Touched by a Senoir Resident

FOR THE SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER, it was unusually hot in Chicago. It reminded Dr. John Carter of the stifling days in Atlanta during those months he spent in rehab for dependency on painkillers, and how grateful he was now of having gone there. How close he came to losing it all: his job, his friends, his medical license, his sanity, and eventually his life.

The first few days back at County General had been uneasy, but as the week wore on, things began to improve. Carter hadn't gotten any real traumas yet; he was assigned simpler cases for the moment, but the tougher ones would come soon enough. Deep down, Carter knew after what he had been through the last eight months of his life and career, he wasn't ready to handle anything difficult just yet. No, as much as he despised not having any challenging cases at the moment, he would just have to stick to simpler cases for the time being. As it had been drilled into his head many times in rehab, "One day at a time...one day at a time.."

And on that October evening, his life was about to take another turn, though he didn't know it yet.


AT THAT SAME MOMENT, a 20-year old university student named Mary Alice Sherwood had just finished her last class and was waiting for a train back to her off-campus apartment. Though she loved school, her professors, classes and friends, she missed Pittsburgh and her family. Poor Dad, she thought as she waited on the platform, how will he be by himself in that house with Mama gone, Butch on the road for away games, practices, meetings, and workouts with the Steelers, and Mary herself away at school here in Chicago? She knew Jim Sherwood, Sr. was proud of his children, but at the same time, she was wondering how lonely he was without his beloved Mel-Marie, Butch and Mary's mother.

Gawd, it was hot. Mary had been feeling lightheaded for the better part of the day, and her feet were swollen, but things like this always happened when it was hot; Mama went through the same thing and thought nothing of it. Now the lightheadedness had worsened somewhat, but Mary figured if she made it on the train and home safely, she could kick off her shoes, wallow in front of her giant fan, and take a nap before calling her father in Pittsburgh for their nightly "check in."

Little did she know her life was about to change that October evening....

It had been A somewhat slow yet steady evening in the ER. It had been a flow of "nice day" cases: bumps, bruises, broken bones, concussions, nausea and vomiting, even a kid with a bean stuck in his ear, but no real traumas for the moment.

At 6:30 that evening, Carter thought about going out to the ambulance bay for a smoke, but perished the idea for two reasons: one, he was trying to quit the habit that he associated with his addiction days, and two, it was still baking outside. Better to go into the lounge for some coffee, he thought.

THE LIGHTHEADEDNESS continued despite Mary napping in front of the fan. Thank goodness the swelling in her feet had gone down some. Now she was having difficulty getting off the sofa without losing her balance to get a glass of water from her kitchenette, get herself a simple dinner, call her father, then visit her next-door neighbor and friend, Gia.

After sitting up for a few minutes, it finally passed. " All right Mary, she thought to herself, you are going to slowly get your butt off this sofa, get the water and dinner, call Dad and go over to Gia's. It isn't that darn difficult!"

Shortly after rising from the sofa, she caught her balance and began to make her way to the kitchenette, when the room began to spin.....

And then.....nothing.


"Twenty year old female, found unconscious by next-door neighbor after the neighbor heard a loud noise coming from the patient's apartment, revived with smelling salts, was able to give us information. BP 90/60, respiration 16, pulse up to 64," the medic read from the chart he passed to Haleh.

"Mary A. Sherwood," Haleh read, "Sherwood....that name sounds familiar. Have you been here before?" To the medic she said, "Curtain Three is open"

"No, I have never been here," the young woman replied. "I am a student at the university, Elementary Education major. I am originally from Pittsburgh."

"Any relation to Butch Sherwood of the Steelers?" the other medic joked.

Mary gave him a serious look. "As a matter of fact, he is my older brother." Then she grinned. "I heard about them kicking Bears butt last weekend."

"Don't rub it in," the medic joked, then added, "Seriously, he's got a great arm and a terrific offense to work with. They keep playing as well as they have so far, I see another trip to the Super Bowl for them."

"Yeah," Mary answered, "and they may actually win it this time. They are long overdue for one!"

Reaching Curtain Three, the second medic joked, "Well, Miss Sherwood, here is your home away from home."

Mary rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

THIS IS NUTS, Mary thought as she looked around the room in Curtain Three, all this fuss for one simple fainting spell! Here I am in this gawd-awful gown that probably isn't even completly closed in the back, hooked up to a stupid monitor, freezing my butt off in here, and most likely some old goat of a doctor is going to be looking and poking at my body. Ick. I can't even stand to look at it and it is my own body!

At 5'6 and 138 pounds, Mary Sherwood had the voluptuous body of someone inclined to gain weight easily, with full breasts and hips; long blouses and loose dresses covering her frame. Her brown hair with auburn tones was either pulled back in a ponytail or up in a ballerina bun. Crystalline blue eyes were hidden behind glasses. She was neither ugly nor beautiful; she had just needed what Gia would describe as "a little patchwork," but Mary shunned any makeover ideas. She was awkward with men, never going to a dance, to proms, or on a date, never had a boyfriend, and still a virgin. She was never a worry to her parents in that department; her mother always told her, "The time will come soon enough. I didn't get married until I was thirty-nine, and that was to your father. I loved my independence all those years. Enjoy it while you can, honey. Besides, your education and career are more important."

Making the dean's list compensated for being dateless; it made her father and brother proud. Mary was also one never to brag about Butch's status as a pro quarterback; she couldn't see herself pinned to his coattails, which may explain their becoming even closer through the present years.

Haleh snapped Mary out of her thoughts. "The doctor will be in to see you shortly. In the meantime, push the call button if you need anything."

"May I go to the ladies room first? My teeth are floating."

"I can give you a bedpan until you are seen by the doctor. Just call me when you are done."

Great, Mary thought, it isn't bad enough I am freezing to death in a flimsy gown being held hostage on this monitor, now I have to pee in a bedpan like I am ninety years old. "Oh, whatever," she finally told Haleh, waving her hand, "better than nothing."

Haleh handed the young woman the bedpan. "I'll leave you alone now, " she said, leaving the room.

"Thanks again, " Mary smiled.