Authors note: Warning, horrific car crash. Some gore. I do not own anything, not the characters, the prayer Topanga says. All I own are these fantasy ideas and my fantasy characters in this chapter: Michael Carson, Nichole, Daniel Jar and Lica Shelby. All the conditions, hospitals, codes, procedures, locations are real. I researched them and own nothing.
Chapter 2
Outsider's P.O.V.
No one noticed until it was too late, the cab driver was speeding and on his phone. He dropped it and ducked down to pick it up, fumbling for it near the pedals. Little did he notice that as he did so he ran a red light through a busy intersection.
-CRASH-
-SCREECH-
People stopped and looked on in shock and horror as three cars collided violently together. A black transport vehicle was hit by a red truck and white car, as it sped through the intersection. Metal crunching on metal. Glass shattering. Metal and glass rubbing across the road, sounding similar to nails on a chalkboard. The black taxi SUV spun and then it rolled until it landed onto one side with the other cars protruding from it. People were screaming in pain, fright and confusion. Metal, glass and other debris littered the road. Some of the people had been thrown, and the engine and gas tank burst into flames.
EMT Michael Carson P.O.V.
I was resetting the ambulance from the last patient we just transferred when a call came through the radio.
-"Any responders available? Please respond unit number."-
"Yes, mobile unit 246 is available."
-"Mobile unit 304 is available"- Someone else responded.
-"Mobile unit 24 is available"-
"What's the code?"
-"10-36, at Gansevoort and Hudson"-
"10-43 what's the information?" I ask as I signal the driver that we got a job. As he jumped into the drivers' cab, I told him the code and gave him the location.
-"Side Impact crash. Three vehicles involved. Red light runner, main car rolled. At least one person ejected. 10-77?"-
"Our ETA is 7 minutes and counting" I said as the driver started speeding up, lights and sirens blazing.
"####" I muttered as my partner Nichole helped me. From what it sounded like it was going to be a horrific case for me.
Seven minutes did not feel like enough time and nothing could have prepared me for the site. As we rushed out of the ambulance, I took in the sight. It was a disaster scene.
We rushed over to where some firefighters were attempting to control the spreading auto fire, as well as cut into the black SUV. Both of the sides were crumpled, one more so than the other, which I can only believe to have been caused by rolling.
As I moved in closer to them, I noticed an indescribable mass under the vehicle. As I leaned in closer, I realized it was a person. Adrenaline coursed through my veins.
"Hurry! The vehicle rolled on top of someone!" I told Nichole to prep for a patient with no heartbeat.
"Hey, Daniel!" I called one of the firefighters, "Do you know if life flight can carry two patients?"
"Yeah, the choppers they use hear can have two patients. Do you think we need one?"
"I know we have at least one patient." I replied. He nodded and started talking in his walkie, calling dispatch for Life Flight.
I knew that the firefighters would first have to put out the fire that was burning, and remove the passengers inside before they could reach them. Then I heard it.
"Is anyone there?" a desperate voice called out.
"Kid, you okay? Can you talk to me?!"
"I think so," I heard a young man's voice full of pain cry out. "I think I broke my arm, but please… just help my friends."
I watched them carefully pull the kid out, as they did so others were practically diving in. Prepping the other patients for movement. That's when all hell broke loss.
"This one needs oxygen!"
"Intubate her!"
"That one has open fractures!"
"Major hemorrhage"
"We need someone to help us! A few of them are trapped by crumpled metal and the fire is only getting worse"
As the cut open the most crumpled part of the vehicle we found another passenger. As they finally cut away the last of the car, I gasped at what I saw.
She was barely breathing, as I checked her ABC's I noticed she had Flail Injury, in which parts of her rib cage had been completely separated from the sternum. There were many wounds, burns, and other injuries but what really shook me were her legs. The car had crumpled around her lower legs, trapping flammable and toxic chemicals. Below both of her knees were 3rd or 4th degree burns. As well as the open fractures. Just from looking at it, I could tell that the legs might not make it.
"Daniel! We have a second Life Flight Patient here!"
"Are you sure?"
"Come see for yourself!" I yelled. He walked over and the second he caught a glimpse he immediately notified dispatch. I handed over caring for her, as they needed to move her to get to the patient under the car.
After a lot of cutting and hauling, we were than at last able to get to the patient. And it was worse than I had pictured. She had several open fractures in both of her legs. The way she was positioned made it clear her spine was definitely broken. Many 3rd degree burns, and she was lying in a pool of blood, chemicals, and gasoline. As I suspected she had no heartbeat, pulse or breathing. I called Nichole over who had been helping load some of the others
"Nichole! Her heart has stopped. Bring the AED and resuscitation bag here STAT!"
As she ran over, I cleared the scene and started placing the shock pads.
"Everyone clear! ...Surge!" The girl's body trembled. I checked for a pulse. Nothing. I shocked her heart again. "Surge!" I again checked for a heartbeat. Again nothing.
"Come on, don't become a statistic. Please!" I prayed that her heart would start. She had been trapped so long under the vehicle that I was starting to lose hope her heart would beat. "Surge!" I hesitantly felt for a pulse. To, much relief, one was there. It was very faint but it was there. As I continued chest compression Nicole was placing the endotracheal tube in. We than started the oxygen immediately. We waved some firefighters over.
"We have an air transport coming, they can land at the intersection but we need a hundred feet clearance." They rushed off and started to clear a spot. As I placed an IV to try to hydrate her, and keep her from suffering from more severe hemorrhage. Nichole was franticly running around, helping the other EMT's load patients. From glances out of the corner of my eye, I could see the injuries of other patients. Burns, blood loss, fractures, open wounds, and worse. My radio crackled.
"Ground, this is life flight chopper 136. We are three minutes from the site. Do we have a clearance area?"
"Chopper 136, we have a 100 foot clearance at intersection, Gansevoort and Hudson. There are no hazard items in way of takeoff or landing."
"What are the patients' status?"
"Patient One: Female, between the ages of 14-17. Side-impact car crash, ejected from vehicle. The SUV rolled and came to rest on her lower portion, was trapped under the vehicle for about 15-20 minutes. AED used twice, continued CPR, intubated and needing mechanical ventilation, IV and drugs administered. Crush injury, and major hemorrhage. Open fractures of the legs. Unstable spine fracture, not cervical. 3rd degree burns, from flames, friction, and chemical. Glasgow Coma Score of 3.
"Patient Two; Female, between the ages of 14-17. Side-impact car crash. Second to last recovered. Vehicle crumpled around lower limbs. Flail Chest, Crush Injury, and from my opinion, I don't know if her legs will make it, As they have contaminated open fractures, and 3rd and/or 4th degree burns"
"Okay, we see the site. Please notify all responders of landing."
"10-4"
"Hey! We got Life Flight landing, please clear the area!" I yelled as I pointed at the helicopter. As the chopper landed three medics rushed out and helped us put her on a backboard, and then onto the stretcher.
"Hey, with two patients we are slightly understaffed, as we had set off for only one patient. Can you help us?" a female medic called to me.
"I don't know, I've never flown before with a patient." I said hesitantly.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of the different equipment, we just need a hand with standard emergency transport." She replied.
"Alright, Nichole! I am flying with them. Just report to base with the driver, okay?" Nichole nodded as I hopped into the chopper. The pilot than called over the radio.
"Please notify New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital we have two trauma one patients. Our ETA is about two minutes"
Topanga's P.O.V.
I was busy sorting through my casework when I suddenly felt very anxious. I could not explain it, for some reason my mother's intuition was kicking in. 'No, that's silly, everyone is fine' I tried to convince myself. Still I could not shake the feeling something was wrong. I went back through my stack of files when suddenly my cell phone rang. 'Huh,' I thought to myself, 'normally everyone reaches me through my office phone, unless there's been an emergency.' I felt my heart beat quicken. 'Stop worrying so much,' I scolded herself, 'Riley probably just forgot I was working today and called me on this phone'.
"Hello?" I answered the phone.
"Yes, is this Topanga Lawrence-Matthews?" asked a female voice.
"Yes, you're speaking with her. Who is this speaking? Is there something wrong?"
"Hi, my name is Lica Shelby and I work with New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. I was told this was the number to call. Do you by chance have a daughter named Riley Matthews, who was being accompanied by five other teens?"
"Yes," I replied, heart beating faster.
"I am sorry I have to deliver this type of news but your daughter and the five other teens she was with where in a horrible car crash, your daughter Riley and Maya have been Life Flighted, the others transported via ambulance. They are currently at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, as most of them need Trauma One care. We need you to come as soon as you can. Your daughter, Maya Hunter and Farkle Minkus are in dire need of surgery, and the others need treated. We see you have an emergency power of consent and we cannot reach their parents. Do you give us verbal consent to treatment?"
"Yes." I softly said.
"Surgery?"
"Yes."
"Life supporting equipment/treatment?"
"Yes."
"Medications?"
"Yes. I do. Thank you, I'll be there shortly." I hung up and my phone fell from my hand, slapping the hardwood floor. I could not move. Blood emptied from my head, forcing a sharp, tingly sensation rippling, stinging through my nerves. My heart started to beat uncontrollably. My limbs went cold, then numb. A stifled scream surfaced. How could this be happening?
I feel to the floor, landing on my knees and started to sob. I then pleaded to my master.
"Loving Father, you have created Riley, Maya and the others in your own image and likeness. They are your work of art, your masterpiece, and is made magnificently, and I thank you for the wonder of their being. They have grown in wisdom and in favor with you, Father, and with your people, and I ask that they may be immensely grateful for so many blessings. Bless them this day and always, and may nothing ever separate them from your love. Amen." As I finished I stood up and called my husband, who was at home. 'This is going to break his heart.'
"Cory,"
"Yes dear... honey are you crying, what's wrong?!" he asked frantically.
"Cory, oh Cory," I sob.
"Honey, you're really scaring me, please...tell me!"
"We need to head to New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. Riley and the others were in a really bad car crash, and they need us there. I just had to give them consent for surgery for both Riley, Farkle AND Maya! As well as consent of treatment for the others. Riley and Maya are in such bad shape the had to be Life Flighted!" I told him, trying to keep from screaming.
"Oh my, ok, let me just get ready. I will call Shawn, Minkus, and my family if you contact the others. Then we'll meet up at the Entrance to the hospital, okay?"
"Yeah Cor, I'll just meet you there." I hung up and proceeded to get off the rest of the day.
Cory's P.O.V.
I immediately started to panic after Topanga called me. I could not process exactly what she said. 'Life Flight?!', 'Surgery?!' I had a sinking feeling a few minutes before Topanga had called me and now I knew why. I felt the room spin and change colors. My throat was closing. I felt like there was no oxygen in the room. My legs felt like jelly. I realized I was starting to have a panic attack. 'Careful Cory, having a panic attack isn't going to help Riley or the others.' It was hard but I focused on my breathing and was able to calm down.
No matter what I did, I could not stop the images of Riley and her friends hurt or…. Worse. Riley was my daughter, and so was Maya. Maya and I may not be related by blood but I had known her since she was very little. I remember what Mr. Feeny had told Shawn. "You don't have to be blood to be family."
'Oh no…' I thought as I realized I would have to call Shawn and my family as well as the Minki. 'How would I break it to my best friend that his daughter was in the hospital?! Not to mention telling Stuart and Jennifer Minkus that their only child was in a car crash.' I shuddered at the thought.
I picked up my phone and slowly dialed Shawn's number. After just two rings, he picked up.
"Hey Cor, What's up? You know I'm busy working right?"
"Shawn, buddy listen. This is serious. First of all are you sitting down?"
"Yeah, I'm working on my computer, why would you ask me that. Dude just tell me, you're starting to worry me. Does this have anything to do with Maya?! Please tell me it doesn't!"
"Shawny; Riley, Maya and the others have been in a horrible car crash," I heard Shawn take a deep gasp, and then I started to cry. I could already tell this was incredibly hard even for the tough Shawn Hunter.
"What..? Oh my gosh! Please tell me it was just a fender bender."
"I don't think so; it's bad enough…" I started to sob.
"Cory! What happened!? Please…"
"It was so bad, that…Riley and… um, Maya had to… be Life Flighted. Topanga got a call that we need to head to New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. We had to give them consent for both Riley, Farkle and Maya to have surgery done, as well as treatment for the others. Topanga is getting Katy, the Friars, the Smackle's and the Babineaux's. I got you, the Minki, Josh, Eric, Morgan and my Parents. Do you want me to pick you up at your place?"
"God, ####### god, sure buddy, let me just pack some stuff for Maya and Katy and I. Meet you in 20min?"
"Okay… Let me call the others and pick them up, see you soon." And I hung up. I was hurting even more now; my buddy's daughter was in the hospital, I was afraid of what could happen, as he was never really good at handling tragic events.
My parent's phone rang three times before Morgan picked up.
"Hey, Cory. How are you doing? Did Topanga lock you out of the house again?" she started to laugh. I didn't reply. "Cory is there something wrong?"
"Yeah, Riley, Maya and their friends were in a car crash and are all at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. I'm really worried about them. Can you tell mom and dad that we need them to come?"
"Oh my god, that's horrible, I'll get them right away. Anything we can do until we get there?"
"Can you pray for them and for us? I have a feeling that we need all the help we can get."
"Of course. We should be there soon. I'll also try to see if Feeny can come with us. I know we are going to need him."
"Thanks Morgan, I'll see you soon."
As I finished talking to Morgan, I started to race around the house packing a bag for Riley and one for Topanga and I. I had a feeling we would be there for a while. Thank God, that Auggie was spending the weekend over at Doy's, I needed to call Doy's parents and informed that Auggie might need to stay a bit longer than planned. After doing so, I was working on packing and calling Josh, at the same time, and explaining what was happening.
"Hey Josh."
"My brother, how is the old man doing?"
"Not very good, Riley, Maya and their friends have been in a bad car crash. Where can I pick you up to take you to the hospital?"
"Oh my… Oh my god. Umm, let me think a moment… Ah! You can pick me up at my dorms. What time should I expect you?"
"I pick up Shawn in about five minutes so maybe in fifteen."
"Kay, I'll be ready then."
I got a text that Mom, Dad, Morgan and Feeny were driving down from Philadelphia and would be here later. I texted Eric who was busy. Eric would head to the hospital as soon as he could get out of his senator as well as his campaign meetings. I got into the car and drove to Shawn's. Now I had to call Stuart.
"Minkus International, Stuart Minkus speaking. How can I help you?"
"Stuart, don't freak out but Farkle and the others have been in a car crash and are at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. We had to give emergency consent for surgery, for him. We all need to head over there."
"Wait... WHAT?! What do mean they've been in a car crash?! And surgery! Oh, ####. Thanks Matthews. I'll meet you there."
'That didn't go as badly as I thought it would.' I say to myself as I pull up next to Shawn's apartment complex. I see Shawn anxiously pacing with two suitcases by his feet. He sees me and seems to relax some. I jump out and help him put the bags in the trunk.
"Hey buddy, how are you doing?" I ask as we head off to Josh's dorm.
"OH, my daughter was Life Flighted, is in the hospital as well as her friends! I have no idea why or how this happened! I don't have any idea how badly she's hurt and to top it all off it reminds me too much off when my father died!" he says. His fists were clenched so tight they were white.
"I'm sorry, hey look at me." He turns his face towards me. "We are the legendary Cory and Shawn. We can get through this. Nothing is too tough for us!" I say.
After navigating through the college campus, and getting lost, we finally were able to pick up Josh. The whole ride the rest of the way to the hospital was filled with anticipated silence. Shawn had managed to unclench his fist but now he was writing furiously in a small journal.
From the rear view mirror, I could see that Josh was in a daze. His eyes where unfocused but one look and you could see that he was playing out endless scenarios in his head.
And I sat there driving, praying that god would let them be okay, that the injuries would quickly heal.