"Sorry, still trying to get my bearings…" Zara babbled as she dashed into Resus after several minutes of desperately running circuits around the department in order to find her way to resus where Connie was awaiting her arrival. Or so she thought…
"Oh… you're…" Zara stammered as she watched the hunched up figure of her sister viciously projectile vomit into a sink whilst several nurses stood round watching unsure what they should be doing. Zara's eyes fell on the patient who was laid out on the bed. His trouser leg was rolled up to reveal a large infected wound just below the knee. Puss was visible and seeping down his leg.
"Urm, come on, let's get you sat down" Zara beckoned for Lofty to bring open a stool whilst she placed her hands on her older siblings shoulders and guided her too where Lofty placed the stool on the other side of the room.
"I'm fine-"Connie protested, before clamping a hand to her mouth. Tess appeared from nowhere and threw a sick bowl in front of the heaving clinical lead.
"Yeah, I don't think you are. Could someone fetch Rita, I think Mrs Beauchamp needs to head home" Zara requested much to Connie's annoyance.
"I am fine!" She growled as she lifted her head from the bowl and narrowed her eyes.
"So you always vomit at infected wounds? You were a heart surgeon Connie. You've smelt bodily fluids way more vomit provoking than Mr Johnsons" Zara reasoned as she placed her hand on her hips in a Connie like fashion.
Connie made no attempt to retaliate, instead her head ducked back down to the bowl as more of her lunch was brought up. Tess stood behind the clinical lead, gently rubbing her back whilst Lofty dashed off to find Rita.
"This could be like Hyperemesis Gravidarum, have you been like this for long?" Zara asked lightly as she looked to her sister anxiously. Connie looked up once again.
"Zara…" The young nurse awaited her sister's answer" Piss off" Not quite the revelation she wanted. A round of gasps filled resus as everyone looked to the clinical lead in shock. No one ever expected Connie to swear.
"Okay… I guess I love you too…" Zara said sarcastically. Luckily at that exact time Rita appeared through the swinging doors, her face full of concern.
"Oh darling, let's get you home…" She sighed as she moved across resus till her arm was wrapped around Connie's shoulders.
"Actually, I think we should do some tests. I mean, she's clearly dehydrated" Zara butted in. Both Connie and Rita looked at the nurse, eyes narrowed slightly.
"She shouldn't be vomiting this badly at this time of the day! I've worked on a maternity unit, this is not the norm!" Zara exclaimed.
"She's right you know" Tess interrupted.
"Shall I go and find Zoe?" Lofty asked.
"If you could Lofty, thank you" Zara thanked her new friend as he once again departed resus in order to find a doctor to confirm Zara's suspicions.
"Just leave me alone" Connie groaned. Her face was colourless. Her skin sweating. Her voice trembled as she spoke and Zara knew that Connie was feeling like complete shit.
"Can we get her onto a bed please before she faints" Zara requested. Tess and Rita both tucked their arms under Connie's and gently lifted her from the stool, and carried her to the remaining spare bed. Once laid down Connie gave in to the medical tem and allowed her head to fall against the pillow before she curled up her legs and placed an arm over her small bump.
"I'm fine, I'm really fine…" Connie mumbled. Her speech was wobbly whilst her eyes gently began to close. Luckily for the clinical lead, Zoe decided to waltz into resus at exactly that time, Lofty close on her heels.
"Connie, I heard you're not feeling to great" Zoe started before realising Connie had closed her eyes. She shot over to the bed quickly and pressed her thumb down onto the skin of Connie's hand before releasing it and watching as the skin took longer than normal to return to its normal colour.
"Yeah, she's dehydrated. Can we get a drip set up please and a monitor on both baby and Mom's heart rates. I'm going to page for the on call obstetrician just to air on the side of caution" Zoe informed the team.
"I'll give Mr T a call" Tess offered as she grabbed the phone off the wall and placed it to her ear. Meanwhile Rita placed her hand against Connie's forehead, her eyes sad.
"She's going to be ok isn't she" She croaked as she looked at her vulnerable girlfriend.
"Connie is going to be fine. This problem is more common than you'd realise. We just need to keep her hydrated. She might have to stay in hospital for a few days, but it would just be precautionary" Zoe reassured her friend.
"There were problems with Grace, she was born prematurely, what if…"
"Rita, everything is going to be ok. The baby is not coming, we just need to hydrate them. Just calm down. Being worked up is not going to help either of them" Zoe spoke smartly. Rita had a sudden realisation.
"Grace… I need to pick up Grace up in an hour" It was just half an hour till the end of the shift and Grace was due to be picked up at half six.
"I'll get her" Zara blurted out. She hadn't seen her niece for nearly two years, but she was sure that she would be the preferred babysitter. Rita's eyes widened.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to feel put out" Rita exclaimed as she walked towards her sister in law.
"Course I'm sure. I'm her Aunty, I want to take more of a role in her life" Zara smiled.
"Well if you're sure…" Rita dug into her pocket and pulled out the spare key to Connie's house" She's at Sam's Mother's, I'll text you the address'. If you could take her back to ours, I'd really appreciate it" Rita slipped the key into Zara's hand.
"I'm on it"