-=*=-To Austria With Love -=*=-

Chapter VIII

Neil guided me back inside, all too soon, at least to my way of thinking! I wanted more then anything to go home, with Neil! I wanted to be alone with him, not walking back in here. Where I felt humiliated and degraded. But Neil was right; the best thing for us to do was to walk back into the ballroom as though nothing had happened, just as though we had never heard a word the gossips had said. I knew how badly Neil wanted this position and even more, I knew how badly he wanted a promotion. I reminded myself once again that I had come here for Neil and for no other reason.

We danced again, just as we had before. Enjoying our evening together to the best of our ability. It wasn't very often that we had evenings together like this and we allowed the gossips to think whatever they wished--of course they would anyway!

'I was caught up in the gleeful harmony beating at my temples, singing in my blood, pulling at my nerves, tinglingly delightful. Neil danced as naturally as a bird flies or a fish swims. By now I knew that I didn't even have to think, I could just give myself to his arm around me with assurance. The guiding arm was so sure and firm, the rhythm such a part of my body now that I could almost forget about my feet.' I recollected these words from my diary as we danced again. I was torn between my gladness at not being able to see the people around us as they stared and my feelings of regret as I realized that Neil could.

When we had danced until it almost seemed we could dance no more, Neil commented on how red my face was. I did feel slightly overheated once again. "Christy, I think you need some fresh air. I see a spot where you can find your way outside."

Neil led me to a wall. "If you follow this wall for about ten feet you'll come to a doorway that leads to the terrace, I'll get us some punch and meet you out there."

"I think I can do that Neil." I said nervously.

"I *know* you can Sweetheart! Just keep your hand on the wall and follow it to the door. Take it easy and don't try to hurry. There's nothing on the floor and no furniture for you to concern yourself with. I love you, Christy! I'll be out very soon. I promise."

I started out slowly. Being in new territory which I had never traversed alone before was frightening, but if as Neil said, there was nothing obstructing my way I would be able to make it out to the terrace with no problems. I felt a little unsteady as I began, but I mustered my courage to continue for I would not allow the gossips to beat me down!

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Neil was proud of his wife this evening she was trying so hard to do what he wanted. He stood back and watched for a moment as Christy made her way along the wall. With her first unsteady steps he nearly reached for her, but thought better of it and he was correct because it was with the third and forth steps that she gained her composure and steadied herself without his help. He then turned and moved toward the table with the punch bowl.

As Neil was pouring punch into the second cup someone came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Well, Dr. MacNeill! I've been watching you!" Neil felt his heart skip a beat as Dr. Fuchs made this comment, for he was unsure what would follow. "You seem to be enjoying your evening with us, are you not?"

"Oh yes! Very much Dr. Fuchs, thank-you! Christy--my wife, is having a wonderful time as well."

"I could see that!" Dr. Fuchs added with a smile and a paused. "You have impressed me tremendously Neil and I don't just mean this evening. I've been watching your research and following your patients with great interest. You are a dedicated, concerned-- compassionate professional. I like to see that in the people who work in my hospital. The fact that you were willing to relocate to Vienna makes you even more impressive. But this evening, I've noticed a few things I didn't know before. I didn't realize you are a married man. Not that, it makes a difference to me, you understand, and it has definitely not disrupted your work at the hospital in the least. What I'm trying to say is, seeing that your wife was even willing to relocate is even more impressive. This is a family venture then Neil. Do you have any children?"

"Not yet, sir. But we're hoping to have one soon."

"Splendid!" Dr. Fuchs replied with a smile. He paused as he rubbed his chin with his hand. "I wish to see you in my office on Monday, Neil. I think I may have something that would be of great interest to you."

"I'll be there sir, whenever you prefer."

"That I'll have to let you know about on Monday. I'm not positive of my schedule for the day, but when I have a free moment, I'll let you know." Dr. Fuchs paused for a moment with a serious expression on his face, "I know I shouldn't ask this, but it is my line of expertise. May I ask how your wife lost her eyesight?"

"She was thrown by a horse, Doctor. She fell down an embankment and struck her head on a rock."

"I see. And what was the prognosis?"

"Well…" Neil began, and then proceeded to tell Dr. Fuchs all the details surrounding Christy's accident. Neil was worried, though. He knew he was leaving Christy out on the terrace by herself for far too long. She would begin to worry, but he prayed she wouldn't panic! "… That's why I wished so badly to bring her here. I was sure someone here could help her!"

"Of course I would be willing to examine her, but if the optic nerve is truly damaged there is very little I can do."

Neil nodded his head sadly. "I know." He paused. "I was hoping against hope I suppose. It just tears my heart out to watch her struggle with everyday life. Eating is difficult, dressing, cleaning--*everything* is extremely difficult for her. Though getting better with time and experience." Neil had tears in his eyes as he spoke. "I have never spoken much of this to Christy for that very reason. I didn't wish to raise her hopes only to have them dashed."

Suddenly someone came in yelling something Neil could not understand. Dr. Fuchs set his punch glass down quickly and raced toward the terrace door. Yelling back over his shoulder to Neil, "Come quickly Dr. MacNeill!"

Neil felt a wave of panic knowing he left Christy out there. "Dear God, No!" Neil cried as he reached the door pushing his way through the crowd of people, his heart nearly stopped as he found servants standing at the base of the stairs with lightss shining on his precious wife lying at the bottom of the marble stairs.

"Christy!" He cries as he raced down the stairs, "NO!!"

"Immobilize her neck." Dr. Fuchs demanded after a cursory examination. "We must move her to the hospital as quickly as possible!"

Neil knelt down beside his wife and picked up her hand with tears streaming down his face. "I'm sorry Christy. I'm so sorry for leaving you out here all alone!"

People all around offered to help. Dr. Fuchs picked out a group of men to help carry Christy out to his automobile.

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Neil held his wife's hand as the men lifted her from the ground. She was unconscious.

As they were taking Christy away Dr., Mrs. Fuchs and Neil hear the same women speaking that were gossiping before about Christy.

"See! I told you *she* didn't belong here! This only proves my point!" Neil shot them an accusing glance but continued on with his wife. Dr. Fuchs looked at his wife and she said, "I'll take care of this. You go on with Mrs. MacNeill!" She turned toward the ladies who were still gossiping and telling everyone who would listen their opinions about Christy *and* Neil!

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At the hospital Christy was taken into surgery once again. Neil immediately called Pastor Schmidt for prayer.

He was beside himself with worry this time. He felt responsible for this accident. 'If only I had been out there with her, none of this would have happened!' He told himself.

He sat in the waiting room with his head in his hands, alternating between prayer and worry. Never before had he felt so guilty for an accident's occurrence as he did for this one! Something inside of him kept telling him to go out to the terrace, but he didn't want to be rude to Dr. Fuchs. But these thought helped nothing at all, for then he felt as though he were putting his career, or worse yet, his possible promotion before his beloved wife! "Dear God," He prayed. "I didn't want to put my career first. I was sure Christy would be all right out on the terrace for a few minutes without me… I know, I was inside for more then a few minutes… Please heal Christy of this wound. It's my fault that this happened, not hers, please don't punish her for my wrongdoing! You know I love her more then I love my own life--take me instead… But please, I beg you, PLEASE don't take my wife again!" He started to sob at the end of that sentence and could go on no further.

Neil wished there were someone here to lean on. He had no way to contact Christy's parents. But there was no news to tell them at this particular time. It would have been wonderful to have someone here beside him…

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The pastor of their church contacted the members and asked them to pray for Christy and anyone who felt led to be a support for Neil should go to the hospital to sit with him.

He and Lisle were the first to arrive--and were soon followed by more then half the members of the congregation! There was scarcely room to breathe in the waiting room and there were even more people in the corridor, everyone sat, or stood, with heads bowed each taking turns praying out loud for Christy's healing, and for Neil's strength.

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Dr. Fuchs came out to the waiting room hours later and was taken aback by the massive crowd of people awaiting word of Christy's surgery.

The Doctor picked his way through the throng to the waiting room. Opening the door a crack he stuck his head inside, "Neil, may I speak with you in private, please?"

Neil rose up on shaky legs and wobbled to the door. Pastor Schmidt noticed how much trouble Neil was having making it to the door, so he jumped up and offered him support. Dr. Fuchs agreed to allow the Pastor to accompany them.

Dr. Fuchs led them to a small empty room, which contained a few chairs and a small table. Neil sat on one side of the table and Dr. Fuchs on the other while Pastor Schmidt stood off to the side and behind Neil.

"Neil, you understand that I did not personally perform the operation on your wife. I was there as an assistant and also as an ophthalmologist. Dr. Friese did the actual operation. He removed blood clots from behind your wife's eyes, as well as adhesions and scar tissue from the previous accident and surgery. There must have been continued bleeding following the last surgery, which left behind the mass we cleaned up today. That mass has been pressing on the optic nerve. Has your wife suffered from any headaches since the previous surgery?"

"Oh yes! Excruciating headaches. At least once, sometimes twice a week." Neil replied.

"Well, at the very least we hope to have alleviated those. But I cannot lie to you Neil; she's not out of the woods yet. The bleeding could begin again; there could be complications from the surgery or the accident itself. We have to wait and see, but being the strong, healthy young woman that she is; I don't see any reason not to be optimistic. I'm sure you were told last time that only time will tell, but I'm afraid that's all I can give you as well…" He continued to report to Neil all of the medical terminology for everything that they had done, but it all boiled down to sit back and wait!

'The awful, nerve-wracking wait once again!!' Neil thought to himself.

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End of Chapter 8.

Chapter 9 Coming Soon!!