Surgery time for Claire. Amber
Chapter 20
It was Sunday night in late January and Claire was in the hospital at National Children's hospital in Washington DC. Her father was sitting in a chair that she knew would fold out into a bed. He had a pillow and blanket from the house. She too had a pillow and her favorite blanket from the house. It was a red, white, and black quilt that her great Aunt Gertrude had made her. She had matching pillow shams on her two pillows. They had to fold the quilt in half because it was a queen. Her mother was also in the room. She would be leaving shortly and come back early in the morning with Brooke. Claire's blood tests had come back okay. Dr. Androau had stopped by earlier. She was feeling very nervous.
Frank saw the heart monitor and frowned. Her heart rate was up to 150. He stood up and took her hand. "It's okay kiddo. Take slow deep breaths."
Joe came into the room. "Are we…" He stopped mid sentence and hurried over to grab her oxygen. He put the nasal cannula in her nose and turned on the oxygen to two liters. "Slow deep breaths through your nose sweetheart."
Joe watched as her heart rate came down a little. He nodded. "Okay that's a little better. Feeling nervous?"
"I'm scared."
Joe left the room. Frank knew he went to find the nurse. Frank kissed her forehead. "It's going to be alright pumpkin."
Joe came in with her nurse, Jane. Jane approached the bed. She saw the elevated heart rate. Joe said. "I put her on the oxygen, I'm a doctor."
"She has it PRN, that's no problem. I'm going to give you some valium to help you relax."
She turned and left the room.
Fenton and Laura Hardy walked in. Claire was happy to see him. "Grandpa!"
He came over. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Hi kiddo."
Laura was rubbing his back. "He insisted on coming."
Claire said. "Grandpa you can come once I'm out of surgery. I'll have my own room."
Fenton smiled. "I'll be here for you throughout."
"You need to rest. I know a little exercise is good for you but you just had heart surgery too and you're older than I am."
They all laughed. Fenton said. "Yes that's very true kiddo. But it's been two months and a half months and I feel great."
Laura kissed her cheek. "We'll see you tomorrow." She glanced at her heart rate. "Joe honey."
Joe answered her. "The nurse is bringing her some valium."
Laura nodded. "Okay. We'll be back tomorrow sweet girl."
The next morning Callie and Brooke walked into the hospital and went to Claire's room. Claire was sleeping. Frank was shaving. "Morning ladies."
Brooke sat on the fold out bed. "Did she sleep well?" She whispered.
"They had to give her valium around 1 o'clock this morning."
"No wonder she's tired." Brooke said.
Joe came in. "Morning."
Frank hugged his brother. "Morning. Thanks for coming."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else."
Rick came in next. "Morning." He kissed Callie's cheek.
Claire opened her eyes. "Sissy!"
Brooke smiled. "Hi squirt. I love you."
"Love you."
Callie watched the sweet scene in awe and gratitude. She thanked god daily for her children and the love they had for each other. She said a silent prayer now. 'God be with our daughter today, be with her medical team give them the insight and the ability to do what needs to be done. Amen.'
Frank had taken her hand. He knew she was praying and prayed with her. He loved his girls so much. They had brought them so much joy. Callie held up a bakery bag then put her finger to her lips. Frank nodded. Claire was NPO. He'd eat his donut once she was in surgery. He did take a sip of coffee though.
Dr. Androau came in along with Maggie's father Dr. Grant. Callie smiled. "Samuel good to see you."
"Likewise."
Claire sat up. "You did it. You're my anesthesiologist."
"Yes, I'll be putting you to sleep. First, with a mask. Then we'll insert an IV and use medicines through there. You may have to breathe with a breathing tube for a bit after you wake up. That is normal."
Dr. Androau said. "One parent can suit up and go with you in the operating room until you are asleep. Who did you pick."
"My daddy...sorry mommy he makes me feel safe."
Callie kissed her. "He makes me feel safe too. I understand."
"Right now we are going to take you down to the pre surgical area."
Claire paled. "Now?"
Frank soothed her. "It's okay pumpkin."
Laura Hardy and Fenton came in. Claire narrowed her eyes. "Grandpa don't push it."
Fenton chuckled. "I'm fine kiddo. It's been ten weeks."
Brooke said. "Yes but you get to prop your feet up. You have to prevent blood clots."
Dr. Grant said. "You look good Mr. Hardy. I'm glad you've recovered well."
"Yes. Getting out of the house for short walks really helped."
The nurse came in. "Are we ready to go down?"
Dr. Androau said. "Yes."
Claire thought it was a little cool having her two doctors and her nurse push her bed. She was holding her father's hand. He didn't let go either. They got into a large elevator and it was a squeeze to get them all in. Her Uncle Joe took a picture of all of them inside the elevator. They went down a long hallway to the pre-op. She was wheeled behind a curtain. Dr. Androau said. "See you and your dad in a few minutes."
Dr. Grant patted her leg. "In a few minutes."
Claire's eyes filled with tears. "Mommy I don't want to."
Callie soothed her. "It's okay sweetie. It is a little scary."
Brooke pulled something out of her large purse. "Look who I brought."
Claire held up her hands to it. It was her beanie baby teddy bear she named. "Huggie!"
Brooke smoothed her hair. "You can't take him with you. I'll baby sit until you get to your room, then I promise I'll give him to you."
Claire smiled. "Okay."
Her nurse Virginia came over to the bed. She had a bunny suit. "Here dad you get to put this on. Make sure you cover your head with the hood." She turned to Claire. "I have a special hat for your hair and booties for your feet. What a cute bear, what's his name?"
"Huggie! He gives the best bear hugs."
"I'll bet he does."
She saw that Frank was suited up. "Alright sweetie you get to walk into the operating room now with your dad holding your hand."
"I'm scared."
"It's okay to be scared. But Dr. Androau and Dr. Grant know what they're doing."
Frank took her hand. "I'm right here baby."
Claire managed to put one foot in front of the other. She walked into the operating room, her eyes huge. She saw the machines and monitors. She pointed. "What's that?"
Dr. Androau answered her. "A bypass machine, it helps me operate on your heart."
Dr. Grant patted the table. "Let's get you up here kiddo."
Claire climbed up on the table. Her father and Dr. Grant helped her to lie down. She complained. "I'm cold."
"We'll bring you a blanket in just a minute." Said Dr. Grant.
Frank smirked. 'In another minute she wasn't going to know anything.' He kissed her forehead.
"What flavor do you want to smell when I put you to sleep? I have strawberry, bubblegum, cherry, vanilla, orange, or mint."
Claire had to think. She hated bubblegum and didn't care for strawberry either. "Cherry please. Daddy will I wake up during the procedure?"
Frank soothed her. "No baby that is why Dr. Grant is here. His job is to keep you sleeping while Dr. Androau fixes your heart."
"That's exactly right. I'm going to place this mask on your face now kiddo, just focus on taking deep breaths for me alright." Dr. Grant said.
"Okay."
Claire could smell the cherries and took a deep breath then another. Her eyes started feeling heavy. The last thing she saw was her father's face as she fell asleep.
