Epilogue: Winter 1965

Saving Rhoda

Shelagh stepped away from Rhoda's side, over to the haemorrhage trolley and handed Patrick an empty calibrated bowl in exchange for the overflowing container in his hands.

"We'll need at least 50 mils of ergometrine," Patrick stated.

As Shelagh nodded and hurried to the door she saw him begin uterine massage to encourage Rhoda's uterus to contract. Shelagh leaned out into the corridor and called urgently to Nurse Anderson, "Obstetric haemorrhage; we are in need of ergometrine and please call for an additional midwife."

Mere moments later Lucille arrived with the medicine, followed by Nurse Dyer. Shelagh took over for Patrick and he administered the injection. "Prepare a second one just in case," he instructed Nurse Dyer.

Nurse Anderson stepped to the head of the bed and spoke softly to an unconscious Rhoda, "Baby is being looked after in the nursery, Mrs Mullucks, we need you to summon your strength and stay with us."

"How much blood has she lost?" Patrick inquired. Valerie reported her findings based on the amount in the two containers plus an estimation of what was on the floor. Although the bleeding had slowed, it had not stopped.

"She needs a transfusion. Nurse Dyer, check her blood group and call for two units." While Valerie followed his instructions, he turned to Shelagh, "I'll give her the second injection; you'll need to start the intrauterine balloon." Shelagh quickly found the item in the third drawer of the haemorrhage trolley and returned to Rhoda.

Pointing to Nurse Anderson he added, "Wait until Nurse Dyer returns and starts the transfusion, then I want an ambulance on standby in the event these measures don't generate immediate improvement." The young nurse nodded while continuing to support Rhoda with quiet words of encouragement.

Shelagh inserted the collapsed balloon into the patient's uterus. It was meant to expand as it filled with blood, stemming the blood loss while providing compression. An attached tube would allow for drainage if the haemorrhage continued beyond the size of the balloon. By the time she finished the procedure, Nurse Dyer was in the process of setting up Rhoda's IV and Nurse Anderson had left to phone the ambulance.

Several minutes later, Rhoda's color had noticeably improved as had the rest of her vital signs. Tension still hung about the room but it was now tinged with hope. Nurses Anderson and Dyer stood on either side or Rhoda's bed, continuing to assess her condition.

Patrick stepped away and Shelagh followed, knowing he would want to talk through the management for each possible outcome. Deep in consultation, they were startled by an exclamation from Nurse Dyer alerting them that Rhoda was regaining consciousness.

The Turners quickly joined the two nurses at their patient's bedside. Although clinical protocol required they remain professional, more than one pair of eyes were moist with relief and several spontaneous prayers of praise could be heard.

Rhoda blinked up at them, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Shelagh spoke gently, "You lost a lot of blood, Rhoda, when you were delivering the placenta. But you're all right now."

"I don't remember…" Rhoda stammered weakly.

"That's because the blood loss caused you to black out," Valerie explained. "We've given you an IV drip in your arm to top up your blood supply."

Rhoda couldn't help but smile at Valerie's familiar demeanor. Her smile quickly faded, however, as if she suddenly remembered why she was there. "The baby..." she whispered frantically, tears rapidly escaping her eyes.

"Baby is perfectly fine Mrs Mullucks," Lucille soothed, "he's just down the hall in the nursery."

"Yes, Rhoda," Shelagh added, "you can see your precious little boy very soon." She took both of Mrs Mullucks' hands in hers and bent down to her level, "You've been so brave through every step of this, Rhoda, everyone and everything is well now."

Rhoda sniffed and accepted the handkerchief Lucille offered. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, pulling herself together.

"That's the Poplar spirit," Valerie encouraged her with a grin.

Having determined by now that Rhoda was well and truly stable, Nurse Anderson was sent to cancel the ambulance request.

Patrick stepped forward, "You've had a rough time of it, Mrs Mullucks, but I think under close supervision you should be able to recover here at the Maternity Home, although I foresee an extended stay."

An anxious laugh escaped from Rhoda's lungs, "It's not so bad, Doctor; meals on a tray, fashion magazines...I reckon I'd better enjoy it while I can."

The room was filled with laughter when Nurse Anderson returned, carrying Baby Mullucks. "Just for a quick peek, mind" she instructed. Rhoda nodded and let Lucille help her hold the baby.

"Oh, you do forget how tiny they are!" Rhoda exclaimed, then looking up, she asked, "When can my family meet him?"

Patrick held up his hand in a gesture indicating she take things slowly. "Not until at least tomorrow," he advised, "you need to be monitored and cleaned up and then some rest."

Rhoda agreed and turned her attention back to her son, enjoying a few more blissful minutes with him.

Nurses Anderson and Dyer were tasked with assessing Rhoda and preparing her for a bed in the ward while Baby Mullucks was handed to Shelagh to return to the nursery. After settling the infant in a cot she turned to find that Patrick had followed her into the room. The relief on his face, she realised, must surely match her own; the providential arrival of the haemorrhage trolley forefront in both of their minds.

The Kenilworth Row Maternity Home had finally received its promised toolkit only a fortnight ago, nearly six months after the Turners return from America. Two training drills were immediately held in order to familiarise all medical staff members with the contents and procedures, but the actual need for its use had not presented itself until today.

Stepping into her husband's arms, Shelagh allowed herself a moment to consider how differently this delivery could have ended. Then she shook off what might have been and took comfort in Patrick's embrace as well as God's answer to her prayers for provision and protection.

One of the babies in the room suddenly gave a wee squall of protest before falling back to sleep. As Shelagh turned to check on the infant, Patrick kept her close. She leaned into his side and together they gazed at the beautiful examples of brand new life before them.

"The product of our labours," Patrick quipped.

Shelagh rolled her eyes, "Really, Patrick! I should think you were wiser than to say that in front of any woman." She shook her head at him before adding quietly, "although we laboured almost as hard today."

He nodded in agreement. "It's a privilege," he mused, keeping his voice low, "to care for the mothers along the way and ensure they survive it."

"We had a good team today, Patrick," she replied, resting her head against him. "We're a good team."

He tightened his arm around her and rubbed his thumb across her shoulder, "Not forgetting the miracle of the toolkit," he added.

"Never forgetting," she sighed. "Out of all our experiences in California, as wonderful as they were, that's what will last and make a difference; that was the most important."

"Well, that and your bathing costume," he winked.

-end

A/N: Many thanks to ginchy-amanda and my-little-yellowbird for their tremendous help and support with this story!