Where do we Stand
Not mine, I own nothing… Thank you so much for the reviews, and mostly thank you for reading. I am trying to amend this according to a few suggestions, so it will take me a bit longer for each update, sorry.
Heads turned toward the door, clear stain coating its pale finish, dents marring its aged skin, creaking out its age as it gently opened. Pleading eyes looked on the doctors tired ones. Dr. Matilda Foster stood just inside the door, her shoulders sagged with fatigue, breathing deeply she pulled herself up to her full height. Looking at the grim faces, she sighed once again, she hoped the news she was about to deliver would help ease their troubled minds. Clearing her throat, Dr. Foster drew the rooms attention collectively to her. "Detective Benson?" she quarried. Her eyes locked with the aging Captain, instantly she knew he was the one who was in charge.
"Uh, yeah, that would be us," Cragen spoke as he quickly stood from his chair.
"I need to speak to her family, is any one her her family?"
"We are her family, the only family she has." the captain sighed audibly then continued quietly, "Please doctor, is she ok?"
Doctor Foster spoke evenly, "We have rules and regulations, I can't give out information to just anyone, we have to follow these guidelines..."
"I understand that, but she doesn't have anyone, we are her family," the captain began to get upset, "I have papers she filed with the brass, it list me and a couple others as her family and emergency contact. I, uh, I can have them sent over as soon as possible..."
Nodding, Dr. Foster began, "Ok, ok, calm down sir, that's fine as long as you have the proper paper work sent over." The doctor paused, "Well, it has been touch and go, I don't want to get anyones hopes up. So I am going be blunt and honest. I am not going to sugar coat this." She breathed, letting what she was saying sink before continuing. "She is in critical condition, there has been a lot of trauma her body has gone through. She lost a lot of blood, which put stress on her heart. This stress has caused us to worry some, as a preventive measure we have hooked her up to a heart monitor enabling us to observe it closely. She is tough, but the next 24 hours is going to be rough."
Foster paused a moment, catching her breath and studding the faces around her.
Moving on the doctor spoke gently, "The bullet entered the detectives chest, piercing low on the right quadrant nicking her right lung. Then passing through the lung and coming to rest, embedding itself in one of the detectives vertebrae. But not before the vertebrae had several pecies broken off, all though it did not shattered. We were amazed at the amount it was still intact, but still there is damage to the area along with swelling and pressure along with damage to the tissue and blood vessel in the same area."
The doctor paused once again, looking about the room, searching for recognition of what she was telling the occupants. All eyes looking toward her seemed to be on board, heads nodding in understanding. So, she nodded to the group and continued.
"Now, it sounds scary, but spinal chord trauma may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels. Which, we know the main cause is the bullet, but that bullet has caused a domino affect. We will have to watch this area, monitor it for infection, swelling. Also, she may lose some or all mobility from that point down. This is still unknown territory in the medical world. Some people can gain full strength and use of their bodies after trauma, others remain paralyzed."
Alex eyes watered more as she listened intently to the doctor. Feeling more and more like this was her fault, her ice queen persona long forgotten. Alex leaned forward, hoping not to miss any details.
"... A spinal cord trauma is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to reduce the long-term effects. The time between the injury and treatment is a critical factor affecting the eventual outcome." Foster spoke, making eye contact with each person in the room.
"We were lucky to get Detective Benson into surgery as quickly was we did. Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone or methylprednisolone, are used to reduce swelling that may damage the spinal cord. If spinal cord compression is caused by a mass (such as a hematoma or bony fragment) that can be removed or brought down before there is total destruction of the nerves of the spine, paralysis may in some cases be reduced or relieved. Ideally, corticosteroids should begin as soon as possible after the injury. But we may have to go back and for multiple surgeries to reduce or relieve the pressure, from swelling, scar tissue and fluid collecting on the spine. Also, she will be on bed rest for a long time, it takes time for bones to hill, along with the spinal chord, this can't be accomplished if she is up and moving around, adding weight and stress to the injured area."
"I know all this is a lot to take in, but she is strong, and she can pull through and may even make a complete recovery. With no lasting damage to her spine and mobility!" The doctor finished.
Looking around the room, Doctor Foster took in each expression as what she finished with soaked into each person.
Alex spoke first. "When can we see her?"
"She is in recovery, then she will be moved to the intensive care unit where she will be monitored closely. Once she is in her ICU room she can have two visitors at a time. But under these conditions I will allow the first visit to be five minutes with five persons, but these people have to be her immediate family or on her emergency contact list, but after that we will have to adhere to ICU rules, 2 person at a time. Okay?"
Everyone nodded in agreement as the doctor continued, "I want to warn you, she will look rough, she is hooked up to a heart monitor, and has a breathing tube in her to help regulate her breath along with several I.V.'s. We also have her in a drug induced coma, her body will heal faster while she sleeps and it will help her manage any pain or discomfort she may have if she were awake."
"I'll leave you all and let you collect the needed paper week and turn it in so you can visit with our patient. Any available nurse or medical personal can direct you to the ICU lobby." The doctor finished.
Cragen spoke up, "Thank so much Doctor, you don't know what she means to all of us." As the captain spoke, his squad stood behind him, each eager to show the doctor their appreciation. The rest of the group quickly following the squads gesture.
Turning to the group, as the doctor exited the small room, Cragen spoke up. "I, uh, folks, I have already put in a call in to central Head Quarters, requesting Olivias Emergency contact form and Power of Attorney documents to be sent over A.S.A.P."
Cragen paused and ran a hand over his bald head, sighing he spoke again, "I know I am on one of the contacts and I believe that Elliot and Alex are mentioned on them if Olivia hasn't had it revised, but I'm not sure."
"So we'll have to wait. It looks like it may be a bit before anyone does get to go back, so how about we go home, get cleaned up, maybe grab a bite to eat and meet back in the ICU lobby?"
Cragen waited for any suggestion anyone else might have, noting that no one offered any ideas he nodded toward the door in a gesture to leave. Quietly the group filed out, heading toward the nears exit, all but three people. Alex hung back, head in hands silently crying as Elliot and his wife stood on each side, each with a hand placed gently on her shoulders, giving her little comfort she so dearly needed.
Cragen new it would be rough for the young attorney, he could see the worry in her eyes. Standing just outside the lobby door, Cragen waited patiently for Elliot and Kathy to collect Alex and help her home.
Yessssss! Another Chapter, I hope this one reads a little better, I have put a lot more time into it. The last bit was a little stiff, but I remember a similar lecture happening to my family when my father was in ICU. So, some of it has come from real life.