Chapter 5
"What's the verdict, Doc?"
The doctor looked up. "I don't think we were ever properly introduced. I'm Dr. Peterson, Dinah's surgeon." He reached out a hand towards Helena, but she just stood, arms crossed, glaring at him.
Finally, Barbara reached up and took Peterson's hand. "I'm Barbara Gordon, Dinah's legal guardian. How is she?"
Peterson shook Barbara's hand. "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is Dinah made it through surgery and is in ICU. The bullet missed her major arteries by a few inches. She's very lucky."
"And the bad news?" Helena asked. She knew the doctor was holding back.
Dr. Peterson sighed, "The bullet did puncture her right lung. We repaired it in surgery, but she was still having difficulty breathing. We had to put her on a ventilator," he paused, "but that's not our main concern. Dinah hasn't regained consciousness yet. She lost a lot of blood. The truth is we don't know when she will wake up. It could be a few hours or."
"She could never wake up," Helena finished.
"We just don't know."
"What's your opinion doctor?" Barbara asked.
"We've done everything we can do for her medically. Technically, she should make a full recovery. It's really up to Dinah now to wake up."
Everyone sat in silence, digesting the news.
Finally, Alfred broke the silence. "Can we see her?"
"Sure, but only two at a time, though. We only permit two people in ICU at one time."
Alfred placed a hand on Barbara's shoulder. "Why don't you and Miss Helena go see her. I will contact Detective Reese and let him know the situation. Then I'll go see if I can't find some decent coffee."
"Thank you Alfred. Doctor?" Barbara moved her wheelchair forward.
"Right this way," Dr. Peterson turned and Barbara and Helena followed him down the hall.
"What's the verdict, Doc?"
The doctor looked up. "I don't think we were ever properly introduced. I'm Dr. Peterson, Dinah's surgeon." He reached out a hand towards Helena, but she just stood, arms crossed, glaring at him.
Finally, Barbara reached up and took Peterson's hand. "I'm Barbara Gordon, Dinah's legal guardian. How is she?"
Peterson shook Barbara's hand. "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is Dinah made it through surgery and is in ICU. The bullet missed her major arteries by a few inches. She's very lucky."
"And the bad news?" Helena asked. She knew the doctor was holding back.
Dr. Peterson sighed, "The bullet did puncture her right lung. We repaired it in surgery, but she was still having difficulty breathing. We had to put her on a ventilator," he paused, "but that's not our main concern. Dinah hasn't regained consciousness yet. She lost a lot of blood. The truth is we don't know when she will wake up. It could be a few hours or."
"She could never wake up," Helena finished.
"We just don't know."
"What's your opinion doctor?" Barbara asked.
"We've done everything we can do for her medically. Technically, she should make a full recovery. It's really up to Dinah now to wake up."
Everyone sat in silence, digesting the news.
Finally, Alfred broke the silence. "Can we see her?"
"Sure, but only two at a time, though. We only permit two people in ICU at one time."
Alfred placed a hand on Barbara's shoulder. "Why don't you and Miss Helena go see her. I will contact Detective Reese and let him know the situation. Then I'll go see if I can't find some decent coffee."
"Thank you Alfred. Doctor?" Barbara moved her wheelchair forward.
"Right this way," Dr. Peterson turned and Barbara and Helena followed him down the hall.