And love
Chapter 97 Life and death decisions
A/N: I struggled mightily with the ending of chapter 96. I obviously chose to leave Henry's fate open-ended. Pops will not live forever; we all know that. If this main JAMKO story is to continue well into the future – and with 2-year-old twin boys it certainly can; Henry is fated to pass on. One problem I see with him passing on now is that Francis – and the family that loves and supports him – are not ready for that event and its aftermath. Frank alone in the Bay Ridge home? Someone coming 'home' to live with dad? Who?
A wise family will seek answers ahead of time. Will the Reagans? What will he, they settle on? Anything? Just being argumentative? This could be disastrous. Let's try not to let that happen.
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ST. VICTOR'S CARDIAC LAB WAITING ROOM
Frank Reagan sits slumped over; elbows on knees, head resting on his hands. The family patriarch, his father, is fighting for his life beyond those double doors. A cardiac technician has come out and informed Frank that one of his father's coronary stents has clotted off. The team working on him is attempting to clear the clot. The outcome of their attempt will be known within 45 minutes. The tech then disappeared through those imposing double doors.
Frank is flanked by daughter Erin and daughter-in-law Linda, who has been relieved from her ER shift. Danny and Jamie have been informed, but current duties precluded their presence at the hospital. Eddie also is aware, but her family needs her attention at this time.
"Dad, what are we gonna do?" Erin chokes out. She has been weeping intermittently.
"Do? What do you mean, Erin?" He knows she might be referencing one of several things.
"If we, you, lose Pops." This has been increasingly on her mind. There was a time when she contemplated, she might move in with dad. But now, with reconciliation between herself and Jack in its final stages, that seems increasingly unlikely. If she can't, or won't, be the solution – then who?
"Erin, we can't think like that. He will be fine." Frank insists. He hopes, and prays silently.
Erin and Linda look at each other, faintly shaking their heads. Somehow, they need to pull the families' collective heads out of the sand. How? This topic has never been talked about in any group setting, or with any seriousness. Families regularly do this – put these kinds of decisions off until they absolutely cannot be avoided. And this is a horrible time for facing this decision. Absolutely horrible.
"Dad-
"Family of Henry Reagan," a woman in green, blood-spattered scrubs announces.
Frank, Erin and Linda rise as one. "I'm His son," Frank says in a trembling voice.
"Mr. Reagan, I'm doctor Willows. I'm chief of interventional cardiology here at St. V's. Your father is in critical condition, but alive. His LAD* stent had clotted off. We were able to remove the clot, the stent is now patent. Your dad will need to remain in CICU* for 3-4 days while we assess his ongoing condition. His status beyond that is unclear at this point."
Linda inquires, "I am Linda Reagan, Frank's daughter-in-law. And an ER RN here at St. V's. Can you clarify what you mean by 'uncertain status'?"
Frank and Erin nod.
"Not much, I am afraid to say. I can say this: Henry will need close observation, a very stress-free environment, significant physical help, and maybe an anti-clotting medication."
"Coumadin?" Linda asks.
"Maybe. Sub-cutaneous heparin."
"We could do that," Linda mutters.
"But folks, we are quite a way from that. "Henry should be in the CICU and available for 1 visitor at a time in 45 minutes. A nurse will come get 1 of you when that time comes." Doctor Willows leaves the family to discuss their course of action.
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CICU SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM
THE NEXT EVENING
Frank is joined by his 3 children and their significant others – Linda, Eddie & Jack (still not officially reunited with Erin).
The family have chafed a little at the visiting restrictions enforced by the CICU nurses. Especially when the nurses lurk by Henry's door – listening for any trace of raised voices d/t cause stress. This seems unnecessary. Except to Linda, she gets it.
"Dad, has doctor Willows said anything about Pops discharge status," Jamie starts.
"No, not yet," Frank admits, shaking his head.
"What if he can't come home?" Danny adds.
"I don't know, kids." Frank seems despondent.
"Can you tell us what you'd like to do in that case. Dad?" Erin quietly asks.
Frank looks around, "Well, who in hell is moving in? Huh?" He looks disgusted.
They shrink back, wondering what to do. Is dad ever going to face this?
After some silence, then small talk, they visit 1 by 1 then disperse.
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ON THE ISLAND – BREAKFAST, NEXT DAY
"How is GG doing," Mary Rose asks. None of the kids have been allowed to visit yet. The lack of info is getting to them. AJ especially, having seen Pops in such distress, doesn't know what to think.
"He is still very sick," dad tells them.
"When can we see him?" Cassie speaks up.
"We don't know sweetie," Eddie voices. "Only 1 person at a time can visit, at least for now." She and Jamie hope that the kids last view of their GG will not be of him being taken out of the party on a stretcher. That could produce nightmares for months to come. Or years.
"Our prayer circle prays for him every evening," Mal inputs.
"Can AJ and I join you, sissy?" Patrick pipes up.
The girls look at each other. They shrug, 'why not?'
"Of course you can," Cassie tells them. "We'll need to do circle before your bedtime. At least for GG."
Jamie and Eddie nod, "Dad and I will help you coordinate that," Eddie adds.
"Thank you, mommy," Mary Rose whispers.
That evening is the 1st 5-member prayer circle upstairs. Afterwards, the boys come back down for their bedtime routine. The girls continue on with prayer for their special concerns.
Mom and dad are so proud of their kids!
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ST. VIC'S 2 DAYS LATER
Frank, Danny and Linda are in the CICU waiting room, in the evening. They are hopeful that Henry will be moved to a step-down unit tomorrow. Paula Hill, on break from her ICU shift, stops by to say hello. She takes Franks hands in hers, "Frank, Joe and I are so sorry for this. We are praying for you, Henry and the family-
CODE BLUE CICU – CODE BLUE CICU blares out of the loud-speakers.
Paula holds out a stop sign to Linda, "I will check on this, Lin." She hustles out of the waiting room.
In 5 minutes, she is back, with a dark look on her face. "It's Henry . . . they are working n him now. I will return with more soon. I'm going to take an extended beak to support you folks."
"Sounds like she's part of the family," Frank whispers. He looks around at the family present. Only Linda nods.
30 minutes later Paula and doctor Willows return. The doc walks up to Frank, he and all the others stand.
"Frank, my team is doing continuous CPR. I'm sorry, but that is the only way Henry is still alive. I'm reasonably certain that the LAD stent has re-clotted. Our only option now is to induce cardio-pulmonary bypass oxygenation – like we do at open heart surgery. Then attempt to open that stent again. The success rate at a 2nd attempt to clear a stent is quite low. And Henry has suffered a lot. I can leave Paula with you – she looks to Paula, who nods – and she will bring back to me your decision as to whether we should proceed with that, or not. Any questions?"
"How long can we debate?" Linda whispers.
"10 minutes, please."
"Ok," Frank mumbles.
Doctor Willows exits.
Erin calls Jamie and asks that he and Eddie join him on speaker.
Paula reiterates what doctor Willows told them. The family asks questions of Linda and Paula.
Frank then tells his kids his opinion – that it's time to let his dad go.
Though sad, they all concur.
Paula, though kindly asked by Frank, declines to 'vote'. She does tell them that she thinks they have made a reasonable decision. She leaves to inform doctor Willows.
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7 DAYS LATER
AJ and Mary Rose stand alone, hand-in-hand beside a grave. The rest of the family have retreated toward the cars, after the priest conducted the graveside service. Everyone had tossed a white rose onto the shiny black coffin, said a final prayer, then retreated. Jamie and Eddie keep watch ~20 yards back. The children each hold a purple carnation in their outside hands.
"I miss him, sissy," AJ whispers.
"I do too, AJ. A LOT!" She says thru tears.
"You saw all those policemen?" AJ was in awe.
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FLASHBACK
The cars slowly follow the hearse, through a seemingly never-ending line of law enforcement officers. Men and women from 49 states (all except Alaska); plus, Ireland, Egland, Canada & Mexico – all dressed in their dress blues, came to honor Henry Fitzpatrick Reagan*.
As Jamie and Eddie's children watched from their seats in the Honda, they saluted as instructed – all in awe of the display of honor and respect accorded their loved GG.
As the officers paraded past the grave and coffin, they each and every one tossed their hat / cap onto the coffin*. The head-pieces were soon joined by flowers from each person attending the graveside service.
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Jamie and Eddie allowed Mary Rose and AJ all the time they needed. How long can / should young ones grieve? No answer to that was forthcoming.
After 12" AJ and Mary Rose tossed their purple carnations to join the other flowers and head-gear. Then they slowly walk back to their parents.
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ON THE ISLAND – AM BREAKFAST
"I feel sorry for grandpa."
"What is he gonna do now, he's all alone?"
"Can he come live with us?"
"He can sleep with us boys!"
"No, with us girls!"
"No, yuck!"
"I know, in the barn with Mary Rose."
"Grandpa and MR in a manger!" LOL
"Stop that! Don't make fun of the manger!"
"Maddie & Joseph would kick him out!"
"Joseph would kick him in the a-
"KIDS!" Jamie and Eddie glare.
Back to eating.
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TBC
Google could not find a middle name for Henry Reagan. So, I selected a fine Irish one!
I don't know if this is done. I thought it was a fitting tribute.
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TBC
LAD = Left anterior descending coronary artery. The main artery serving the left ventricle of the heart.
CICU = cardiac ICU.