CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DECISIONS

Chet thought about all he had just learned and wondered what terrible thing he had done to deserve such cruel punishment from the Lord.

Deciding that maybe Jeanette was right and he should try to have faith in God, he decided to pray to some of his favorite saints.

As he was praying, he began to feel less depressed and realized that maybe; just maybe he may be ok. "Ok, Kelly, stop this silly nonsense and self-pity. Your wife is pregnant and you have a beautiful little boy waiting for you at home! Even if you can't work as a fireman, there is still plenty of stuff you can do. You are no dummy and you know it!"

He turned his bed to upright position and sat up and called for the nurse, who answered, "Yes, Mr. Kelly?"

"Hi, um, I was just wondering-do you know if my wife is still here?"

"Yes, I think she is. Would you like to see her?"

"Yes, please. Thank you nurse."

The nurse buzzed off and found Jeanette just where she said she would be-in the chapel praying.

Rushing to Chet's bedside, she was glad to see him smiling a little.

"Chet, what is it?"

"I've just realized that you are right-I shouldn't be so negative and down on myself. I wanted to apologize to you about the way I acted before. you are right, I do have a lot to live for."

"Yes, dear you do. What made you realize this so quickly?"

"I don't really know, but I had decided to pray a bit and suddenly it hit me. Guess God took a sledgehammer and hit this old hard Irish noggin with some common sense. I guess He hasn't given up on Kelly yet, huh?"

"No, Chet, I told you that, didn't I? You have a lot of people praying and pulling for you and who love you very much."

And suddenly she giggled and Chet looked curiously at his wife.

"Including this little one, he or she just kicked me as I said that, letting daddy know he or she is pulling for you too!"

Chet smiled at his beautiful wife and said,

"Well, I bet she is! I think you are going to have a girl and if I'm right, can we name her Sarah? That is my favorite girls' name?"

"Of course, Chet, Sarah Anne Kelly. How do you like that?"

"I like it a lot. Well, Sarah Anne Kelly, your daddy loves you very much, too." And as he laid his hand on his wife's growing belly, the baby kicked, as if in response to her name. Both Chet and Jeanette just smiled lovingly at one another.

Meanwhile, Dr. Craig and Dr. Brackett were discussing Chet's case.

"Mark, I'm not trying to undermine you or anything, but, and I think you will agree, I think Chet may do better, psychologically, back home in Rampart, where his friends and family can be there for him. What do you think?"

"Well, Kel, to be honest, I know you are probably right, but I don't think he is fit to travel right now, do you?"

"No, of course not, Mark. But I figure if can get that lung reinflated within the next forty-eight hours, he should be ready. But not until YOU give the go ahead, ok?"

Mark Craig thought about this and made a quick call: "Hello, may I please speak with Dr. Auschlander."

Putting his hand over the phone, he explained, "Kel, Dr. Auschlander is the Head of Respiratory Medicine. I want him to check Chet over Before he does any long distance traveling, ok?"

"Daniel? Hi listen, can you come to my office? I have an interesting case for you. Ok, thanks. See you in a bit."

"Kel, Dr. Auschlander is a remarkable individual. He has been a mentor to me since I joined the staff here. I think you will like him, too."

As they were talking, there was a knock and Dr. Auschlander inquired: "May I come in, gentlemen?"

"Of course, Daniel. Anytime and thanks for coming so quickly.

"I'd like to introduce you to an old classmate of mine,

"Dr. Daniel Auschlander meet Dr. Kelly Brackett, head of Emergency at Rampart General Hospital in Los Angeles, California."

The two colleagues shook hands and all three spent a few minutes comparing practices and the East verses the West Coast.

After a while, Daniel became all business and said, "Mark, I know you didn't ask me here just to meet this brilliant young doctor. Do you have a case you need consulting with?"

"Yes, I... we do. It is that young fireman from Los Angeles that we just operated on. As you know, he has a right hemopneumothorax, which we put a chest tube in and it seems to be reexpanding fairly well, so far.

"But Mr. Kelly is very upset and depressed.

"You see, he just got over a very stressful and difficult year of being confined in a complete body cast, having his jaw wired and extensive rehabilitation. In fact, the man just returned to active duty twenty-one days ago and now this.

"So you see, he is physically doing fair, but mentally I am afraid he is critical. He appears very depressed and angry.

"Dr. Brackett, why don't you tell Dr. Auschlander what you have suggested to me?"

"OK, Mark, I will. Well, Dr. it is my feeling that Chet would improve faster, both physically and psychologically, in Los Angeles at Rampart. He spent his hospitalization with us and did well. He would be able to have visitors and be in his own home area.

"I can almost guarantee that we could ensure Chet to have the room he had before.

My colleague, and close friend, Dr. Joe Early is Head of our Thoracic Department and like me, very familiar with Mr. Kelly. So what do you think?"

"Joseph Early, white hair, single who loves jazz?"

"Yeah, that describes him. How do you know him?"

And laughing a bit, Dr. Auschlander answered, "Son, it's a small world indeed. Dr. Joseph Early is my brother in law!"

"Really, did he know you are here? He never mentioned it to me, but then again, I did leave in a rush, didn't I?"

"Is he at Rampart now, do you know?"

"Yes, he may be. Let me call and see."

And dialing the number, Kel was surprised when Joe, himself, answered the phone.

"Hey, Kel, how is it going? How is Chet faring?"

"Pretty well, Joe, considering. He has a chest tube and extensive burns. He is on a Circulatron bed again.

"Hold on, Joe, someone wants to speak with you."

And he handed the phone to Auschlander, who said, "Hey, Joe, been a while. Your sister misses hearing from her little brother. How are you doing?"

"DAN! I forgot you worked there. I'm ok. Tell Catherine I will call her this week, I promise. You know how crazy Emergency can get.

"Did you take care of Chet?"

"No, I didn't, my very capable head of ER and Surgery did. "