Chapter Twenty-One

As Trapper stood next to Gonzo, scrubbing his arms, Ernie walked into the room, wearing her scrubs. “I hope this is as urgent as Gloria led me to believe. I had to leave my book, my hot tea, and my robe and slippers sitting next to my comfortable chair.”

“Nine-year-old with internal bleeding and a possible collapsed lung,” stated Trapper with a serious look.

His look didn’t surprise her. Though he routinely joked when he worked on adults, he never let his guard down when the life of a child was in his hands. Standing in front of the sink, soaping up, Ernie sighed. “I was afraid of that. I came in through emergency. The halls are still lined with children.”

Trapper held his arms up in front of him. “I need to know if we have consent,” he said to another nurse. “If we don’t, call Slocum. I’ll need that court order.” Pushing through the operating room door backward, he went straight to the light box to see the CT scans.

Gonzo went in after him, and stood just behind his right shoulder. “This isn’t good,” said Gonzo.

“This isn’t good at all.” Pointing to one of the films, Trapper said, “That’s a rib in there. He may lose that lung. And look at all this. You can’t even see there’s so much blood.” He turned to the anesthesiologist. “You should order extra blood. The kid’s gonna need it.”

The anesthesiologist looked at the films and nodded. “I’ll order more now.”

“After that, go ahead and start a unit. It’s not coming out, but it’s not going anywhere good either. Then start the anesthesia. Once you have him stable, we’re going to start, court order or not.”

***

“Okay, everyone get comfortable. Two of you drag that chair over here and share. The rest of you climb up on the bed.” Leah wasn’t surprised at how quiet the children were after seeing their friends tossed around like rag dolls. She picked up the TV controller and turned on the television. “Hey, we’re in luck. Disney is on. The Kids Who Knew Too Much…how does that sound?” Still, she got no response. “Alright, you guys stay here and be real quiet because there are other patients on this floor.”

“Aren’t you a patient?”

“Well, yes, I am. But I’m always in trouble, so no one will be surprised by me. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t touch any of the gadgets.” Leah went into the room behind the nurse’s desk where the ice machine and refrigerator were. She found apple and orange juice and jello. Taking a tray from the counter, she loaded it up with juice, jello, spoons and napkins and headed back to her room.

Dr. Sandler just happened to be in the hall when she came out. “Midnight raid?”

“Uh, something like that. Only, it’s not midnight yet.”

“Do you happen to know where everyone is?” asked David.

“Are you a doctor? I’m surprised you haven’t heard. There was a bus accident. Emergency is full of children.”

“I’m Dr. Sandler. I’m a psychiatrist. I’d just be in the way in emergency.”

Leah recognized the name, but didn’t show it. “I’m Leah Haverty.”

“The Mushroom Queen?” Wincing, he added, “Oh, sorry.”

She chuckled. “Not at the moment. I’m a den mother disguised as a patient.” She smiled when he furrowed his brow. “Come with me.”

When they arrived at the room, Leah handed the juice and jello out to the kids, who were already engrossed in the television program. David leaned against the door frame and watched until she came back and offered him a cup of jello. “Would you like to join us?”

“Are these kids from the bus accident?”

“Yes. There wasn’t any room in the waiting room, so I brought them up here. They were just wandering around down there.”

Drawing a child out of the bed, Leah crawled in, and patted the bed for the child to get back in. She sat back and put her arms around the two children on each side of her. “You’re…ah…Nicole, right?” she whispered to the child on her right.

“Nicki.”

Turning to the child on her left, she whispered again, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Angela.”

“I’m Miss Leah. Do you like the jello?” Both girls nodded their heads and settled in next to her while David pulled two boys out of the chair, and then scooped them up on his lap, leaning back and getting comfortable with his jello.

***

Trapper had gathered his surgical team around the table, and just as the anesthesiologist announced that Marcus was stable, a voice came over the speaker from the viewing room. “Dr. McIntyre. We have the court order.”

“Good. Let’s get started. Gonzo, get a chest tube in. I’m sure there’s already pneumothorax. While you’re doing that, I’m going to try to get the blood out of the way down here so we can see where it’s coming from.”

Both men worked quietly, each being assisted by a separate nurse. “Ernie, let’s get more suction in here,” said Trapper. “Gonzo, how are you doing?”

“Almost there.”

“Here’s a bleeder. Clamp. Okay, that’s not the only one.”

“Trap, chest tube’s in.”

“Come help me find where this blood is coming from. Spleen’s gotta go.”

“Did you happen to notice this kidney?” asked Gonzo.

“Yeah, I did. Can you save it?”

“Maybe. It’s about to burst. It could be a crushed ureter causing a back up. Get me a separate suction tube and the Metzenbaums. Let’s see if we can get some of this fluid out.”

“Here’s our major bleeder,” said Trapper. “The artery’s been nicked. Ernie, give me another clamp and a number ten needle. Let’s see if this stops the bleeding. Once we get out of here, we still have to deal with that rib up against his lung if he’s still stable.”

***

“Most of the children in Leah’s room had already dozed off when an announcement came over the television. We interrupt our regular programming for an important announcement. As a result of a bus accident earlier this evening, parents from the Old First Presbyterian Church with children attending the youth basketball game at the YMCA are asked to contact admittance at San Francisco Memorial Hospital immediately.

As Leah and Dr. Sandler sat quietly, listening to the announcer repeat the message, Gloria entered the room. “Trevor Hall?”

One of the boys on David’s lap stirred and opened his eyes. “Are you Trevor,” he asked. Helping him up off the chair, David sent him toward Gloria.

“Trevor, your parents are here. Would you come with me?” The boy wiped his eyes with a fist, and took Gloria’s hand.

Leah shifted in the bed. “Gloria, I don’t understand. Where are all the parents?”

“We just found out they’ve been waiting at the church for the bus to arrive. They’ve started coming in now, so it shouldn’t be too much longer. You look a little pale. Are you alright?”

“I’m tired, but what am I gonna do? I’m already in bed,” said Leah with a weak smile.

“Nurse Brancusi, how is it in emergency?” asked Dr. Sandler.

“We still have about fifteen children down there, but they’ve all been taken care of.”

“Maybe we should take these down so Ms. Haverty can rest,” he suggested.

Leah waved her hand. “No, it’s alright. They’re asleep. There’s no point in waking them until their parents arrive.”

As Gloria turned to leave, she looked back at Leah. “Alright,” she said hesitantly. “But I’m sending someone up to check on you.”