Charlie and Zoey looked up when Elizabeth was escorted into the waiting room by the Secret Service. It was four thirty am and the surgery was still going on. All they had heard were hourly updates that their father's surgery was continuing with no surprises. That was all. But time was dragging. Ellie had been there from the beginning and Leo had arrived about two. But otherwise, no changes in three hours.
"Charlie, how much longer?" Zoey wished her mother was there. At least with her medical background she could answer some of the questions the daughters had. But with her on the other side of the world, Zoey knew it was impossible. If she called her mother now, it would only increase her mother's already high level of stress. She really didn't want to call until she had something to report.
"I don't know, Zoe. The doctors will tell us something when they have something to tell us."
Liz spoke up. "Zoey. Leo. Did either one of you see Dad before surgery? How did he look?"
"He didn't look so good, Liz," Zoey responded. "He was pale and didn't know I was there and…" She started to cry so Charlie hugged her tightly, trying to give her some comfort.
Leo stepped in. "Liz, he had blood in his hair from the bleeding from the gash where he had apparently hit the tub in the bathroom, but they had stopped that bleeding. It definitely was not a pretty sight. I think you should be glad you weren't there."
"Yeah, I guess so. Leo, have you heard from Mom? Does she know?"
"Yes, she called me after I left here the first time. She was upset, of course, but I promised her that we would keep in touch. I have sent a plane for her and the traveling party. They should be home day after tomorrow. Oh, I mean late tomorrow. Oh hell, I can't keep track of the time. Anyway, she should be home real soon. Australia is a long way from here."
"How is she otherwise? She's been through a lot herself."
"You know your mother. More worried about others than herself. But she getting a lot of rest on board the ship and once on the way home, I think she'll feel better. I sent the plane that normally carries your father when he travels so she'll be traveling back in comfort. She should be rested when she gets back."
"That's good."
The clock ticked by a few more minutes. Then the door opened and Dr. Hackett and a different physician, both in rumpled scrubs, walked in. Everyone stood, waiting for news.
Dr. Hackett spoke first. "Surgery went well. I'll let Dr. Wilson, the neurosurgeon, explain the details."
Dr. Wilson came forward. "We did find a nickel sized clot in the left temporal side of the President's brain. We suctioned it out and then found a vessel that was seeping blood that apparently burst when he hit his head. At first, we had some difficulty sealing the vessel, but eventually was able to seal it off. We also ran another CT scan with contrast, that means with dye, to see if there were any other leaks in the brain. Unfortunately, we did find a second one. That's what extended the length of the surgery. It was so small and so deep it took us a long time to seal it, but we eventually were successful. Finding no others, we were able to complete the surgery. We put the skull plate back on. He will be on medications to reduce the expected brain swelling, but if there is extreme swelling, we'll have to take him back to surgery to relieve the pressure. We'll just have to wait and see. Right now, he's being settled in neuro ICU and will stay there indefinitely so he can be assessed closely."
"Dr. Wilson, what are the potential complications?" Leo had the courage to ask. He knew the daughter's minds were probably overwhelmed right now. Even Ellie's.
"Well, of course, we have to watch for infection, for brain swelling, for any number of things. It really is just a matter of wait and see of how his body tolerates the lengthy surgery. And of course, with the MS, that throws an unknown into it."
"What about his neurological status?"
"We can't really assess that until he regains consciousness. The temporal lobe of the brain controls memory, speech, and personality, among many others. So we just have to wait."
Leo looked around the room, noting each face as the doctor ran down the list and prayed that Abbey would get back soon so she could comfort her girls. "Thank you both. When can his family see him?"
"I would prefer that you wait a couple of hours. I know you are anxious, but right now it is critical that he is observed closely for any changes and the staff has the ability to quickly intervene should anything occur. I hope you understand."
Although disappointed, the girls nodded. They didn't want to do anything to jeopardize their father's health.
"I'm going to ask the White House Press Secretary to call you, Dr. Wilson in order to help create a brief statement to the press. If you could help her, I would sincerely appreciate it."
"Of course. I will be glad to assist the White House in any way."
With that, both doctors left and the family group sat down. Leo continued to stand as he went over in his mind his next actions. His watch said 5:45 am and he was totally exhausted. He had to get some sleep to be any good to anyone. "I'm going to leave now. I want one of you to give your mother a call and let her know what's going on. She has her cell and I would think she will pick up immediately. Tell her the plane left here at four am Washington time and it's an 18-hour flight time. The American ambassador will meet them at the Naval base and make sure they get to the airport. Got that?"
Liz nodded. "I'll make sure she knows. We want her back here as much as she wants to be back here."
"Yeah. Call me if you need anything, or if there is a problem. I'll try to get back tonight. I love you all. You know that, right?" The girls nodded. "Okay. Your father will be fine. I just know it."
Leo left hopeful that the worst part was behind them. He had called his driver who was waiting outside the main door of the hospital. After asking him to take him back to his hotel, he dialed Josh's cell. "Josh, it's Leo. I just left the hospital. The President's surgery went as well as it could. They found two clots which they removed, but we now just have to wait and see how he does. I am totally exhausted and I'm going home. I want you and Sam to staff Russell until I get back, which hopefully will be around noon. Let Margaret know where I am. And tell CJ that the neurosurgeon, a Dr. Wilson, is willing to help her with the details in order to creating a press release regarding President Bartlet's surgery. Got all that?"
"Sure, Leo. No problem. Get some rest. We'll handle everything."
"Thanks, Josh."
By this time, Leo had arrived at the hotel. He made his way into his suite, took off his shoes and jacket, and by the time he made his way into the bedroom, he had no more energy to go no further. Taking off his glasses, he fell face forward on the bed, probably asleep before his face hit the pillow.