Although he was just across the ICU, it seemed to take them hours to get to Ash's bedside. Every step resonated through the slim hallways to them. A nurse slowly pulled back a curtain to reveal Ash resting in a metal-framed hospital bed like Misty's and Brock's. Bruises and cuts covered his hands, arms and face. His mouth was slightly open, due to a ribbed blue tube that entered his lips and disappeared into the darkness of his throat. The other end of it was attached to a large machine. They assumed it was his oxygen. Tubes stuck into his arms at every angle. On the floor at the foot of his bed was a small machine. Three small red lights switched on and off in a pattern, accompanied by a loud click. A black screen hung above his bed. A green zigzag danced lazily on the screen. They knew the zigzag was his heart rate. It looked as though Ash was already gone. A blue tube fed him his air, and his heart rate was floundering. Delia stepped forward to examine her son. Except for the tubes and machines, he looked as though he'd wake up any minute from a pleasant cat nap he was enjoying.
Click.
"Ash, my love, it's me, Mom," Delia suddenly whispered. "I just want you to know that I love you, and that I'm so sorry this happened to you. I want you to be strong and fight. Stay here with me. Brock and Misty survived. They're going to get better. I think you will too."
Click.
"Ash, I know that where you're going is peaceful, bright, beautiful and happy, but you're so young. You have too much to live for. We're all still here Ash. Please fight. Don't leave us."
Click.
"I'm not even sure that you can hear me, but I'll tell you anyway. The doctor is coming to do some tests on you. He's going to determine whether or not you're brain dead. That means, if your brain is dead, then you are dead. I don't think your brain is dead, Ash. I think you're trying your hardest to fight."
Click.
"I'm trying to prepare you for what's going to happen. If you're still there, in any way, please show us, Ash." She rose to greet the doctor who would help decide Ash's fate.
"I'm going to do a simple test," she said. "If his brain is in any way still alive, he'll respond to this." She measured a portion of liquid from a beaker covered in condensation.
"What is that," Brock asked.
"Ice cold water," the doctor answered. "So cold it could cause frostbite in large quantities. I'm going to fill both of his ear canals with it." She approached Ash and positioned her eyedropper to dispatch the water. Brock grimaced sympathetically. The water filled the space. They watched his face expectantly. He didn't deviate from his motionless state. The doctor moved on to his other ear. Again, water flowed in. Again, nothing. The doctor placed the dropper in the beaker. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. Then, she gasped.
"What? What?" Brock and Delia lunged forward.
"His head," she said. "It just twitched."
They watched his face. Sure enough, Ash slightly tilted his head, like a swimmer tosses his head when water seeps in past his eardrum. The doctor smiled. "My stars," she said. "Looks like there is hope after all. Your son is far from being fine, but at least he's not lost like we thought. I'll get some specialists in here and we can help him come back."
The good news buoyed them all. Their relief reached Misty's sisters in Cerulean City. They had fled after the accident because they couldn't face the thought that Misty might have been killed. Now that they knew all three had more than a chance to make it, they came to Viridian to give support and love.
The days that followed, although lighter from hope, were difficult. Brock's physical therapy was grueling and painful. Misty was moved out of the ICU shortly after she woke, but the bandages stayed on her head. Her wounds took exceptionally long to heal. Her limbs were unharmed, but she was still very weak from losing so much blood. It would take a while for her to be at full strength again.
And specialists, surgeons and everyone else imaginable in the medical field worked endlessly on Ash in an effort to help him recover. Their goal was to bring him out of his painfully long coma. Every day that passed in which he didn't wake dimmed their hopes. Delia, Brock and Misty never lost hope. Despite their personal pains and tragedies, hope for Ash's survival was their main concern.
Click.
"Ash, my love, it's me, Mom," Delia suddenly whispered. "I just want you to know that I love you, and that I'm so sorry this happened to you. I want you to be strong and fight. Stay here with me. Brock and Misty survived. They're going to get better. I think you will too."
Click.
"Ash, I know that where you're going is peaceful, bright, beautiful and happy, but you're so young. You have too much to live for. We're all still here Ash. Please fight. Don't leave us."
Click.
"I'm not even sure that you can hear me, but I'll tell you anyway. The doctor is coming to do some tests on you. He's going to determine whether or not you're brain dead. That means, if your brain is dead, then you are dead. I don't think your brain is dead, Ash. I think you're trying your hardest to fight."
Click.
"I'm trying to prepare you for what's going to happen. If you're still there, in any way, please show us, Ash." She rose to greet the doctor who would help decide Ash's fate.
"I'm going to do a simple test," she said. "If his brain is in any way still alive, he'll respond to this." She measured a portion of liquid from a beaker covered in condensation.
"What is that," Brock asked.
"Ice cold water," the doctor answered. "So cold it could cause frostbite in large quantities. I'm going to fill both of his ear canals with it." She approached Ash and positioned her eyedropper to dispatch the water. Brock grimaced sympathetically. The water filled the space. They watched his face expectantly. He didn't deviate from his motionless state. The doctor moved on to his other ear. Again, water flowed in. Again, nothing. The doctor placed the dropper in the beaker. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. Then, she gasped.
"What? What?" Brock and Delia lunged forward.
"His head," she said. "It just twitched."
They watched his face. Sure enough, Ash slightly tilted his head, like a swimmer tosses his head when water seeps in past his eardrum. The doctor smiled. "My stars," she said. "Looks like there is hope after all. Your son is far from being fine, but at least he's not lost like we thought. I'll get some specialists in here and we can help him come back."
The good news buoyed them all. Their relief reached Misty's sisters in Cerulean City. They had fled after the accident because they couldn't face the thought that Misty might have been killed. Now that they knew all three had more than a chance to make it, they came to Viridian to give support and love.
The days that followed, although lighter from hope, were difficult. Brock's physical therapy was grueling and painful. Misty was moved out of the ICU shortly after she woke, but the bandages stayed on her head. Her wounds took exceptionally long to heal. Her limbs were unharmed, but she was still very weak from losing so much blood. It would take a while for her to be at full strength again.
And specialists, surgeons and everyone else imaginable in the medical field worked endlessly on Ash in an effort to help him recover. Their goal was to bring him out of his painfully long coma. Every day that passed in which he didn't wake dimmed their hopes. Delia, Brock and Misty never lost hope. Despite their personal pains and tragedies, hope for Ash's survival was their main concern.