Chapter 10: Wait and See Approach
Dr. Simmons had decided after reviewing Eryn's echo results, the results of her heart cath and her lab results that right now a wait and see approach was one that was going to give them all the best chance. This would not only give Eryn time to grow a little under close supervision but also allow for her to be stronger when she was to under go the long operation.
Abby had remained by the baby's side leaving only for short, and very short periods of time. The nurses in the NICU had gotten into the habit of watching the clock to remind her to take a break and go get something to eat, to go and take a nap, that they would come and get her if the slightest thing changed.
Today was the day that she was due to come off the ventilator that had been helping her breath since the day that she was born, and for Abby the thought of being able to hold her again was in the front of her mind. She was anxiously awaiting them to tell her that it was time to remove the breathing tube.
She had gotten use to changing diapers in the NICU making sure that they were all weighted so that ins and outs could be monitored; she smiled down at her daughter and told her stories about anything and everything making sure that Eryn was constantly hearing her voice knowing that she was near her.
Abby changed her little outfit, while clothes where had to find for her, she had some make shift ones that were made by volunteers that accommodated all of her tubes and wires, had nothing on them that interfered with echocardiograms or with the numerous x-rays that the baby always seemed to be having. A fresh diaper later fully dressed with and a soft kiss on the forehead by her mother, Abby smiled once more at the baby, as she placed a pink bow on her head that was held into place by Vaseline. A pink blanket laying across the top of her and a small stuffed ladybug, a small teddy bear, and a pig where there where she could see them. While Abby might have put them in there for Eryn she had done it for herself as well for it made the place seem not so much of a sterile environment.
"There's my beautiful girl." Carter said as he slipped an arm around Abby knowing that she was there, she rarely left and while he worried about her he had the entire NICU staff looking out for her while he was working. He didn't want to have to go back to work the upside was that he was just a few short floors away from Eryn and from Abby and could get upstairs at a moments notice. He spent a lot of his breaks up there with them as well.
"Hey baby." Abby said as she rested one of her hands on top of his, the other still inside Eryn's little fingers were wrapped around Abby's index finger holding on.
"I got a page saying that they were going to extubate her and I got up here as fast as I could." There was a soft smile on his face even though this was a trying time. Granted everything should go well but there was that feeling knowing what he did that something could go wrong and that was the last thing that he and Abby needed was for Eryn to have a setback.
"I don't know, they didn't say when just that they were going to try and do it today." She said softly.
They stood there for a few more minutes their eyes fixated on the child who appeared quite happy and content right now sound asleep.
"Dr. Carter, Abby." A voice said from behind them as Dr. Simmons and Dr. Winters both came over to where they were standing. Eryn had her own little army of physicians that were taking care of her making sure that every medical need that she might have was being met.
"Good afternoon Dr. Simmons, Dr. Winters." Abby said looking at the two men as they stood now near Eryn looking at her. "Are we ready to extubate her?" Abby asked her eyes almost pleading now that they would say yes to her request. She knew the longer that Eryn was on the vent that the harder it would be to get her off and the greater the chance became that there would be some complications.
Abby took a step back so that she would be in the way as the doctor nodded his response to her and finished examining the little one. Her arm found it's way to wrap around Carter so that she would have something to hold onto right now. Her faith was the only thing that was getting her through all of this right now. Faith and hope that everything would work out the way that it was supposed to.
She held on tight to Carter as they slipped the tube from Eryn's small mouth and Abby found herself holding her breath. 'Come on baby you can do it' she said to herself watching and waiting.
There was an eerie silence in the room now as everyone watched and waited to see what Eryn was going to do. Time seemed to be standing still and Abby was now whispering a silent prayer waiting for some sign that Eryn could make it with out the vent.
Then there it was almost as if she knew that her time was up and if she hadn't made a sound they were going to put that tube back in. The very horse sounds of a baby's cries filled Abby's ears as she started to cry tears of utter joy this time. Eryn had done it, she was breathing on her own, very unhappy that they had done that to her, but it was music to Abby's ear.
Carter hugged her close to him, "she did it." He whispered softly so that only Abby could hear them. They watched as they put a nasal canula on the little infant, it was so small almost amazing that it could stay in place.
They both moved over close now to the baby. "Want to hold her mom?"
The question that Abby had been waiting days to be asked, "oh yes." She said, "oh please yes." She thought about giving Carter that chance to hold her first but something inside her wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to ease that ache that she had been feeling since Eryn was born and she had been on the sidelines.
A rocker was pulled over and Abby sat down in it as a pillow was placed on her lap. Then the nurse very carefully handed her, her small bundle of joy. Abby held her close to her, the soft baby smells filling her nose. There was nothing better than the smell of a baby. She gently started to rock the chair running her hand along the side of Eryn's face gently her touch against the baby's cheek. Her own eyes still wet from the tears. She was so happy to have her daughter in her arms once more.
Carter stood and watched in awe of mother and child. Something that he had been wanting and needing to see for days on end. He had been given that chance to spent a little extra time with her when he carried her up to the NICU this was Abby's chance to get that time that she had been deprived of.
For the first time in days both mother and father shed tears of joy rather than tears of worries. While the road that was ahead of Eryn was still long and held uncertainties there was one thing that Eryn was where she belonged right now, in the arms of her very loving mother.