Chapter Twenty-Five
Three Days Later
Maria woke to a louder clatter and shot straight up off her chair. "Damn it!" she heard Georg gripe. The loud clatter had been his IV pole. It had gotten away from him resulting in the glass bottle smashing into the wall.
"Georg!" Maria gasped. "What are you doing? You aren't supposed to be out of bed!"
"I have to go to the bathroom again, that horrendous bottle they gave me is full, and the nurse didn't answer the blasted bell. So, it was either get up and walk to a toilet or wet the bed and I will not wet the bed like a helpless old man!"
Maria got up and threaded her arm through Georg's. He was unsteady on his feet, his legs still weak from fatigue and disuse. He hadn't been out of bed in four days. "Lean on me then so you don't fall."
Two nurses rushed in just then, one no older than Cathy. "Mr. von Trapp, you are on doctor's orders to remain in bed."
"I have to go to the toilet, that blasted bottle is full and someone out there was asleep at the switch," Georg replied." Get out of my way please before there is a bigger mess to clean than a smashed IV bottle "
The nurses could tell Georg meant business and stepped aside so Maria could help him to the bathroom. They were both quietly thankful Georg hadn't pulled out the IV line; he was a tough stick when he was feeling I'll and was quiet. Now that he was feeling better, he was proving to be quite the bear. Neither one wants to have to stick him for anything more than what was absolutely necessary.
When Georg was finished he continued to complain, "Those damn pills they are giving me, in the toilet every damn hour, how's a man supposed to get any sleep that way? I can't wait to get out of here and go to Boston! Then maybe they can stop this disaster."
Maria laughed and pulled Georg close to her body, giving him a kiss. "Thanks be to God, you are feeling better. You have done nothing but complain for the last ten minutes and it is music to my ears…" Maria gave Georg another kiss.
Georg laughed against her lips. "Sorry to burst your bubble, my love, but I must lie down again. My legs feel like sludge right now."
Maria and the youngest nurse helped Georg back to bed. She started to take his vitals, "Well, am I going to die from having to urinate with utmost urgency?" Georg asked.
"No," she replied. "The numbers are quite good." She noted it on his chart. BP 130/92, Respiration 15. Pulse 112. "Pretty normal. Dr. Leland will be pleased, but don't let me catch you out of this bed again," she scolded.
"Miss, I have a grandson older than you," Georg replied. "If I have to use the restroom again, I'll use it and I will bathe myself this morning too. My wife is with child, I am the one that is supposed to take care of her. This whole thing is backwards."
"Mrs. von Trapp, I had no idea. Congratulations. Would you like a pregnancy tray in the morning then? That's the tray we bring to pregnant women that are in the hospital for complications or something unrelated to the pregnancy. It has high nutritional value for you and the baby."
"That would be so kind," Maria replied. "Thank you."
The family had not been to see Georg in three days. Max had come by twice. Curtis was the liaison between the family and Georg and Maria. They both knew Lida was home but they both felt they needed quiet.
When Curtis came to examine Georg the next morning he smiled, "You did well last night. Exertional rate was fast but all in all not bad, and I have good news."
Curtis had been trying to get Georg in for the catheterization over the last three days the couple took for privacy. "Dr. Roberts has an opening in his schedule on Tuesday and he is willing to take you for the catheterization. It seems he agrees with me that measured exercise and medication can serve a patient better than a prolonged sedentary lifestyle if the condition of the heart allows."
Georg lit up at the news. "You see, my Darling," Georg whispered. "I told you everything would be all right. Now, how do I go about getting to Boston?"
"By ambulance. We will leave here on Monday afternoon. I will go down with you," Curtis replied. "An ambulance from Boston Medical will bring you back here until we get your medications regulated. Even if you do well, you need to recover, and that means to take it easy. Nothing strenuous, no driving, no hiking, nothing like that. You will have to go slowly or you can set yourself back. I don't want to be babysitting my own kids this winter when Marta goes back to school, plus the baby is coming in the spring, you need to be in top shape."
Maria smiled, "Do you want to see the children before we go?"
"You aren't going," Georg replied. "But yes, I want to see them, now I'm feeling stronger."
"What do you mean, I'm not going?" Maria asked. "Of course I'm going!"
"Darling, it's a long trip and the baby…I'll be in good hands with Curtis and Max. I'll take Max."
Maria started to argue with Georg, so Curtis slipped out of the room stifling a chuckle. He was pretty sure no matter what the outcome of the tests Georg and Maria were both going to be just fine.
"If I could tolerate cradling your head in my lap whilst you were having a heart attack and looked like you were ready to meet St. Peter, I can tolerate this!" Maria argued. "Max is no substitute for me!"
"No, that he isn't," Georg agreed. "But he kept me alive for the last 50 years. I think he can manage a few days. You look exhausted, I hear you vomiting when you think I'm asleep, you have a much harder job than caring for me, you have to grow our child and that's hard work. I can't think I am adding to it."
Maria sighed. "Ask Marta then, she can be with you and…"
"No," Georg replied. "Not my children. It's bad enough Marta was there when this happened and that four of our children witnessed it. Max will be fine. Curtis will get me settled, he trusts this doctor, I'm certain."
Maria let it go, she would work on Georg regarding this. "When do you want to see the children?" Maria asked.
"Monday, before I'm moved," Georg replied. "It's been peaceful the last few days. I'm not worrying about things so much. I'm not trying to…"
Maria turned and took Georg's hand. "Stop this. Stop trying to make up for something you did thirty years ago. You made a mistake, people make mistakes. Yes, the children got hurt, but they got over it. They love you, Georg, they all love you. Friedrich nearly destroyed himself thinking your having words with him led to this and Marta and Liesl tell me that Lida has.. "
Georg shut his eyes. "She's blaming herself. This is as much my fault as anything. I felt sick for a long time and I didn't tell anyone. It is my fault I didn't tell anyone, but seeing how I am being treated…like an invalid. I do not want that for our life, Maria."
Maria bit her lip. "Neither do I. The day this all happened, I felt as long as you were with me, it would be okay, but I know that for you being active and involved is like breathing, you can't stop doing either one. I don't want to have you in a place where quantity trumps quality, I don't, but I don't want to lose you either."
Georg turned and kissed Maria on the lips. "You won't, my love. Not yet. I know that. I know that." Then Georg's tone changed, "Now, Maria. I want a truthful answer from you. How are you feeling with the pregnancy and sleeping in that chair for four days?"
Maria looked at her lap, "All right if not very tired, but once you are home…"
"No," Georg said again. "I'm going to be fine, we will figure it out. You look pale and tired and your grip has hardly any strength. I want you to sleep in a bed at least to nap. Eat a real dinner. Let me call Max, he will come take you to eat, you can stay at his place and nap then if you must come back here. This is not up for argument."
"Will you rest better if I agree to this lunacy?" Maria asked. Sleeping outstretched would feel good, at least for a few hours.
"Yes, I insist on this," Georg replied. "Go and get some rest. Please."
When Georg looked at Maria like that, his gaze full of silent yet steadfast love she could not deny him anything. "All right, I'll phone Max now. I'll be back after dinner to help you with the night routines, all right?"
Georg nodded, "If you are too tired, it's okay. I have nurses, they might actually have to do their job if you aren't here. Be careful, Maria."
Maria leaned over and gave Georg a kiss on the lips. He deepened the kiss slightly, he didn't want her to feel he didn't want or need her, he just didn't want her to put her own health at risk. "I love you so much," Georg whispered. "Whatever else goes wrong with my heart, that part will always beat strong and steady."
Maria bit her lip, "Georg von Trapp, sometimes…I think I can't possibly love you more than I do already, then you go and say something like that."
Tears began to flow freely from Maria's tired eyes. She had held in all of her emotions regarding Georg's situation. What this was, despite his very positive attitude, was still up in the air. Was it a little bump in the road or was it a true beginning to the decline of his health? Maria didn't know.
Georg sighed, he knew this was bubbling under the surface. He also knew that Maria was not yet ready to release everything she had built up. He said nothing, he did nothing, but held her hand.
Max came to collect Maria and visited a few moments with Georg. "You look much better," Max said with relief. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, frustrated they haven't come up with anything definite yet, but Boston will help with that. Now Max, see that she actually eats something good. Protein, red meat and vegetables, then rest. She needs sleep, I don't care if she says the food won't stay down, she will get some nutrients just by eating it."
"I know, Georg," Max replied. "Between Agathe, Maria, and your older children, how many pregnancies has it been now we have weathered together? Everyone but Cathy and Matthew if memory serves me. Don't worry, I will take care of her "
"I know," Georg replied. "Convince her that it will be all right for her to stay home while we go to Boston. Please. I don't want her making the trip, this is a delicate stage in her pregnancy."
"I'll try, but you know Maria," Max sighed.
"I do, and I would hate to have to pick a fight with her to get her to stay put, but I will if I have to."
"You still think that works," Max laughed. "She knows what you are doing every time."
"I know, but sometimes it does work and she does what is best for herself. Please, Max."
Max nodded. Only in the last couple of days had he realized the true depth of Georg's feelings for Maria. He always knew his friends had a unique bond, but he never felt the emotion personally, not until two days ago when he finally took the plunge himself.
Max planned to talk with Georg on the trip to Boston. It would keep his friend busy and distracted while they took a trip that literally held his life as he knew it in the balance.
With Maria safely off to dinner with Max and hopefully a good long rest with her feet up, Georg let himself relax. He took a few deep breaths and shut his eyes to try and get some needed sleep.
As Georg slept, and Maria enjoyed some time with Max, Lida hovered outside Georg's room. She was leaving in a few days and wanted to see her father before she did. After the family had argued and searched for a place to put the blame for Georg's poor health, Lida called Father Brady and asked him about volunteer options working with orphans. He found her a placement in rural, southern Pennsylvania that would last for about six months. Lida didn't want unfinished business with her father, she had to see him, tell him her plans, and hopefully, make him proud of her again.
When Maria called and told Friedrich the families could come see Georg on Monday, Lida went to the hospital and hoped her mother would let her see Georg that day, on her own. When Maria left with Max, Lida knew this was her chance.
Lida entered Georg's room quietly. He was sound asleep, his face very peaceful and the healthy color waa back in his cheeks. He still seemed older and more fragile lying there. Gently, Lida reached out and touched Georg's cheek. He stirred and pressed his face unconsciously against her hand. "Maria…" Georg murmured in his sleep.
Even in the deep state of rest, Maria was on his mind. Lida found that endearing, she always did.
Lida shifted and placed a kiss on Georg's forehead. She was going to leave since he was sleeping and try again. As Lida pulled back, Georg stirred again and opened his eyes. The ice blue orbs fixed on his prodigal daughter as he asked with sleep still in his voice, "What are you doing here?"
A/N: I know, I know. I'm terrible. I am starting to get ahead again in my writing and thought I would give you a special treat. Bonus update!
To address a few guest reviews: Unfortunately, no. Cardiac stents were only in use since 1986 and angioplasty only came about in 1977. The first bypass wasn't until 1961 and the procedure was not successful until 1964. The pacemaker was and would be an option open to Georg for his arrhythmia but the procedure was oy 2 years old at the time of this story, would likely not be available in Vermont, and would scare the daylights out of Maria since it was so new and would require traveling.
Heart attacks weren't even treated with thrombolytics very often yet. Aspirin was not the first aid for a heart attack. I have the character of Curtis as an innovative thinker. He would have read in medical journals that for some heart attacks these medications MIGHT work. He takes a chance.
The standard of care was morphine, oxygen, diet, and severely restricted cardiac exertion.
The catheterization Georg is going to have is not a very old procedure either. Crude forms of it have been around since 1929. The diagnostic form Georg will be having only dates back to the 1940s with selective angiography not available until later in the 1960s.
Next few chapters we will see growth for Lida, a surprise from Max, some closure for the family over Lida's birth origins and of course the birth of the newest con Trapp in a compromise sort of way. Let's just say all the girls should take wife lessons from their mother. Keep reading and reviewing. Love to hear your thoughts.
