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(aka Bike) Part 561 by Angharad |
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She led us into a small office packed with books and papers, small boxes and plastic bags. “Sorry, it’s a bit cramped. This is Mr Edwards.” At my quizzical look, she added, “The surgeon who has been operating on Miss Cameron.”
“Hello, how is Stella?” I asked, clutching Simon so tightly my fingers were hurting, so goodness only knows what his arm was like.
“She is very poorly, she seems to have lost a lot of blood.”
“Yes, I thought that when I called the ambulance. How is the baby?”
“Not good, she would have been a breech birth. One foot had tried to emerge and looks damaged. But she was severely anoxic and might have brain damage.”
I was holding on to Simon and felt his body go limp under my grasp, and he keeled over, crashing into a bookcase–I just couldn’t hold him. Between us we managed to open the door and lay him down on the floor, his feet sticking out of the door.
The surgeon examined him, “I think he’s just fainted, although that eye is going to look lovely in the morning. An ice pack might be useful, Sister.”
“Thank you for checking him over, I think the emotion is just too much for him.”
The surgeon smiled, “I thought that women were supposed to be the weaker sex.”
“Not in his family.”
“Ah, that was his sister…”
“And niece.”
“Quite.”
“Thanks for giving them a fighting chance.”
“I don’t know if I’ve done them any favours, I might have just delayed the inevitable.”
“Might we see them?” I asked whilst Simon groaned from behind and below me.
“Assuming the young man hasn’t concussed himself, once they get them to their respective units, yes you can. It might even help, oh and if you know any prayers, now might be a good time.”
“Yes, um thank you again.”
“You’re welcome, that pretty smile is payment enough.” He left, stepping over the supine Simon. Blushing I helped the sister and a nurse raise him up and sit him on a chair. He looked quite green and the sister dashed off and came back with a cardboard receiver. Holding it under Simon’s chin, she waited unmoved as he vomited into the bowl. I had to look away or my sandwich would have joined it.
After a little sit down and drink of water, I felt better, so did Simon. The ice pack on his face, we went off to the ICU where Stella was either sleeping or unconscious. I sat next to her and held her hand. She looked very pale and drawn.
“Congratulations, Stella, you’re now a mummy too. You have a lovely little girl, so now you have to concentrate on getting well so you can look after her. I also think we’re going to have to think of a better name then Puddin.” Simon spoke to her as well and told her how proud he was of her and his niece.
We were directed up to the premature baby unit. After donning hats, gowns and shoe covers, we were allowed into the unit and led to an incubator where a tiny little body lay. It looked so small and frail. I was sure I’d seen bigger dormice.
“Is that all, from the size of Stella, I thought it would be at least the size of frozen turkey.”
“It’s she, not it, Simon. If she was the size of frozen turkey, how would Stella have ever delivered her?”
“How do I know, I’m a bloke–I leave all that side of things to you women.”
“Are you the father?” the nurse asked Simon, “Oh, what happened to you?”
“I slipped and banged my head. No it’s my niece, I’m Stella’s brother.”
“Can I touch her?” I asked, desperate to tell Stella I had touched her little hand, it was so tiny. I’m sure dormice have fingers nearly as big.
“Um, well be very gentle, she is very poorly.”
“I will.” I put my hands into the gloved inserts they use for changing the babies and performing any other service to the baby. I touched her little hand and her fingers tried to close on my finger. It was so lovely, this tiny little doll was a living person. I stroked her tiny forehead and her eyes fluttered. “Grow big and strong my little one,” I said to her. I looked at the injured foot, it was wrapped in a fleecy bandage. I touched it and she moved her leg. “Let this heal and grow strong.” She whimpered a little and then yawning, went back to sleep. “Do you want to touch her?” I asked Simon.
“I’d better not, with my luck an arm or leg would fall off.”
“I think that’s enough stimulation for the moment,” said the nurse and ended our visit.
“Do you feel alright?” I asked him as we walked down from the special care baby unit.
“Yeah, why? I’m not going to keel over again, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m concerned for you, that’s all.”
“I’m okay, apart from a headache, I suppose I’d better see where Dad is.”
“What about telling Monica?”
“She’ll be back from France by the weekend, that’ll be plenty of time.”
“Are you sure?” I felt that if it was Simon who’d been injured, I’d want to know as quickly as possible.
“Yep, Pater’s orders.”
“What?”
“Pater, Latin for father.”
“I know, I did Latin.”
“So why did you need to ask?”
“I thought you said Peter.”
“A likely tale.”
“Suit yourself.” By this time we’d reached the hospital reception and they checked the computer for Henry’s whereabouts.
“He’s on the orthopaedics ward, level six.”
“Is he likely to be conscious? He’s only just come out of surgery.”
“Dunno, luv, I ain’t a nurse.”
“Want to go and see?” I asked Simon.
“Yeah, I’ll go, you go back to Stella.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, go and tell Stella, you’ve touched her baby.”
“Is that wise? She might feel awkward about that, I mean doing it before she has had a chance.”
“She's unconscious. She can hardly object, can she?”
“I suppose not, but if she sits up and belts me one, you’re in deep doo-doo when I see you next.”
He looked at me strangely. “If she sits up and belts you, they’ll throw the pair of you out for fighting. So behave yourself.”
“I’ll try to, give Henry my love if he’s awake.”
“I’ll tell him you’re coming to tuck him in later.”
“That’ll finish him off won’t it?”
“You’re joking, If I told him you were going to sleep with him, he’d wake up if they just killed him.”
I blushed like a beetroot. “I hope you’re joking.”
“Don’t be silly, only a blind man wouldn’t fancy you, and even he would when you spoke.”
“Stop it, Simon, you’re embarrassing me.”
“I’m also telling you that you’re the most beautiful woman I know.”
“I’d better go and talk to Stella.”
I went and sat down beside her again and touched her hand. “Hello, Stella, it’s me again. I’ve been to see your baby, she is so beautiful. They let me touch her little hand, it’s tiny but she grasped my finger. She is so lovely, I’m so pleased for you. She is really beautiful, just like her mum.”
For a moment I thought I felt her hand move, and her eyes seemed to be flickering under the closed eyelids, but it came to nothing, just the beeping of the machines and the sound of her laboured breathing. I still felt very anxious for mother and baby and wished I’d had a magic wand to wave to make it all better.
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Comments
Time now
It's time now for Cathy to pay a visit to that clergywoman she met so long ago. Not only does she have "connections" that Stella, Puddin' and Cathy need, she also made Cathy feel better before, and maybe could do so again.
Yuri!
Yuri!
Cathy's Magic touch
She's done all the right things so lets hope she can go three for three and fix all the wrongs of Puddin.
I don't see HOW Simon...
resisted his little neice. Sorry, guess he really is a bloke's bloke. Simon and Cathy seem to have, at least partially, gotten over their mutual anger from earlier. Hope Cathy's healing touch does wonders for both mother and daughter. I know Stella kept saying Cathy'd take care of puddin, but making her do it THIS way... Not nice. Besides, as premature as it sounds the baby was, it'll be in the hospital longer than Stella.
Thanks for the chance to vicariously see the baby.
I recall when my younger daughter was born... She was eager for the world and just barely didn't bounce. But, there were post birth complications. The baby got ran to the nursery, I got put in a recovery room to wait... and wait... and wait... and finally saw my spouse four hours later. "No, you you stay right there, you're not a patient. No, you're not the mother. We can't put the baby in there with you, you're not trained." I had a horrible four hours... Not as scary as comming out last fall, in some ways, but not knowing what was happing to my spouse and no distraction. I was more than a little frantic when she finally was wheeled in. IMO Simon and Cathy had it EASY... They had each other while waiting, and had a clue as to what the principals were going through.
Annette
Resisting
It's not just being a bloke's bloke. He has little self-confidence. He's afraid of hurting the fragile little thing. In fact, he said something to that effect.
I dunno Ray.
I thought maybe that was it, but then I thought of some REALLY BIG and STRONG men that I've seen holding little babies. Perhaps I'm missjudging Simon there, and he'll come around when it comes time for diaper duty, feedign duty (at 2:00 am) and such.
My brother changed his son's diaper ONCE in the first few months... And, that was the first time it was changed. And he did that for only ONE reason... He didn't hear what the Doctor said. He didn't know if he had a son or daughter, and couldn't ask...
Again, maybe you're right. Maybe Simon's just afraid he'll hurt the baby by touching it. Or maybe it's fear of the responsibility that may come his way. If it's the latter, it may point to a fear of being a parent on his part... And an extra reason why he loved Cathy - she can't give him babies. I don't BELEIVE this by any stretch. I just have a devious mind when it comes to story plotting.
Annette
Diapers
Diaper changing as a method of gathering information... too funny.
I am very happy that our diaper (nappy, for those of you across the pond) changing days are over. I was, however, the first one to change my first son's diaper. Mary had a rough pregnancy, attempted delivery, and c-section. I changed the little guy, and he rewarded me by doing the shower trick. He has changed his tactics in the last fourteen years, but the idea is about the same. LOL
Anyhow, while women (genetic or otherwise) seem to have this built-in gotta. touch. the. baby. thing, men are almost afraid of the little things -- as if they will break if they are touched the wrong way.
I had a couple nieces to practice on, and I tend to be more pragmatic, so it wasn't a problem. Still, the feeling of being responsible for that little fragile life is almost overwhelming.
(And then they become teenagers -- but that's a different story.)
So, while Simon may know in his mind that touching his little niece won't hurt anything, his poor overloaded emotions tell him otherwise.
Super Cathy
Is needed now more than ever to help heal everybody. But when she finally implodes from the stress, who will be there for her? Her children of course.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Cathy the miracle worker...
“Grow big and strong my little one,†I said to her. --- if this story had magic, a faint blue glow would have surrounded the baby and her problems would have ceased immediately. Cathy's encounter with the baby almost brought tears to my eyes. Please Angharad, let Cathy do her magic a few more times.
Stella And Baby Need All The Prayers They Can Get
I dearly hope that Stella and her baby girl pull through. If there was ever a time for Cathy to lean on prayer, it is now. Cathy has so much going on in her life right now that I fear that anything happening to her sister or niece will put her over the edge. She has her hands full with two girls and now she will probably take on most of the responsibility for the baby. It would be heartbreaking to lose Stella and baby. I think that Cathy's uncanny ability to do miraculous things is needed now more than ever. The way the baby responded is very encouraging.
Baby
I wonder if she's going to start taking the necessary hormones to breast feed her niece. Or, maybe she'll be one of those rare cases where a woman spontaneously starts to lactate just by being around a needy baby. Something like that would certainly boost her confidence that she is a real woman.
reason for hope
its not much yet but there is some reason for hope now.
Lets hope they all make it and get well in the end.
Can't wait to read how things turn out.
hugs
Holly
Friendship is like glass,
once broken it can be mented,
but there will always be a crack.
Nobody
Nobody has died yet, that is promising. It is a given that Cathy will be a good mom. If this were real life there would be a nurse for Stella when she goes home, who is now facing postpartum depression. Stella doesn't handle depression well. Cathy really should have taken those lactating hormones.
Hitting the Kleenex
Our Father who art in Heaven. Go ahead, Cathy you won't burst into flame, say it for Stella and the baby, say it !
The baby held her hand ! Saint Catherine the healer.
She is ok, Stella
Cefin