SOVch9: Breathing Difficulties

In the waiting room, a young woman sat, hoping for news of her recently-wed husband. Beside her, a brother anticipated a prognosis for his sibling. And beside him, a mother and her children prayed for their loved one to pull through.

Nobody was answering their pleas.

After the phone call from the nurse, Liz had herded together what she could find of her family and immediately began the long journey to Aberdeen. Tommy was nowhere to be found, but she didn’t want him near her son anyway. Ever since Eric had left Tommy had beaten and tormented them relentlessly. She was powerless to stop it, though she tried her hardest.

The five hour journey gave Liz plenty of time to think. Too much, in fact. Once the initial shock had cleared, the questions came pouring: How did this happen? They only had one car and she had been in it when the accident happened, so did Billy steal a car and try to drive it? Why? Or was someone else involved? The nurse hadn’t mentioned anyone else.

She had tried to find answers to her questions. She barraged the receptionist at the hospital, trying to get information, but was told to please take a seat in the waiting room, a doctor would be with them shortly.

The baby wouldn’t rest. He sensed, Liz was sure, his brother’s tragic state, and was expressing his anguish. She wished she could break down too, but she had to stay together for the rest of her family. She did her best to hush the baby as Beth rested on James’s shoulder. Both looked tearful. Liz was doing her best to avoid James’s eyes as every time they connected with hers she saw the truth: Billy wasn’t going to make it.

She pulled the baby closer to her, as if hanging on to him could somehow help. As she did, a doctor appeared in the waiting room. Somebody had pressed a button on his controls: Liz watched him cross the room in slow-motion, the serious expression on his face magnified by the length of time she watched it for. She caught James’s eye.

“Mrs Mackay?” The doctor asked, gently.

All she could do was nod her head. James knew what was coming too, he was crying feverishly, hiding behind a scared and confused Beth.

“Is my brother dead?” Beth asked the doctor, terrified.

He took a deep breath, and smiled sympathetically.

“No, my love, your brother is not dead.” He delivered the news like…like a doctor telling his patient’s family their loved one will survive.

Liz looked up, astounded. James choked.

“He has suffered some severe injuries to his chest, and his lungs are very weak. It was touch and go for a while, and we almost lost him more than once, but he’s stable now. When he’s awake we’ll have to run some more tests to find out the full extent of the damage, and obviously nothing is guaranteed, but I am happy to say that, should everything go to plan from now on, you’re son, and brother, should survive.”

James grinned and hugged Beth. Liz felt the breath she had been starved of rush back into her lungs, awakening her. But she still wasn’t completely reassured by the doctor’s words.

“Survive?” She asked. “Do you think there could be some long term damage?”

The doctor looked a little uneasy.

“It’s a possibility. The crash was very serious, and his injuries extensive. There will definitely be some quite major scarring to his back and chest, but, as I said before, we’ll have to wait until he’s awake to examine the full impact of the accident.”

“Can we see him?” Beth interrupted, clearly not understanding the implications of the doctor’s words. Liz jumped in before he could answer.

“Is there any damage to his brain?”

The doctor smiled. “No. Thankfully, there is no brain damage. If your son has lasting health problems, they will be breathing difficulties. It is likely he may have to use some kind of breathing device, and these sorts of things are usually permanent measures. But there is no brain damage as far as we are aware.”

“And can we-?” Beth began.

“How did this happen though?!” Liz cracked. “Billy’s only thirteen, he cant drive! Was there some one else there? Where did it happen?”

The doctor nodded.

“We’re not sure of the details ourselves, Mrs. Mackay, we’re here to treat the patients, not ask questions on how they came to be in our care. What I can tell you is that your son was admitted alone. He was found alone in the car by another motorist who called it in. The police will want to talk to you shortly, they will be able to tell you more.”

She sank back down. None of this made any sense.

“So can I see my brother now?” Beth demanded.

The doctor smiled.

“Yes, my love, you can see him. Right this way.”