Chapter 26
A Few Weeks Later
Tiffany's View
I have some great news! Just about a week ago Michelle woke up. Doctors said that her head is completely fine and that her bones were healed enough to get her into physical therapy. She's been in physical therapy for the last 8 days and is progressing very well. Doctors even said her spinal cord has healed. She's not near being paralyzed and I'm very happy about that. She's been doing so well that the doctors let her come home. That was about 3 days ago. It's so great to have her back here. Things are almost back to normal but there's still one person missing...Christian.
Christian is still in a coma. Doctors still have no idea if he will wake up. I'm beginning to give up hope. I don't want to but I can't help it. I don't want to lose Christian...he's my baby and I know I shouldn't give up. That is why I haven't yet. I know deep down he'll be OK but I can't help but worry my head off. Other than that everything is going all right.
Anyway, Brian and I were in bed sleeping, well at least Brian was. His strong arms were wrapped around my stomach like they are every night and I could feel the soft beat of his heart against my skin. His slow steady breathing was also heard. I just laid there looking out the double doors into the night sky where stars were scattered every which way. The sound of the waves rolling across the ocean filled our bedroom also. The silk curtains flapped lightly from the wind and the light breeze hit my face every so often.
I didn't know the reason why I couldn't sleep. All I knew was I absolutely couldn't drift off to sleep. I was wide awake and no matter what I did I couldn't fall asleep. I just laid there looking out at the star filled sky.
I knew that I couldn't sleep because of everything that has happened lately but tonight was different. I wasn't worrying or going over and over in my mind on what I could have done to prevent any of the things that have happened. Tonight I wasn't thinking about anything and that confused me how I couldn't sleep since there was nothing on my mind. I decided to just let it go and try to go to sleep.
I closed my eyes and laid there for a while. After a little bit I was finally drifting off to sleep when my eyes snapped open. I sat upright in bed and turned to Brian who groaned a little bit from my sudden movement. I began to shake him awake.
"Brian, honey wake up," I pleaded. Brian's eyes fluttered open and looked up at me.
"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked groggily. He sat up and rubbed my back. "Are you OK?"
"It's Christian," I said.
"What? What about him? Did the doctors call? What happened?" he asked worried. He was completely awake now.
"No," I shook my head.
"Then what's wrong with him?" he asked puzzled.
"I have a bad feeling," I replied throwing the bed covers off me.
"About Christian?"
"Yes! He's in trouble," I said jumping out of bed and rushing across the room to the closet.
"How do you know?"
"I just do! Brian get out of bed and get your shoes on! We need to go to the hospital!" I exclaimed.
"Sweetie, calm down. You just had a bad dream or you're letting your imagination run wild. Everything's OK, Christian's OK. Now come back to bed and lets get some sleep. Come on," he said calmly.
"Brian! I didn't have a bad dream and my imagination is not running wild! I haven't even slept to have a bad dream! I haven't slept at all tonight! I haven't even been thinking about anything to let my imagination run wild! All of a sudden I got this bad feeling, it's real Brian, it's real."
"Baby, how can you be so sure?" he asked.
"It's like a mothers instinct or something. I can't explain it but I know something is wrong. Please Brian, we need to go to the hospital."
He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands, "Are you positive?"
"Yes, I'm positive!"
"And it'll make you feel better?"
"Yes! Brian come on!" I exclaimed picking up his shoes and tossing them toward him. I walked quickly out of the room and down to the kitchen where I picked up the phone and dialed Nick's number. After a couple rings a groggy Nick answered.
"Hello?"
"Nicky! It's Tiffany, can you get over here please and make sure the kids are OK? Brian and I have to go to the hospital," I said quickly.
"What? Tiffany? Yeah sure, I'll be there in a sec," he yawned.
"Thank you! Bye Nicky," I said.
"What? Oh yeah, bye Tiffy," he said and then hung up. Brian came down the stairs and grabbed my hand. We rushed out to the car and started it up. About 15 minutes later we were at the hospital running through the doors in our pajamas. Mine consisted of a white tank top and plaid baggy pants and Brian's consisted of well...his boxers. He was smart enough to throw on a pair of pants and a light coat before we left though.
"May I help you Mr. and Mrs. Littrell?" the lady at the front desk asked. She knew us well since we came here often.
"We need to see Christian," I said quickly.
"That isn't possible at this moment," the lady said.
"What? Why? Please Nora, we need to see him," I pleaded.
"I'm sorry but the doctors aren't allowing any visitors at this time. Christian is on his way to ER," Nora, the front desk lady, replied.
"He's on his way to the ER? WHY!?" Brian exclaimed. Brian didn't wait for her answer, instead he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall.
"Mr. Littrell! You can't see him!" Nora exclaimed after us. "MR. LITTRELL!"
Brian ignored her and rushed onto the elevators. We got to his floor and ran out towards his room. Doctors and nurses were rushing around talking loudly and barking out orders. I then saw Dr. Johnson near the end of the hall. He was talking to a nurse with a very serious expression on his face. The nurse then rushed off and he entered Christian's room. We ran down the hall and stopped when we saw the mayhem inside. Doctors and nurses were everywhere in the room pushing buttons on the machines, giving Christian shots and many other things. The machines were beeping wildly.
"What's going on!?" Brian exclaimed wide eyed. My eyes watered up and my hand found it's way up to cover my mouth.
"Mr. Littrell, you shouldn't be here," Dr. Johnson said trying to push us out of the room.
"Stop it! What is going on?"
"It's all under control..."
"Bull shit! All of you are running around in there like a bunch of dogs with poles stuck up their asses! Now tell me what's going on with my son!" Brian yelled. I was shocked at the words he was using and how angry he was becoming. He hasn't been this way in a long time.
Dr. Johnson seemed very frustrated and instead of answering Brian he turned around and yelled, "Get Christian down to the ER now! We need to operate immediately!"
"DOCTOR! What is going on with my son!?" I screamed, hot tears were about to overflow my eyes. He turned to me with sympathy in his eyes and sighed deeply.
"Please tell me!" I pleaded.
"All right, follow me," he said leading us a little ways down the hall. I turned and saw Christian being wheeled out of his room and quickly down the hall. I wanted so much to go up and hold him.
"About 45 minutes ago a nurse went in his room to give him his daily shots. When she gave him one of his shots, he had a violent spasm. Small ones are normal but that one wasn't. We didn't think much of it, it's been known to happen to other patients and they would be fine but then we detected some internal bleeding. The spasm triggered it. We didn't think it was that seriously at first but the bleeding began to increase rapidly and still is right now. That is why we need to get him to ER," he explained.
"Oh God," Brian said under his breath. I couldn't even say anything. I was speechless. All I could do was cry.
"Is he going to be all right?" Brian asked.
"I'm not sure..."
"Can you at least guess?"
"If I guess then I would have to say no..."
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