Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Her name is Penelope,” Julia says softly, standing in the doorway. Her hands are in front of her as she tries to keep me from seeing that they are shaking. “She turned two three weeks ago. She is up to date on all vaccines.”
I look back at the girl as Jackie cuts her pants off. “Any allergies?” I ask Julia as I take my stethoscope from around my neck and check her chest.
“None that I’m aware of,” she says, and Jackie just gives her a look I want to snap at her for, but I don’t have the chance to because Julia does.
“I’m her caseworker, not her mother,” she explains, and Jackie just nods her head.
“Who’s on call for pediatrics?” I ask after I look down and see her leg is definitely broken. I don’t even want to touch it.
“Jenny,” Jackie informs me, and I nod at her as she cuts off Penelope’s top while I grab my little flashlight. I open her eyes to see if her pupils respond.
“Penelope.” I say her name softly to see if she stirs. “Pretty girl.” I look in the other eye, and I see they do respond, so I let out a little sigh of relief.
“We need to get a CT scan,” I start to say when I palpate down on her stomach, and it feels like it’s swelling. “We need to do an ultrasound.” Then I look at her shoulder, seeing that it’s hanging awkwardly, so I know it’s dislocated. “Her collarbone is broken, I think.”
A nurse comes in with the ultrasound machine beside me as Jackie starts her IV. I’m waiting for her to get up and scream bloody murder, but she doesn’t even flinch. I look up at the door and see Julia standing just inside against the wall, out of the way. Her face hasn’t gained any color, and her eyes look like she’s a blank shell. I take the white squirt bottle and squeeze some of the gel onto the girl’s stomach. I grab the top of the handle and press down on her stomach. “Her spleen is ruptured,” I say, moving the machine around. “Everything else looks normal.” I wipe her stomach down. “Take her down to the CT scan and call surgery. I’ll be down in a minute.” Jackie nods her head as she and the other nurse wheel the bed from the room.
I wait until they are out of the room before walking over to Julia. “Are you okay?” I ask softly, and she just shakes her head. “Where is the mother?” I ask, and I can see her eyes gloss over.
“Dead at the scene,” she says, and her lower lip quivers. “What’s wrong with Penelope?” she asks as she wipes away the tear from the corner of her eye, trying not to show emotion. I knew she had a crazy job. I knew it was one she never really talked about, but I knew from experience and dealing with other people her job is the one that never gets the respect it merits.
“From what we can tell, her spleen needs to be removed,” I inform her, and she just stares blankly at me. “She can survive without it. Her leg is broken, her shoulder is dislocated, and her collarbone is cracked.” She closes her eyes and leans her head back against the wall. “I’ll know more after the CT scan and the X-rays.”
“Thank you,” she says, and I just nod at her.
“I’ll keep you in the loop,” I assure her. As I walk from the room, I look over my shoulder to see her head fall forward, the defeat all over her body. I even see her shoulders shake and wonder if leaving her is a good idea. I’m about to turn back when I see Jackie rushing down the hall, so my attention turns to her. “What’s wrong?” I ask as she turns back, and I can hear the wailing of a child.
“She woke up and threw up,” Jackie reports to me. “Probably has a concussion.”
“Most definitely,” I confirm as I walk into the room and see Penelope fighting to get away from Tracy, who is trying to calm her down. She cries out for her mother, and at that moment, my heart breaks for this little girl whose life will be thrown upside down.
“Call Irvine,” I tell Jackie, needing the anesthesiologist. “Tell him to meet me in OR room two.” She nods her head at me as I take my phone out.
I search my contacts for the name and press the phone button, not sure she will answer since she isn’t on call. “Hello?” Christine greets on the second ring.
“Hey, it’s Chase Grant.” She starts to laugh when I say that. We went on a couple of dates, but it was clear we were not ever going to be more.