Chapter 21
The ER Trauma team assembled on the roof of Calvert Memorial Hospital to await the arrival of the helicopter. The head of the unit knew only that the Maryland State Police were bringing in two F.B.I. agents who were involved in an accident in the northern part of the state.
For the patients the flight was smooth, comfortable, and quick. Myles sat beside Tara holding her hand in his while the transport team nurse checked her vitals one last time before landing. With a slight jolt, the pilot settled down on the pad and the doors jerked open as hands reach in for Tara's stretcher.
"Blood pressure is 84/40. Heart rate 152. Temp is 104.9," Myles heard the transport team nurse say as Tara was transferred to a gurney. "Respirations 56 and labored while pulse ox is 89 percent on 100 percent O2."
"Okay people, let's get moving," the trauma doctor called to his team. "ABGs, draw a CBC, type and cross two units," he continued on their way to the elevator as Myles was ushered into a waiting wheelchair.
Myles didn't want to release her hand, but the medical team moved so fast pushing him in one direction while taking Tara in another. He strained to hear what the doctor was saying as the helicopter began to take off behind them.
"Blood cultures times two and cath UA with culture," the doctor ordered as he reviewed the chart provided by the flight team. "Portable chest but watch the arm, fractured clavicle. Beth, get a cooling blanket sent down from the OR," he finished as the elevator arrived at the trauma unit.
Watching as the medical team wheeled Tara into a trauma room, Myles' heart went with her. He wanted so much to follow her and not let her out of his sight, but he wasn't let up from his wheelchair until they moved into another room where he was helped into a gown to be examined.
Myles barely felt the doctor poking and prodding at his cuts and bruises as his mind was on the woman across the hall. He had already failed her by not getting her to the hospital sooner and he couldn't let anything more happen. She saved my life and I'm not going to let her lose hers, he vowed.