Chapter Eighty-Seven
Elisabeth and JT were on each side of the bed holding Jarrod's hands. Rosita had just taken Benjamin out as Jarrod had asked to see him one more time.
The little boy yelled "Pappy" and gave him a messy kiss on the cheek, "Get well."
"Pappy loves his little man."
JT and William swallowed down their sobs as it had been a name Jarrod called them as youngsters. Not an eye in the room was dry or a face without distraught emotion at its surface.
William and his two young stepsisters were at the foot of his bed. He had an arm around each of them protectively. Frances was sitting on the footboard crying. Victoria was seated at the head of the bed wiping her son's brow while Nick and Heath paced across the room.
Sally, Ximena, and Maris were attempting to watch all of the children with Hannah's help downstairs.
David had gone out to check on Heath's foaling horse. "Just let me help, somehow—-" Heath sent him to McColl and Ciego.
Eugene had been telegraphed to come immediately; he was due anytime. Audra was sitting in the window sill trying to hide her tears. Carl sat protectively beside her. James David and Chip were devastated across the room.
Jarrod squinted his eyes around the room. One pupil was dilated and the other was small. The intense pain of his headache furrowed his brow and he swallowed to clear his thoughts. He had vomited all morning and was dehydrated. They were only giving him spoons of water with the impending surgery.
"I asked Elisabeth—-to have the whole family here—just in case. Elisabeth and I are going to try the he—-uh tell them—-" and closed his eyes from the pain.
She swallowed up and found her voice, "A hemicraniectomy. Trepanation."
Dr Merar added, "Jarrod has pressure building up in his brain. A fracture, a clot, something—-and we must act. We will open a small part of his skull. Our young surgeon has done this procedure before."
Jarrod continued with his eyes shut, "We made this decision together but the final say was mine. I want to live for each and every one of you. I am willing to try." he whispered.
Elisabeth wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Heath walked up behind her and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Family is most important. We live by that. I know you all will help Elisabeth raise our children. Uhhhhh," as he choked back the emotions, "New baby and Benjamin help remember me." and tears ran down the barrister's face.
"I may not make it—but I love you all," he whispered.
Nick bellowed, "Don't say it. You will be fine."
Jarrod opened his eyes and smiled. He attempted a wink, "I believe you, brother Nick,"
He turned his head towards Victoria, "Lovely lady, nothing is unsaid."
"Nothing, my oldest beautiful boy."
"Carl, you take care of Audra now. You have already when I gave her to you and keep it up. She's my little sister."
She shook with tears as Carl held her up.
"I love you, Jarrod—" as she violently cried.
"Heath—brother." and he choked up. Heath nodded back thankful that Jarrod didn't say anymore.
Dr. Merar looked at everyone, "He needs some rest now. Elisabeth, you stay until Eugene gets here. Should be within the hour. "
The family filed by the bed and kissed his hand or cheek. He willed his sapphire eyes to make deep contact with each of them. He looked at JT, Chip, and James David.
"This is not your fault. Our steps are ordered. You be the men you were raised to be. Promise me—you won't let me down and blame yourselves. I forbid it."
Tears streamed down all their faces as they said "Yes sir" and "I love you."
Jarrod's tears flowed freely as he kissed the three girls, "Pappy loves you."
Victoria leaned heavily on Heath's arm; she looked years older and frail.
The room emptied but for Elisabeth, a young surgeon from town, and Dr. Merar.
"Howard, I need to wait until Gene gets home. I need to know the business and family matters taken care of—-"
"I understand but we will wait not more than two hours."
" Elisabeth? You feeling fine?" Jarrod asked.
She lied and said yes. Her belly and back had cramped since Jarrod collapsed during the early morning hours.
"I think it's a girl. Name her after you."
"Will see. I plan on you being there when she or he is born."
"I want to be," He said with closed eyes and squeezed her hand.
They all quietly waited with moments of endearment as Eugene ran in about thirty minutes later.
It was obvious that Jarrod was saving his energy for his youngest brother.
"You have to make it, Jarrod."
"I hope so but I have to be prepared."
He clearly enunciated dispensation of his will, where all the important papers were located, the trusts, the stocks, the Carrington bank assets—using his courtroom voice.
Elisabeth was sobbing at this point and Dr. Merar walked her across the room.
Jarrod detailed his education plans for the children, how each heir was to have land and a trust of their own—
Eugene was trying to take it all in.
"Why me, Jarrod?"
"You are most like me. Heath will keep the horses and the mines going. He will be the nurturing one for all the will take care of the ranch and the discipline when Elisabeth needs him—-and all the extra understanding they need. Nate knows all of this. But I need you to be Pappy—and then Mother—-."
Jarrod's voice broke at her name.
Eugene broke down and cried, himself, "I will, Jarrod."
"I love you little brother."
And Eugene placed a kiss on his forehead.
Elisabeth kissed him on the lips, "When you wake up, I will be here."
"I will watch for you, my love."
Eugene took her arm and escorted her outside, shivering and shaking; they looked back as the door closed. The surgeon took the linen towel off a tray of instruments and Dr. Merar administered the chloroform.
Quotes from actual surgeries of the time.
"the right parietal bone was fractured near the sagittal and frontal sutures. About one square inch of the bone being loose was removed, together with several spiculae, and a sharp projection was removed by Hey's saw."
"Cold water dressings will cover the area."
"First the surgeon would sedate the patient and begin to use the scalpel to slowly separate the skin from the skull. Once sufficient space was created, the surgeon would then use the trephine to cut a hole near the wound or use Hey's saw to scrape away at the skull. If done correctly, the dura mater is left untouched, and the pieces of fractured bone are removed. Trephination was one of the more dangerous surgeries that carried some of the most risk if done incorrectly – leading to its high mortality rate. Around 200 instances of trephination were performed during the Civil War with a staggering 57% mortality rate. Despite this, many of those that survived lived fairly normal lives with little neurological deficits."