The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 27
Kerry: What medicine is that?
Jing-Mei: You'll see. I want to wait until everything is definitely set.
Abby: So Jing-Mei, tell us about your new house.
Jing-Mei: It's at 3339 Bridesburg Way.
Carter: Very nice neighborhood. Somehow I have a hard time picturing Malucci in a classy neighborhood like that. He seems to be more the skid row type.
Jing-Mei shoots Carter a dirty look for putting her boyfriend down, especially since he's not there to defend himself.
Carter: Sorry Deb. It was a joke. Malucci would have agreed with me. (pause) So go ahead, let's hear about the house.
Jing-Mei: It's a single level townhouse with a big backyard for the children to play in.
Carter: Children? Aren't you jumping the gun there, Deb.
Jing-Mei: No, I don't think so. Anyway, it's really big inside with wide doorways, low cabinets, high countertops, bars around the bathtub and toilet and ramps at all the doors. It has wall to wall carpet, central air and a fully renovated recreation room.
Kerry: Sounds great.
Jing-Mei: It is. I just hope Dave will like it when he comes home. I think he will. (pause) I'm going to have you all over once Dave and I get settled. (pause) I better go upstairs and tell him, excuse me everyone.
As Jing-Mei heads up to ICU, she just misses the elevator and has to wait for another one when she changes her mind and heads back to the admit desk.
Luka: Did I just hear Jing-Mei?
Abby: Yeah, but you missed her. Why?
Luka: I needed to ask her something.
Carter: You'll probably catch her up in ICU. She went to tell Dave about their new house.
Jerry: Like he's going to understand her or even hear her.
Mark: As long as she believes he can is all that counts.(pause) Although I don't think she really needed to rent that house. It sounded like a waste of time.
Kerry: If you ask me, she would have done better paying for a funeral and a coffin.
Abby: Yeah, Malucci will get more use out of them then he will a house that he won't ever see.
Jing-Mei(furious): STOP IT! STOP IT ALL OF YOU! YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM LIKE HE'S DEAD! HE ISN'T! IT'S A GOOD THING HE'S NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS! WHAT CHANCE AT A RECOVERY DOES HE HAVE IF HIS DOCTORS AND FRIENDS DON'T THINK HE'S GOT A ROYAL SHOT IN HELL OF PULLING THROUGH!
The ER staff tries to calm a very hysterical Jing-Mei down.
Luka: I'm sure they didn't mean it.
Kerry, Abby, Jerry and Mark: We're sorry Jing-Mei.
Kerry: We know better than that. That was totally unprofessional of us, especially me. I'm was always the one lecturing Malucci about his lack of sensitivity and unprofessional behavior and I turn around and act just like him. Please try to see it in yourself to forgive us?
Abby: I don't know about the rest of you but I am so embarrassed about that.
Mark: Yeah, is there anything we could do to make it up to you?
Jing-Mei: It might take me awhile to get over your comments, but if you really want to make it up to me you guys could go up and visit Dave more often. My telling him about you guys wanting him back isn't enough. He needs to see that this whole ER is pulling for him.
They all agree to visit Dave regularly.
Jing-Mei: By the way Carter, I'll be upstairs in the ICU when you're ready to go to my Lamaze class.
Carter: Alright, I'll be right up after my shift is over.
Jing-Mei heads back up to the ICU as the others resume work.
Jing-Mei: Hello sweetheart, I have some exciting news to tell you. (pause) I rented a house for us. You will love it, I just know you will. If you don't like the color we can paint it. It's on the nicer side of Chicago and it's down the street from a school. The only thing is I rented it from a guy in a wheelchair. I thought it would be easier for you to get around. But I know you'll be up and walking around before our child goes to school. We'll find another place to live when the time comes. (pause) Some of the others from the ER may be coming up to visit you, so you be a gentlemen to them and don't scare them off. In fact, you could wake up and prove them all wrong. They kinda think that I'm wasting my time up here talking to you, that you don't know what is going on. I know that you do. I'll always believe that you will get better and no one will tell me different. (pause) The baby is really kicking at times (she places Dave's hand on her stomach). If it is a boy, he's going to play for the Chicago Bears. It won't be long before we're parents. You are going to be right by my side in the delivery room to welcome our child into this strange and sometimes horrible world. (pause) God, I love you so much Dave. Please open your eyes.
An hour goes by, when Carter enters the ICU.
Carter: Deb, are you ready to go?
Jing-Mei: Yes, I am. (pause) See you later, Dave. Carter is here to take me to Lamaze class, I'll be back later and maybe I'll have a surprise for you by then.
Jing-Mei kisses Dave on his head and gives his hand a final squeeze the way she always does when she leaves him.
Carter: Goodby...
Jing-Mei: John, don't say the g word. Dave may take it the wrong way.
Carter: Right. See you later, Malucci.
During her dinner break, Kerry went up to ICU to visit Malucci. She took a deep breath then entered his room.
Kerry: Hello Dave. It's been a long time. (pause)I've been asking Jing-Mei how you've been doing everytime she comes down, but I should have come up sooner myself. (pause) It's quiet downstairs. No one goofing off, no one flirting with every woman, no one defying my orders, no one back talking me and no one pulling any practical jokes. (pause) It is absolutely....HORRIBLE. It is so boring. I never thought I would say this but we need you back there, if all you do is add comic relief and wear the soles off my shoes chasing you, it's got to be better than it is now. (pause)Jing-Mei, is really looking forward to the baby. I think we all are. (pause)I have a secret if you promise not to tell her. (pause, doubtful) Well, I think I can trust you not to tell. Jing-Mei's been so busy visiting you, she hasn't had much time to shop, so the ladies of the ER, myself included are given her a baby shower. (pause)Any ideas of what to get her?
Kerry: A teddy. (pause) I don't think that would be appropriate at a baby show...Oh, you mean teddy bear for the baby. (pause) I thought you and your perverted mind meant negligee...I guess I know...
Just then Dave's machines start beeping...
Kerry: Dave, Dave...alright hold on there Dr. Malucci!
Kerry heads outside the ICU.
Kerry: Nurse, where's Dr. Malucci's doctor at?
Kerry holds the door to Dave's room and makes a path as Dave's doctor and two nurses rush into the room pushing a crash cart. Kerry enters and tries to help.
Dr. Phillips: What happened here, Dr. Weaver?
Kerry: I was just talking to him when he crashed.
Dr. Phillips: Give him 1 amp epi and charge the paddles. What are his vitals?
Nurse: BP 70/48; Pulse 52; No respirations. Pupils both blown and unreactive to light.
Kerry: Continue to bag. He's starting to seize! Give him 100 cc Tegretol.
Nurse: Charged at 300!
Dr. Phillips: Clear!
Nurse: V-Fib!
Kerry: Starting compressions. Let's get seizure under control!
Dr. Phillips: Charge to 350!
Nurse: BP is dropping. He's tachy.
Dr. Phillips: When was his last epi.
Nurse: Ten minutes ago.
Dr. Phillips: High dose epi. He's probably thrown a clot. Give him 10 cc heparin.
Nurse: Heparin on board. Paddles charged.
Dr. Phillips: Clear!
Nurse: Still V-Fib.
Dr. Phillips: Charge to 400.
Nurse: BP is still dropping. Pulse is thready. Charged.
Dr. Phillips: Clear.
Nurse: Sinus rhythm. BP increasing 100/ 60.
Dr. Phillips: Who's on call for surgery?
Nurse: Dr. Romano.
Dr. Phillips: Page him. Tell him to scrub in OR 3.
Dr. Phillips and the other nurse wheel Dave to OR 3 as Kerry heads back down to the ER.
Down in the ER, a young woman and a little boy approach Jerry at the front desk.
Woman(Italian accent): Excuse me.
Jerry: You need to fill out a chart and have a seat in chairs. A doctor will be with you.
Woman: I'm not a patient. I'm here to see Dr. Chen.
Jerry: Well, she's not here right now. (pause) But, she should be back anytime if you want to wait, you can... in chairs.
Kerry: Jerry, do you have the number for Dr. Chen's Lamaze class.
Jerry: No, but Dr. Carter's with her. If you need to speak to her, just page him.
Kerry: Do it. (pause) Forget it. Here they come.
Jing-Mei: I don't think I'll ever get use to breathing like that.
Carter: I'm sure you were doing some heavier breathing when you were with Malucci.
Jing-Mei(laughing) Very funny.(pause) Dr. Weaver?
Kerry: Jing-Mei, we were just getting ready to call you.
Jing-Mei: Kerry, what is it?
Kerry: I was visiting Dave and...
Jerry: Excuse me, Dr. Chen there's a woman here to see you(waving the woman over)
Jing-Mei: Where is she?
Woman: Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: Ms. Pancamo. Hi there, cutie(waving to the little boy that is with her). Is that...?
The woman nods.
Kerry: Jing-Mei.
Jing-Mei: I'm sorry Kerry. This is...
Kerry: Jing-Mei! Dave is back in surgery!
Ms. Pancamo: Davey, is in surgery!!
Kerry: Yes he is.
Jing-Mei: What happened to him, now?!
Kerry: He went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing.
Jing-Mei: WHAT!
Kerry: We stabilized him but he had a pulmonary embolism.
Jing-Mei: Who's operating?
Kerry: Dr. Romano.
Ms. Pancamo: Davey, going to be alright?
Jing-Mei: We don't know for sure, yet.
Mark and Luka join them.
Luka: We heard about Dave.
Mark: Dr. Romano is the best. He won't let anything happen to him?
Ms. Pancamo: Dr. Romano?
Kerry: Excuse me ma'am, may I ask who you are?
Ms. Pancamo: Sophie Pancamo, Davey's sister. And the little guy here is Rusty, Davey's son.
To be continued. Please read and review.