The Amendment (The Contract 2)

Dr. Fletcher leaned close. “Calm down, Richard. You suffered a thoracolumbar spine injury in the accident. We had to do emergency surgery to reduce the bleeding into the spinal canal. You’re still healing.”

His words made no sense in my panicked state. Surgery? On my spine?

“My legs,” I insisted. “Why…can’t I feel…my legs?”

“This is quite normal given what you have been through. Recovery takes time.”

“What are you saying?” I managed to get out. “This is…” I searched for the word but couldn’t find it. Why the hell couldn’t I find the word?

“Your spinal cord was compressed,” he explained. “The result of that compression is paralysis.”

The word pinned me to the mattress, all my efforts at movement ceasing. It echoed in my head, screaming over and again.

Paralysis.

I was paralyzed.

I didn’t recognize my own voice. An anguished sound escaped my throat.

“Katy. I need Katy.”12KatyI was already rushing toward the door when Carol opened it, looking for me. I heard the sound Richard made, even through the walls, and I knew he needed me.

Screw protocol.

I hurried to his bedside. He was almost panting in his panic, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. His hands were wrapped tight around the bed rails, and the stark fear in his eyes made my heart ache.

I brushed my hand over his forehead, leaning in as close as I could. “Shh, Richard, I’m here, my darling. I’m here.”

My touch seemed to calm him. I ran my hand down his arm, loosening his grip from the metal. I intertwined our fingers, lifting his hand to my mouth. “Right here,” I repeated, hating seeing him so unsettled, so vulnerable. So unlike the Richard I knew.

Alan stood on the other side of his bed. “Listen to your wife, Richard. Breathe with her and try to relax. I’ll explain more when you’re ready.”

I pressed his hand to my chest and breathed long and slow. He struggled to calm down, finally relaxing, the panic ebbing from his eyes, although the devastation he was feeling written was across his face.

Carol handed me some ice chips, and I slipped one into his mouth. He closed his eyes with a long sigh. I could only imagine how good the cold felt in his mouth or how thirsty he was.

“He can have some water soon,” she promised.

“Richard,” Alan said. “Are you ready to listen?”

Richard opened his eyes. “I’m paralyzed.” He said the words slowly, a slight drag to his speech.

“This is to be expected with the trauma you experienced. We hope with time and work, you will regain the use of your legs.”

“And I can’t…talk good.”

Hearing his stumbling speech filled me with dread, but Alan hastened to assure him.

“I’m sure that will improve. You just woke up, Richard. There were moments we weren’t sure that would occur. You were severely injured—this isn’t going to happen instantly.” He smiled wryly. “This isn’t a TV drama. It will take time and effort.” He finished typing on the tablet, making notes and comments, then slid it under his arm.

“We’ll do another CT scan and some other follow-up tests. You’ll see a speech pathologist if needed. Once you’ve recovered a little more, you’ll be moved to the rehab ward. You’ll have a strict routine to get your strength back. “

“I’ll walk?”

Alan folded his arms. “That is my hope. But we need to do the tests and see how you respond.”

“When can I—” Richard swallowed “—go home?”

“Not for a while. It depends what the tests show and how you respond. On the effort you put into your recovery. Let’s take this one step, one day, at a time.” He smiled at me. “I think your wife will be a great help to you.”

Richard’s hand tightened on mine, but he remained silent.

Alan stepped back. “I’m going to let the nurses get you settled. They’ll clean you up and get you some water. If you’re hungry, you can try something light later. And we’ll get you off the IVs and oxygen as soon as possible.” He laid a hand on Richard’s arm. “Patience, Richard. This won’t happen overnight or even this week. Spines are tricky and heal in their own time. Your head needs a chance to catch up. Each one is different. Once we have some results, I will sit with you and discuss all the options and plans. All right?”

Richard barely acknowledged him. Alan met my gaze with an understanding nod and left the room. I stepped back to let Carol and Hillary do what they needed to do. I stood at the end of the bed with Richard’s gaze locked on me as they worked, talking to him in quiet voices. Without thinking, I rubbed his feet, and the look of despair on his face when he realized I was touching him and he couldn’t feel it rocked me to the core. But I didn’t stop. I had to show him it didn’t matter. He was here. His legs, working or not, didn’t matter.