Chapter 219 – Reality of Treatments
"How are you doing there, Jack?" Jacobs asked.
"Could use a little more hot water if there is some." Jack said.
"Got it." Doug said getting up.
He added more hot water to Jack's bowl and then sat back down. Five minutes later the alarm went off. Jacobs stood up and went over to Jack. Dee moved over closer as well. Doug just sat there as Jack turned to face him and then leaned forward, resting his arms on Doug's knees. Dee slid a bucket between Jack's legs and Jacobs started with the cupping motions. Jack groaned in pain several times. Doug was a bit surprised when Jack started coughing and sputtering.
"Good job, Jack." Jacobs encouraged. "Get that stuff out of your lungs."
Suddenly Jack sounded like he was gasping for air. Jacobs let up on his cupping motion.
"Doug." Jacobs said. "Sit him back and help him slow his breathing."
Doug immediately jumped into action. While that was happening, Dee switched buckets and emptied the water as well.
"What happened?" Doug asked, when Jack's breathing had slowed down.
"He panicked." Jacobs said. "My baby brother used to do that when we first started with this treatment. We had to use a vacuum aspirator since he was so little."
Suddenly Jack leaned forward again and coughed up a huge amount of mucus and phlegm. He ended up sick to his stomach, but because he hadn't had anything to eat, he started to dry heave. Dee was right there with some water.
"Small sips." Dee reminded him.
Jack was shaking from the coughing and pain, so he was having a hard time holding the glass. Doug took it and as Jack sat up, he held it to Jack's lips and allowed him a small sip. As his breathing calmed down, Doug gave him several more sips.
"Do you think you can handle more?" Jacob asked. "Or do you want me to do another treatment when we come to change the dressing."
"Later." Jack rasped. "Pain too high."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "We will have another treatment before lunch then. I don't like the way that you sound."
"I agree." Faith said. "He was definitely more congested than he was yesterday morning."
Jack just groaned.
"We got you buddy." Doug said. "We will get you through this."
Jack looked up and gave him a weak smile.
"Let's get that dressing changed and then I will carry Jack back up to bed." Jacobs said.
"Use my cot in the bedroom down here." Dee said. "I think it might be easier for us to hold him and you to work."
"We can do that." Faith said.
"Doug. Dee." Faith said. "Can you help him into the room and get him settled?"
The two got Jack settled on the cot. They exposed the dressing, but otherwise made sure Jack was covered.
"I am going to go make sure the bedroom is ready." Elizabeth said.
"That sounds like a good plan." Jacobs said. "Also Jack is probably not going to be very hungry, but maybe some soup or broth would be good."
"Can you have Dee head in to get some soup bones when you are done?" Elizabeth asked.
"I will see to it." Jacobs said.
Elizabeth headed upstairs, while Faith and Jacobs went to tend to Jack.
When they got to the bedroom, they saw Jack laying on the cot, hugging one of the extra pillows.
"I am sorry about the pain, Jack." Faith said. "Is the morphine at least helping some?"
"Some." Jack rasped.
"Hopefully, we will have the chloroform tonight." Faith said. "Messages back and forth to Union City explained what we were dealing with. I requested it be sent immediately. Using Wynn's name, they said it would be dispatched later this morning."
"Okay." Jack said.
"I am right here." Doug said, kneeling by Jack's shoulder.
"Thanks." Jack rasped. "Let's just do this."
"Okay." Faith said. "We are going to undo the dressing and then I will give you a shot of morphine."
Jack nodded and they set about getting it done. Dee took a hold of Jack's legs, so he didn't kick someone. Doug leaned on Jack's back and talked to him about other things, so he wouldn't solely focus on what was happening. Doug wished that there was more that he could do to help his friend, but he also knew the reality of the situation and that even with the chloroform it was going to be painful.
Elizabeth got upstairs and made sure the bed was ready for Jack. She then took a seat on the edge of the bed. She put her hand on her growing baby bump.
"Daddy is going to be alright." Elizabeth said aloud. "I just have to keep believing that little one. Honestly, I am glad that you are in there and not out here at the moment. As much as I want to hold you in my arms, I don't think I could handle it right now with what is happening with your Daddy."
Elizabeth sat there rubbing her baby belly. Finally she leaned over and picked up the Bible that was on the nightstand. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she flipped through the Bible and landed on Psalm 105. She read through it twice and it helped to calm her down. Closing the Bible, Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
"Father in Heaven." Elizabeth prayed. "I come to You asking for strength to get through this time. I don't understand why Jack has to suffer this much, but I trust You to bring us through the trial. As the Great Physician, I am asking You to heal Jack. I don't know how much more pain his body can take. Please Lord God, be with Jack as he deals with the pain that has wracked his body. Help those around us to know what to do to help Jack. Be with us and comfort us. I ask these things in Your Most Holy Name, Amen."
After Elizabeth finished praying, she set the Bible back on the nightstand and continued to rub her belly in a calming manner. She could hear Jack downstairs and it brought tears to her eyes.
Faith gave Jack the shot of morphine and immediately set about her task. She removed the old dressing and then took the washcloth and tried to wash the area with hot water as gently as she could. The action caused Jack to moan in pain.
"Sorry." Faith said.
She knew it was necessary, but she still didn't like to cause her patients pain.
"I know that this is painful." Faith said. "But overall, the site is looking better. You are healing, it is just going to take time."
Jack nodded his head. Doug rubbed his back and continued to talk to him.
"You got this buddy." Doug said. "You are strong and you have a strong woman with you. You have to get better for that baby she is carrying. Just keep focusing on that. Think about all that you are going to do with that little one as they get bigger. I am sure you are going to take them camping and teach them how to fish. Besides, if you aren't around. Who is going to teach them to ride and shoot? You know that you are the best one there is to teach others that."
As Faith poured the alcohol on the area, Jack muffled the scream. He started panting because of the pain. Faith was trying to dab the area and make sure there wasn't any infection brewing.
"Jack." Jacobs said. "Your breathing."
"I got it." Doug said. "Come one Jack, turn your head and look at me."
Jack just shook his head back and forth and continued to pant. Doug physically turned Jack's head toward him.
"Jackson Alexander." Doug said in his Mountie voice. "Look at me."
Jack slowly opened his eyes and locked his gaze on Doug.
"I know that it is painful." Doug said. "I have the scars to prove it. But you need to slow your breathing down. Panting like that is going to raise your heart rate and blood pressure. You and I both know that neither is good. Come on, breathe with me."
Doug got Jack to slow his breathing and despite the pain, he seemed to relax a bit. Faith dabbed the spot again with alcohol and instead of screaming, Jack just hissed at the pain. He kept his focus on Doug and their breathing. Faith and Jacobs were able to finish changing the dressing without Jack passing out. He was shaking from the pain, but he remained conscious which was a good sign.
"All done." Faith said. "We are going to give you a few minutes and then Jacobs will help you up to bed. I want you to rest until we come back. The morphine will help dull the pain."
Jack nodded his head.
"I will make sure he has some tea before you come back." Dee said.
"Good." Faith said. "Because I doubt that we are going to be able to give him morphine at lunch."
Jack groaned and dropped his head to the cot.
"Doug." Jacobs said. "Stay with him. Get him more situated. We are going to clean up and then I will help him upstairs."
"I got him." Doug said. "Do what you need to."
Faith, Jacobs and Dee left Jack and Doug. Doug continued to comfort Jack and got his pajama pants adjusted so that he was more comfortable. Doug could tell that the morphine was affecting Jack because he saw that Jack was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Doug also realized that Jack was fighting the effects and didn't want to give in to the morphine and got back to sleep.
"Close your eyes and just rest." Doug said.
He sat on the edge of the cot and rubbed Jack's back for a bit. His shaking slowed down and his breathing evened out as the morphine took full effect and allowed Jack to relax. They knew that rest was the biggest thing that Jack's body needed at that moment.
"That is it." Doug said. "Let the medication take you away. I know that you hate taking morphine or any medication, but you need it. This is too painful to tough it out. So just relax. I got your back. I am not going anywhere until you are well on the road to recovery. This is not what happened to your father and you will be alright. Just dream of Elizabeth and that beautiful baby that she is carrying. How do I know that the baby will be beautiful, you ask? Well, look at you and look at her, how could it not. Hopefully he or she has your dimples, and Elizabeth's eyes. God help you if that is a little girl with that combination. You will definitely need to be on your toes."
Doug laughed. He could see Jack having a little girl with dimples and Elizabeth's blue eyes. Jacobs had come and stood at the doorway. He heard Doug.
"Is he out?" Jacobs asked.
"Pretty much." Doug said. "I mean we could wake him, but I don't think he would be able to stand."
"I will just carry him." Jacobs said. "It will be easier. Just follow me, in case I need help getting him settled in bed."
"I will." Doug said.
Doug helped Jacobs pick up Jack. He groaned a bit when they moved him, but Doug quickly quieted him down. Jacobs then took Jack upstairs with Doug following. When they got to Jack's bedroom, Doug knocked on the door and then opened it.
"Jack is pretty much out from the morphine." Doug said.
Elizabeth stood up and motioned toward the bed. Jacobs came in and laid Jack down. He groaned in pain a couple of times. Doug was able to get him situated and calmed down.
"Faith and I will be back around lunch time." Jacobs said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
"I will be downstairs." Doug said. "That way Dee can go to services. If you need anything, just come down or call out to me."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "But don't you want to go to services?"
"I can read some in the Bible." Doug said. "I would prefer to be here in case Jack needs anything. Dee already headed into town to get soup bones. I can make some stock for soup."
Elizabeth smiled.
"In that case." Elizabeth said. "I think I am going to lay back down with Jack."
"You do that." Doug said. "I will be downstairs if you need anything."
"Thank you again." Elizabeth said. "Feel free to make yourself at home. There are plenty of books downstairs. There is paper in my writing desk. Feel free to have anything in the kitchen. I think that my aunt made cookies yesterday."
"Thank you." Doug said. "I might look at the books."
Elizabeth nodded, walked Doug to the door and shut it almost all the way. Elizabeth then went and laid down with Jack. She laid on her side and snuggled down into his chest. She took his arm and wrapped it around her, with his hand resting on her growing baby bump.