Chapter 14
The Frightened Phantom
Chet had surgery to place the chest tube and also to see what, if any, internal damage was done. After surgery, Dr. Craig decided to place Chet on a Circulatron bed, without letting him know. He explained to Jeanette that this is a very common procedure with burn patients and she acknowledged and understood.
Dr. Brackett agreed and commented, "Mark, we shouldn't have a problem with the bed. Chet lived on a Circulatron bed for most of his last hospitalization-we found it easier and more comfortable for him. So I don't see any problems." Mark smiled in agreement.
Suddenly the ICU nurse came out and summoned Dr. Craig, "Dr. Dr. Craig? You better come right away, it's Mr. Kelly. I can't get him to calm down and he is trying to get off the bed. He seems frightened and angry."
Dr. Craig, followed by Dr. Brackett and Jeanette ran in.
Dr. Craig tried calming Chet down by saying, "MR. KELLY, please calm down, you are in Massachusetts General Hospital. You just had extensive surgery and are on a Circulatron bed due to your extensive burns. Dr. Brackett tells me you are used to this bed." And he smiled at the very distraught frightened young man.
"Yes, I know what the hell kind of bed I'm on! AND I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS! It means I can't move AGAIN!"
Jeanette came over to her husband and grabbed his face and made him look at her, "NO Chet, it doesn't mean anything of the kind! A Circulatron bed is almost always used for burns to aid in healing, but you are NOT immobilized like last year. I promise you can move, go ahead and try."
Chet went to sit up but couldn't, but when he tried to lift his legs or thighs he did with no problem.
"Why can't I sit up?"
Dr. Brackett raised Chet to a sitting position and smiled at him, "Well, Chet it's not that you physically can't, my friend, it's just that with your chest tube in and the extensive upper torso burns, it is painful and thus your body is resisting it. OK?"
Looking around at everyone there, Chet visibly relaxed and smiled at his friends and doctors, saying, "OK, I guess. How long am I gonna be stuck here this time? AND HAVE I ANY PERMANENT INJURIES, SO THAT I WILL HAVE TO STOP WORK?"