Chapter27 – Are You All Here for Joseph Hardy?
"Are you all here for Joseph Hardy?"
"Yes" they all answered as the room became one and rose together to their feet.
"Please, sit down" the doctor smiled gently and seated himself in front of them.
"First of all, I'm Dr Taylor Finch and I have been treating Joseph.
I am not going to lie to you, it was a tricky surgery and it was touch and go in there for awhile. The bullet was lodged somewhere between his spinal cord and his left lung. He wasn't breathing for a while after he was brought in, and he has a nasty knock to the head, from what I understand, this was caused when his head impacted the wall."
Hearts in their throats, the entire Hardy family focused on the doctor, as they knew he held their lives in his hands. "Amazingly, Joseph seems to have a strong will to live and clearly fought with all he had to survive this thing. You must be some pretty special people for that man to want to live so desperately." The doctor smiled warmly as he continued. "It will be a bit of a recovery, but I believe with time and rest, that Joseph will indeed recuperate fully."
A collective gasp was heard and Fenton reached out quickly to grab Kayley's arm as she swayed, overcome with relief at the news. Frank looked at Kayley and spoke the words he knew she wasn't able to get out at the moment. "When can we see him, doctor?"
"He is in recovery now. He is not awake yet. He will spend some time in Surgical ICU, most likely not more than overnight and then he should be in a regular room by the morning. Once he is out of recovery, you can go in two at a time and see him for a few minutes, but I would not expect him to wake up at all this evening. I suggest you see him briefly and then all go on home and get some rest. You folks look like you could use it."
Laura's tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she choked out "I don't know how we can ever thank you enough, doctor."
Liam stepped forward, tears in his own eyes as he reached his hand out to the man who saved his father's life. "Thank you, sir. Thank you for saving my father."
Rarely had the physician been so moved by a patient's family. He reached out and shook Liam's hand. "It's an honour, son. Honestly, though, I think you are all equally responsible for my patient's survival. I think it was love that carried him through this one, guys."
The gentle doctor nodded softly to the little crowd as he made his way back through the double doors. Exhausted, stunned, exuberant, and all with tears in their eyes, the Hardy family came together in one huge hug of support and thanked God above for the amazing outcome.