Chapter Four-Waking Up
Katherine sat beside her youngest son's side, holding his limp hand, it had been a week since the surgery, most of the time they had kept Gordon under anesthesia, they had lifted it yesterday in hopes he would wake up. Charlie had arrived early this morning to stay with his coach, and there he sat talking quietly to him about the game on Saturday.
Katherine was amazed at the dedication from these kids towards their coach. She smiled at the thought that her son had finally achieved his greatest goal, to make a difference in someone's life. She observed the teenager, he was such a sweet man, much like Gordon had been at his age, only less self centered. She was startled when she heard a soft moan emitted from the bed.
"Gordon, it's mom," she said standing up, Charlie hurried into the hall and go Dr. Brandon.
"Mom," he said weakly.
"I'm right here baby."
"Mom, turn on the lights," he said hoarsely. She looked up at Charlie and Dr. Brandon who had reentered. Dr. Brandon crossed towards Gordon and shined lights in both eyes.
"Do you see any light at all Mr. Bombay?" The doctor asked.
"Who are you? Where am I," he said.
"Gordy, honey you're in a hospital, do you remember what happened?" Katherine said.
"Car wreck… I think, bright lights and then nothing," Gordon said, Dr. Brandon could tell Gordon was getting upset.
"Okay Gordon, just calm down, I'm shining a light in your eyes, do you see it."
"No, I can't see anything, why can't I see," he said.
"Okay I need you to calm down for me, you just woke up Gordon, and it's not unusual to have problems sometimes, I'm going to run some other tests, can you squeeze my hand as hard as you can," the doctor said. He repeated this with both hands. Pulling the cover from under Gordon's feet he placed his hands against the soles of his feet.
"Put against my hands like you would a gas pedal," the doctor said. He waited, there was barely any movement in Gordon's feet.
"Okay Gordon, just sit tight for a few minutes and I'm going to go outside and order some tests," the doctor said. He made a movement asking Charlie and Katherine to follow him.
"Why can't he see?" Charlie asked once the door was shut.
"I believe there is some temporary damage to his temporal lope, causing the blindness, as for his legs, he does have feeling in them, but he's going to need massive rehab if he ever plans on walking again, let along coach a hockey team. I'm ordering some brain scans to check for scaring and we'll also do a couple other tests to see about his walking. Give it time, like I said, hopefully they're both only temporary," Dr. Brandon explained gently.
"I'm going back inside until he leaves for the tests, Charlie your welcome to join me," Katherine said. Charlie shook his head.
"No ma'am, the team would probably like to know what's going on." Charlie explained gently as he turned.
"Charlie, he would like to talk to you, I'm sure," Dr. Brandon said.
"I know, I'll be back later tonight, I promise," he said softly. Katherine watched him go and then sighed, walking back into the sanitary room she sighed. Gordon was lying there, looking nervous, sighing Katherine walked over to him, she didn't miss how alert he seemed. He seemed almost afraid.
"Gordy, honey it's me," she said gently.
"Mom, I'm blind?" He asked quietly.
"Yes baby, but they think it's only temporary," she said.
"Mom, you… remember when I was five and I use to run to you and dad's room because I was afraid of the dark?" He asked quietly. She walked over and sat down on the bed, taking her son into her arms. His head on her shoulder and he tried not to cry.
"It's okay honey, shh, I'm here, you can cry all you want sweetheart, no one will blame you," she whispered as he sat in her arms like a child again. She rubbed his back and sighed, she didn't know how to get him through this one. The death of his father when he was ten had been hard. His older brother leaving him had been hard, but this seemed impossible.
"Mom, where are the Ducks?"
"Charlie was here, he'll be back tonight, they won their game Saturday."
"He can't come back, I won't let him see me like this," Gordon said.
"See you like what, Gordon you're the same person you've always been, only with minor problems right now."
"Minor! Mom I'm blind and I can't move my legs. I'm a damn vegetable!" He cried.
"No, you are not a vegetable, so stop talking like that before you start!"
"Mom, I can't even see you…" he said softly.
"Gordy, I think you need to get some sleep, come on lie down," she said gently. Kissing his temple she hummed lightly.
~~~~~~~~
"Blind and paralyzed," Connie said looking at Charlie in shock. He nodded gently, he was still surprised as well.
"Yeah, his mother is with him now," Charlie explained.
"Well, is it temporary, or are we talking permanent veggie," Russ asked, he didn't mean to make it sound bad, but it was his way to ease up tension.
"The doctor said it's probably just temporary. They're going to run some tests to find out more information. The doctor thinks maybe with rehab he'll be okay, as for eye sight, I don't know."
"Charlie, what can we do for him?" Adam asked.
"I don't know Banksie, I don't know, the only real thing we can do other than talk to the doctor is talk to Coach Bombay."
"When will they move him out of the ICU?"
"I don't know, like I said I'll see him again in a few hours. Guys, Coach Bombay needs us now, he may not always want us, but he does need us, we need to be there for him." Charlie said.
"Ducks fly together, let's just hope he doesn't forget that."