Chapter 18
January 25, 1995
One month later, Jo took Blair to the doctor's for a checkup.
"Let's see," The doctor said. "Your weight is good and you have been keeping food down for over a month. I think it's about time you got your feeding tube removed."
"When do you want to do that?" Jo asked.
"Sometime next week," The doctor said. "But first you're due for some shots young lady."
"Nooo!" cried Blair.
The nurse brought in two syringes. The doctor started rolling up Blair's sleeve.
"Nooo!" Blair cried again.
"Blair, it's okay," Jo said.
"Don't…let…him," Blair pleaded with Jo.
Jo leaned over and whispered in Blair's ear. Blair calmed down and let the doctor give her, her shots.
"Ow!" Blair cried as the doctor gave her the first shot. The doctor gave the second shot soon after. Blair cried for five minutes.
"Oh, you're fine," Jo said. "Remember our deal?"
"We're all done here," The doctor said. "What did you say to her to calm her down?"
"I told her I'd buy her some make-up," Jo said. "See ya next week."
After a trip to the drug store for make-up, Jo and Blair arrived home.
"So what did the doctor say?" Mrs. G asked.
"He wants to remove the feeding tube next week," Jo said.
"That's great!" exclaimed Mrs. G.
The following week Blair's feeding tube was removed.
Six Months Later - August 1, 1995
In the past six months, Blair's speech had improved, but still was not perfect. Blair had also become more mobile; however she still could not walk without the help of her walker. The kids had all been sent to camp for the summer. On this August day, Blair was taking a nap on the couch and was not expected to wake up for another hour. Mrs. Garrett was in the kitchen starting dinner.
Mrs. Garrett filled two pots with water and placed them on the front burners of the stove. She turned the front burners on and started getting more pots and pans out. Mrs. Garrett remembered something she had to do upstairs, so she moved the pots to the back burners and turned one of the burners off. She didn't realize that she forgot to turn the other one off, as she left the room.
In the living room, Blair woke up with a splitting headache. There was no answer as she called for Mrs. Garrett. Blair grabbed her walker and made her way into the kitchen. The aspirin and all of Blair's other medications were in the cupboard above the stove. Blair let go of her walker to open the cupboard. The aspirin was way in the back, so Blair had to use both of her hands to search for it. Blair still had poor balance and as she let go of her walker, she lost her balance and stuck her left hand on the burner to keep from falling. Blair screamed in pain and quickly removed her hand from the 100 degree burner. Blair collapsed on the floor in front of the stove, sobbing. Mrs. Garrett ran down the stairs as fast as she could, after hearing Blair's cries. Mrs. Garrett found Blair sitting on the floor in the kitchen crying and holding her hand.
"Sweetie, what happened?" Mrs. Garrett asked worriedly.
Blair showed Mrs. Garrett her hand. Mrs. Garrett could see the imprint of the burner on Blair's hand.
"Oh, you burnt your hand, it's going to be OK," Mrs. Garrett said.
Mrs. Garrett helped Blair stand up at the sink, where she ran cold water over Blair's hand.
"I thought I turned these off," Mrs. G said as she turned the burner off.
Mrs. Garrett grabbed the phone and called Natalie and told her to come over right away.
"What are you doing up?" Mrs. G asked Blair as she hung up the phone.
"I have a head…ache," Blair said through her tears. "I could not find you and I need…ed as…pir…in."
"Are you still having headaches?" Mrs. G asked.
Blair nodded.
Natalie entered the kitchen, out of breath.
"I ran over here as fast I could," Natalie said. "What do you want me to do?"
"Stay here with her," Mrs. G said. "Make sure she keeps her hand under the faucet, while I get a wet towel."
Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. Garrett and Natalie were in the emergency room waiting room waiting for news on Blair. A doctor came out, talked to Mrs. Garrett, and then went back into the room. Mrs. Garrett walked over to Natalie.
"Blair suffered second degree burns to her hand," Mrs. G said. "She can go home, they want us to change the bandage every day, and he wants a doctor to look at her hand in three weeks."
Natalie helped Blair to the car, when the doctor said they could leave.
Three Weeks Later - August 22, 1995
"How's your hand?" Jo asked Blair.
"Fine," Blair said.
"You ready to go get that bandage taken off for good," Jo asked.
"Yes," Blair said.
"Come on, let's go," Jo said.