Chapter 8
Abbey stood outside Jed's room, looking into the glass enclosed space. But except for a sleeping person in a bed, there wasn't much to look at. Since Dr. Wilson had to restrict Jed's visitors, this was the closest she could get to him right now.
"How is he?"
Abbey was startled out of her thoughts by Leo's question.
She shook her head. "Not good. He didn't wake during the transfer. His vital signs on admission showed a temperature of 103° F, a rapid pulse of 130, and increasing difficulty in breathing. An x-ray showed fluid in the lower areas of his lungs which could indicate the beginnings of pneumonia. The doctor started an IV to give him fluids and antibiotics but it won't cure the flu. It'll just help with the symptoms and the possible pneumonia. And how this will affect his MS is a big unknown."
Leo badly wanted to say that his President and his best friend would get better but he knew enough not to give Abbey empty words.
"I have some more bad news."
Abbey kept looking at her husband through the glass barrier. "What now?"
"I just got word that Director Black has been hospitalized in Atlanta with similar respiratory symptoms. The CDC has now received the blood samples from the three victims and is attempting to confirm the diagnosis."
"Diagnosis of what?" Abbey asked even though she knew the response.
"Avian influenza A virus."
"What do you think, Leo?"
"Abbey, I don't really know. I'm no doctor but it certainly is a strong possibility."
Down deep she knew that but didn't want to utter the words herself. That would be giving in to her fears.
"Has Dr. Wilson talked to you about taking the anti-viral medicines as a precaution?"
"Yeah. Hackett has also made arrangements with the White House Medical Office for any personnel who has had any contact with him since his return from Asia to start on it as well. He doesn't think that most will have any problems but with this stuff you can't be too sure. There's too much that is still unknown. Ron is seeing that his agents get the medicine. Is Dr. Wilson going to start the President on this as well?"
Silence.
"Abbey, is Dr. Wilson going to give some to Jed?"
"Oh, sorry. Yeah. From what I've read this is really the only true treatment. But there's some indication that some virus strains might be resistant to it. We'll just have to wait and see."
"Great. More 'good' news. Looks like we're batting zero at the moment."
"Yeah." Tears began to fall from Abbey's eyes. She prayed that something would work. "Leo, it's like throwing some stuff against the wall to see what sticks."
"Well, let's hope something sticks."
Only silence greeted that comment
The life of the President of the United States hung in the balance.
More importantly, Jed's life hung in the balance.