Hope Eternal Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Time, Healing and Prayers
By: Randi Elkins
I am feeling much better, I have been in the infirmary almost a month. Once Carson received the medication from Mercy Hospital it took some time for him to work out the correct dosage. I became a little sicker before he was able to get the correct dosage. Elizabeth has been by my side as much as she can. She still must take care of Jack Jr., teach and take care of things around the house. I feel so guilty for putting her through this again. I should have gone to see Carson as soon as I started feeling weak and not sleeping well. He could have caught it before it had gotten so bad but thankfully, I am feeling much better. Carson has been out of town checking on another patient. Faith is expecting him back today and believes after he examines me, he will release me. I hope she is right. I am ready to be home with my family and my being home will relieve some of Elizabeth's stress.
Carson got in late this afternoon and had some patients scheduled before he could do my exam. The last patient just left. "So, Jack how are you feeling? Faith tells me you have improved a great deal. Your color is much better than when I left." Carson said as he began the exam. "I am feeling much better. My weakness is gone, and I have been resting much better. I haven't been having any headaches either. I think it is time for me to go home." Carson chuckled, "Well I will be the judge of that. Stand and hold your arms out straight. Don't let them fall until I tell you. I need to see if the strength has returned." I stood there for what felt like hours. "Good, now sit on the bed. I am going to finish up the exam." He felt along my jaw and the back of my head. He moved my arms and legs to judge mobility. As he finished up Elizabeth came in with Jack Jr. on her hip. When he saw me, he yelled, "Daddy!" That was music to my ears. I hadn't seen him since I was admitted. We didn't want to put him at the risk of getting sick. I have really missed hearing his little voice and seeing his sweet face. Elizabeth and I looked at each other and smiled. He began to wiggle in her arms. "Just a minute Dr. Carson is taking care of daddy when he is finished, I will let you down." He was wiggling so much that Elizabeth could barely hold on to him. Carson finished and stepped back, "I am done. You can let him down." Elizabeth put Jack Jr. down and he came running, I met him halfway and scooped him up with a toss in the air. "Oh, I have missed you so much! Daddy is so happy to see you!" I said with excitement. I pulled him close and held him tight. He wrapped his arms around my neck and started gently patting my back. "Missed you Daddy." He said as he continued to pat my back. It looks like my boy missed me too. Elizabeth walked over to us and began to give me a hug. Jack Jr. wasn't going to have it. "No Mommy! My Daddy! I hug Daddy!" He said frustrated that she was trying to get my attention. It did my heart so much good to see that he missed me. Elizabeth leaned in and we kissed. Jack Jr.'s little hand went to the side of her face pushing her away. "Mommy, no!" I couldn't help but laugh. Carson and Faith were laughing with me. Elizabeth stood there trying to scowl but her radiant smile came through. I was ready to go home. "Carson do you think it's okay that I go home? I am ready to have some quite time with my family. Carson shook his head, "I think you are well enough to go home but you need to watch for the warning signs of another infection. You forget that your body has been through a lot over the past few years and it will take a while to get back to where you were before the accident. I understand that this is frustrating, and you want to push yourself, but you can't. This is a process and it won't happen overnight. You really need to rest as much as possible. If you want to go on morning rounds, I think that would be fine but nothing strenuous. Enjoy this time with Elizabeth and your little one." I am so glad I get to get out of this place, "Great! I will follow the doctor's orders to the letter this time. Nathan and I can do morning rounds and work on the house a short time then I will go home at lunch to rest until Elizabeth gets home." Elizabeth frowned at me, "Jack, Carson said nothing about working on the house just the rounds. You heard him say you must pace yourself. We can't risk you getting sick again." "She is right Jack, the type of healing your body needs requires time and care. The house will get finished but you can't work on it for now." Faith gave Carson a peculiar look. It looked like she wanted to say something but didn't. "Okay I understand but can I at least go sit and watch them work. Maybe I could hammer a few nails every once and awhile? This is my family's home and I want to be a part of building it." I could tell my insistence was frustrating Elizabeth and Carson. "No more than 30 minutes a day for now. As you gain strength, we can adjust the time." Carson said compromising with me although it wasn't what I wanted to hear I agreed because I didn't want to upset Elizabeth. "That's a deal as long as I get to increase my work time as I continue to improve." "Yes of course, as you improve. But other than that, I think you are ready to go home. Come back in a couple of days so I can do a recheck and if you start having any changes come see me immediately." Carson is such a caring compassionate doctor. I am glad I have had him taking care of me. I could see the excitement on Elizabeth's face. Finally, I get to go home.
Elizabeth, Jack Jr. and I were on our walk home when Bill came riding up. "Jack it is great to see you out of the infirmary. It will be even better to see you in your Mountie uniform, but I know that might take a while." "Bill he just walked out of the infirmary let's give him some time before we have him back in uniform. Carson just told him healing will be a long process and that he will have to pace himself. We can't risk him getting ill again." Elizabeth said in frustration as nicely as she could. I knew Bill didn't mean anything by it but after all she has been through, I don't blame her for being sensitive. "I am going to take my time and do it right this time. I want to enjoy my time with my family. Although I do look forward to having on my uniform again." I said breaking the tension. Bill just smiled and looked at Jack Jr. and Elizabeth then back at me. Then he said, "Come with me I have something to show you. It will only take a minute and then you can go home." "Where do you want us to go? Jack really needs to get home so he can rest. Can't we see it tomorrow?" Elizabeth questioned. "I think you would really want to see this, and it will only take a moment I promise." Bill said in an insistent tone. Elizabeth and I looked at each other. I shrugged my shoulders then she nodded. Bill smiled, "Little Jack do you want to right with Uncle Bill?" Jack Jr. was on my hip when he began jumping, "Ride, ride daddy, ride!" he said in excitement. I lifted him and handed him to Bill. Bill took him sitting little Jack in front of him. They rode a little ahead of Elizabeth and me. She and I followed behind holding hands.
We had gone a ways up and turned toward our land. "Bill where are we going? This is the way to the new house." I questioned. He turned, "Yes, it is, just follow me." Elizabeth looked at me with a look of curiosity. I smiled at her and we kept walking. We topped the hill where the new house was, and it looked like the whole town was there. "What is all this? What is going on?" Elizabeth said with a smile. As we came closer, I notice Tom and Julie standing on the front porch holding their new little girl. Pastor Frank is here, Elizabeth's father, Abigail, Lee, Rosemary, Nathan, Hickman and many more were there. I believe the whole town really is here. Elizabeth and I got to the steps of the porch; Bill followed behind us holding little Jack. Again, Elizabeth asked, "What is all this?" Abigail came down the stairs with a gentle smile on her face. "While Jack has been sick, and you have had so much going on we came together, and the house is finished. Your home is ready to live in." Elizabeth and I are stunned. We stand there in an amazed silence for a minute. "Finished?" I asked. Abigail said, "Finished." I looked around humbled by these amazing people we call friends and family. Henry walked up with a gold colored nail and a hammer in his hand. He explained, "Well not completely finished. This nail is the last nail that needs to be added. This nail has been passed to every person here. While each person held it, we said individual prayers for you, Elizabeth, and Jack Jr. We prayed for you both to have many wonderful years and memories in this house. When the both of you came to what was then Coal Valley, I wasn't happy to see either of you but now I cherish you as my friends. And as we have learned Hope Valley isn't the same without you." He handed me the nail and hammer. Elizabeth took Jack Jr. from Bill with tears streaming down her face. We walked up on the porch of our new home and I hammered the nail of prayer into the entryway door frame.