The nurse rushes inside and checks my vitals on the machine. She gives me a quick smile. “Hi, I’m Jackie. I’ll be taking care of you this early morning. How are you feeling?”
I open my mouth, struggling to speak. “Waaater.”
“Oh yes. Right away sir.”
She rushes out of the room and returns instantly with a cup of ice water. She inserts a bendy straw and slowly holds the cup steady. Coming to the side of the bed, she puts her hand underneath my head, lifting it as my lips enclose around the straw, sipping the ice-cold water. The cool liquid swishes in my mouth as I tip my head back, allowing it to free fall down my throat. I feel it travel down my esophagus and into my stomach.
I drink the entire cup and the nurse places the empty cup on the dresser. I try to sit up, but she raises her palms up. “No, don’t move!”
I give her a perplexed look. “Where’s my family?”
At that moment, the doctor steps inside and says, “Ah, Roman! You’re awake. My name is Dr. Ferguson and I’m the residing physician here. So, let’s take a look at you, okay?”
Frustration and anger sound in my voice as I ask again, “Where’s my family?”
Jackie chimes in, “They’re in the chapel. I’ll go get them.”
As she steps out, the doctor examines me with his flashlight. “Okay, follow the light. Good. Now, let’s listen to that heart of yours.”
He puts on the stethoscope and places it against my chest. “Breathe in…and out, in…and out. Good. Now, on a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, tell me how much pain you’re in.”
“Six.”
He nods. “Okay, that’s not too bad. Are you able to sit up and move your legs?”
“I…it hurts.”
“Okay, let me help you.”
He walks around and steadies his arm firmly on my shoulders. “Now, see if you can lift yourself off the pillow and sit up.”
Exhaling before I attempt his request, I slowly focus on lifting my neck, but the aches and soreness are excruciating. I continue to push through and force my way up, but he cautions me to relax.
“I don’t want you overdoing it. Just lay still and relax.”
The door pushes open as Aunt Maggie and Uncle Vinny rush inside with the nurse following close by.
Aunt Maggie cries out and rushes to the bed with open arms. “Oh, thank God!”
I open an arm for her as she cradles herself in my neck and bursts into tears. Sobs echo throughout the room as she continues to thank the Lord for listening to her prayers.
Her overwhelming reaction melts my heart as Uncle Vinny walks up to me and places his hand on my shoulder. He gives me a stern smile as tears gloss over his brown eyes. My injured hand reaches out for him and he grasps hold of my forearm as silent tears spill down his face.
I hear Jackie sniff quietly in the background as the three of us share an emotional reunion. Once we all calm down from our joyous tears, Aunt Maggie and Uncle Vinny step away to let the doctor continue with his examination.
“So, where were we? Oh yes! Are you feeling any tingling in your legs?”
I nod. “Yes. I sense them, but when I try to move, it’s very difficult. I can barely wiggle my toes.”
His brow arches. “But you can wiggle them right?”
I nod slowly. “Yes.”
Pleased with my answer, he jots down notes in my chart. “Excellent!”
I take a peek at Aunt Maggie as she wipes tears away with a tissue. “How long was I out?”
Dr. Ferguson responds, “Only for a day, which is pretty remarkable after all you’ve been through.”