conversation

"First of all the transfusion was completed and the bilirubin count has significantly dropped. It didn't drop as much as needed but a great deal more than the phototherapy did. The ultrasounds and the ECG were all clean but a grade II/VI murmur with a venous hum was detected. "

"And how do you plan on proceeding?" David asked

"Well I don't think we should continue the exchange transfusions if warranted but start him on EPO to combat the anemia and prevent a recurrence. To help combat the HDN and bilirubin build up I would like to start him on IVIG and continue phototherapy. Although research has not provided many long term symptoms from use the risks from transfusions are significantly higher. As for the murmur, it should disappear on its own within the year, just regularly checking on change."

"So in layman's terms what does this mean for our son?" Erica asked, this medical jargon going a little over her head although she knew David understood every word.

"It means that your son is doing fairly well for a 32-week preemie but has to be monitored and continue with treatment for the residual anemia and murmur. The only thing left is to determine the brain function and the absence of kernicterus or brain damage. I believe there will be little if any developmental problems due to the lack of symptoms."

"Thank you doctor. You won't mind if give a second opinion on the murmur do you?" David asked pleased with his son's treatment but needing to assure himself on the murmur, his area of expertise.

"Can we see him now?" Erica asked needing to see her son after it had been nearly twelve hours since his birth.

"Yes, you may see him. You can now visit him whenever you want, except for when you are needed back downstairs. Please don't have Dr. Coburn yelling at me because you won't leave here."

"That will be one tough accomplishment. It was already hard enough getting her to leave the first time." David put in.

"David please feel free to page me if you want to discuss your sons' condition further." Dr. Ross said before leaving.

Bianca and Kendall had returned just before they were about to go in to the NICU.

"Hey you two are back." Erica said with a smile across her face happy to see them.

"Yes, we wouldn't just leave here and not say anything." Bianca said

"I promised you two that you could see him when he was allowed visitors again. So you gals take your mom in and meet your brother." David said backing from Erica so Kendall could take her mother in.

"David we can't go in and make you wait here. You need to go be with him, you and mom." Bianca said not wanting to intrude on their alone time with their son.

"I'll be in in a couple of minutes. Just go see him already. One look and he will have you wrapped around his tiny fingers." David said finally getting Bianca to go in.

"Ok but if you don't come in here soon I will come back out and get you." Bianca said turning back to her sister and mother as they walked had already started in the room.

David stood against a wall with his hand on his forehead and in his hair. He took a moment to gather his thoughts and walked back to the glass window. He watched the three of them admire that sweet little baby in the bed. He felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder but wasn't sure who it could be. He turned his head a little bit to see Zach Slater standing behind him and slightly to his left.

"I know it's hard standing out here looking in." Zach said remembering the weeks he spent on this floor looking through windows.

"Yeah it is the worst feeling. Like you can't do anything to get to the other side, no matter what."

"How is he doing? I mean Kendall told me that he was doing better." Zach asked

"He is pretty much out of the woods now. It is just some complications and medications that are still ahead. Knowing that it still doesn't make it any easier to stop worrying."

"That's good but why are you out here when you should be in there?" Zach asked partly with confusion but knowing why he was out here.

"I don't know. I think I just need some time. To come to the realization of everything that has happened in the last 12 hours."

"That's understandable. I mean you delivered your son in an elevator. You almost lost your fiancé and your premature son has a life-threatening illness all in a matter of hours. Of course you need time. But you also need to focus on the good. Erica is fine and your son is getting stronger by the second." Zach said patting him on the back.

"Yeah your right. I need to stop focusing on the 'what if's' and focusing on the future." David said trying to gather himself.

"David I'm here anytime you want to talk. Man to man or dad to dad." Zach said his hand on David's shoulder.

"Thanks Zach, I appreciate it." He said finally deciding to go in and visit with his son again.

Zach watched from outside the room and saw Kendall and Bianca leaving just after David arrived. He waited for them to come out and Kendall gave her husband a hug when she saw him waiting out there.

Kendall, Bianca and Erica all slowly moved closer to DJ's bedside. He was under bright lights and hooked to monitors and tubes like the first time she saw him. Only this time his color was better and he looked just as good as she had dreamed.

"He's so small." Bianca said as they were finally near enough to see all of him.

"Yes but he is strong. That's all that matters." Erica said with a smile.

"He will grow fast in the next couple weeks. And soon he will be home with all of us." Kendall added

"I hate just watching him from afar. I want to hold him and touch him but I can't." Erica said tearing up.

"I know it's hard mom, to just watch helplessly but soon enough he will be in your arms." Kendall said holding Erica's hand in hers.

A nurse was walking by to check on DJ and Erica had to stop her and ask a question. "Do you know when I will be able to hold him?"

"I'm not sure." The nurse said trying not to upset her. "It is up to Dr. Ross."

"Well I guess I am going to have to find him then and ask, or send David to do it!" She said in an annoyed tone.

"Get me to do what?" She heard the voice behind her say.

Kendall and Bianca tuned to see him standing behind them. They had seen their brother and felt it was best to leave now and let them have some more alone time with DJ. They turned around and quietly exited the room and Kendall saw a handsome man standing outside the room waiting for her.