Warning: Vividly describes a medical procedure.
Chapter 11
"Mrs. Bartlet? We're ready to proceed."
"May I stay?" Abbey knew that usually a patient's family would be asked to leave. "Please."
"Well, it would be unusual but…" Dr. Wilson looked into her eyes and saw the pleading.
"Okay. Just stay over there," motioning her to the side of the room.
Abbey just nodded and moved away from the bed to let the doctor work. Dr. Wilson was giving respect to a colleague. And she was grateful. But being a doctor herself didn't make the procedure any easier to watch.
Dr. Wilson moved to the head of the bed.
"Mr. President, we're going to give you some medication that will make you sleepy and you won't remember anything. If you do wake up afterwards, you'll have a tube in your throat and you'll be unable to talk. Do you understand?"
Jed opened his eyes as he realized the doctor was talking to him. He nodded weakly and reached out for only one person. "Abbey?"
Abbey came back to the side of the bed and took his outstretched hand. "I'm here babe. I love you" as she kissed his hand.
"Go ahead," as he closed his eyes in resignation.
Dr. Wilson motioned to the nurse to inject the sedative into the President's IV. In a few seconds Jed lost consciousness and any awareness of the procedure about to happen. Abbey stayed by his side, holding his hand.
After giving him multiple breaths through the face mask attached to the ambu bag, the nurse turned back to the IV where she injected a small amount of paralyzing medicine that would prevent Jed's gag reflex from interfering with the tube placement.
Simultaneously, Dr. Wilson arranged Jed's neck position from behind and opened his mouth. He placed the laryngoscope blade into the President's throat and visualized the vocal cords. Grabbing the sterile endotracheal tube he slid it down past the vocal cords. He pulled the stiff stylet and the laryngoscope out of the President's throat as he inflated the balloon that would keep the tube in place. The nurse reconnected the ambu bag to the tube and gave the President some deep breaths while Dr. Wilson checked for accurate placement and sounds that air was being exchanged.
After assuring that the ET tube was in proper position, the nurse disconnected the ambu bag and connected the ventilator tubing while the technician adjusted the machine to the proper settings. The tube was taped down to the President's mouth so it wouldn't be disturbed.
Watching the procedure was hard for Abbey, but she knew that it was for Jed's own good. Now that the ET tube was in place and connected to the machine, Abbey also knew that it would be probably be hours before Jed woke again.
If he ever did.
But she believed. She had to. He did.
Dr. Wilson looked at his patient's wife. The fear of the unknown was very evident on her face. Tears had made tracks down both cheeks and her hands shook even as she held her husband's hand firmly.
"Mrs. Bartlet? This was the best thing to do for him. His airway could have closed off completely. It was definitely swelling and the blood gases indicated that he was not exchanging air like he should. That's probably due to the pneumonia."
Leaving her gaze on her husband Abbey replied. "I know all that, Dr. Wilson. But it's still difficult to watch. This is my husband, the father of my children, my best friend. I know it had to be done but it's still so hard."
"Yes ma'am. You know he won't wake up for a while. I'm going to keep him sedated so he won't fight the tube. Why don't you go get some rest?"
"Not yet. I can't leave him quite yet. Any problem with me staying in here for a while?" Abbey turned and pleaded to stay by Jed's side.
"No ma'am. Take all the time you need."
As Dr. Wilson left, Abbey continued her vigil by his bed and this time took both of Jed's hands into her gloved ones.
"Fight this Jed. Come back to me." With those words, her head tilted forward and the pent-up emotions rushed out with the falling tears. "Please come back to me."