Chapter 13
The next morning Abbey remained at her post outside Jed's isolation room.
"Why doesn't he respond? Three days! Three whole days and no change." Abbey the doctor was frustrated. Abbey the wife was scared.
"We don't know. This is all unknown to us. I stopped the sedation last night so I would have thought he would be more aware today." Dr. Wilson had come up beside her, gazing in the window as well. Abbey had been inside a couple of times each day, hoping that her presence would be the key for him to regain consciousness. But so far it hadn't happened.
"I know. I guess I was just hoping you had gained some more information in the last thirty seconds than you've been able to gather over the last three days."
Both gave a small laugh.
"But I do have some good news to report."
Hopeful, Abbey turned to face Dr. Wilson. "Yes?"
"Yes. His vitals signs are stable and his temp is almost normal. We took an x-ray this morning and the antibiotics are clearing up the pneumonia nicely. His blood shows a substantial decrease in the viral load so we're lifting the isolation precautions immediately. As to why he doesn't regain consciousness, I really can't say. We're going to decrease the ventilator settings over the next few hours and see if we can't pull it this afternoon. I think his lungs are well on their way to healing so its time."
"That is good news. Now, if he would only wake up."
"Mrs. Bartlet, I understand your frustration. I share it. But with every patient that I've seen or read about, they all go through a different process. The President is charting his own path through this process."
For a few moments no words were spoken as both doctors looked at the patient.
Finally, Dr. Wilson broke through the silence.
"Do you want to be in the room when we pull the tube? I mean, maybe then you can get him to respond. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't."
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Okay, be here about three and we'll see what happens."
"I'm not going anywhere. Thanks."
"My pleasure." Dr. Wilson turned and walked away as Abbey's hopes were raised for the first time in days.
She believed. She had to. He did.
As she continued to gaze in the window, Liz came up beside her.
"Mom, why don't you go rest? Someone will call you if Dad wakes up. I'll stay if that means you'll rest."
Abbey turned to Liz. "I'm fine. Really. I'm not leaving."
"Mom, please listen to… Mom!" as her mother collapsed, unconscious.
"Someone help me!" Liz frantically yelled and sat down by her mother, checking for a pulse as agents scurried to help the First Lady.
Dr. Wilson heard the commotion and ran to Abbey's side. After checking for a pulse, he realized that she had fainted, probably from exhaustion and from dehydration as well. He had gotten reports from the nursing staff about her staying for hours on end, just gazing into the room at her unconscious husband.
"What… What happened?" as Abbey quickly regained consciousness.
"Mom, you fainted. You're totally exhausted. Now will you get some rest?"
"Huh? Fainted?"
"Yes, ma'am. You fainted. Now let's get you up and into this wheelchair. You're going to get some rest even if I have to sedate you." Dr. Wilson assisted the First Lady into a nearby wheelchair.
"No. You don't have to do that. I'll go. But Liz, you stay here and come and get me at three. I have to be with Jed when he wakes up. If he wakes up before, you have to promise to come and get me. Please!" Abbey looked with pleading eyes toward her oldest.
"Yes Mom. I promise. But you have to lie down. You have a couple of hours that you can sleep. Probably more that you've had in the past three days combined."
"Okay. Just don't let me sleep any longer than three."
"I promise, Mom. I'll wake you if there's any change."
"Okay." Abbey looked to one of her agents awaiting orders. "I'm going to lay down for awhile. Take me upstairs."
"Yes, ma'am."
As Abbey was pushed away, Liz muttered something under her breath.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Westin. What did you say?"
"I said, 'Stubborn fools.' Both of them."
Dr. Wilson chose not to respond.