Life and Death: A Roll of the Dice

What an incredibly stressful day. Clarice had lost a young patient today due to a blood clot in her lungs. It was distressing enough that due to an abortion a hysterectomy had been done. Clarice had tried so hard to get the uterus to contract so the bleeding would stop. The bleeding did stop after surgery.

Then the patient developed breathing difficulty and chest pain. She was put in Intensive Care after a scan confirmed the clot and a Heparin drip was started to dissolve it.

Clarice explained to the patient's family that the blood thinner does not just target the clot so bleeding can begin anywhere. The only other solution was to put a instrument down into the lung and grasp the clot. This clot was not in a position to do that.

You just don’t expect that complication with a slender woman in good health after a routine abortion. The fact that she had started passing clots finally lead to a hysterectomy. This poor woman had no idea how routine procedures can become complicated. This situation really had been unusual all the way around.

One of the reasons Clarice had chosen Obstetrics and Gynecology was the positive aspect of the speciality.

The joy of delivering babies was following a Mom through her pregnancy and sharing her excitement. She observed the miracle of life several times a day and with each delivery, she was delighted.

Outside the bathroom door, Ginger shouted,
“Hey Mom, something cool happened in our neighborhood. It’s on the news”.

“Okay, babe, give me fifteen minutes,” she replied as her head started to ache. Please don’t let this be a migraine, she thought.

She lowered the lights, inhaled the jasmine from her favorite candle, eased herself in the tub and took a sip of merlot.

Marvin Gaye sounded sensual on her stereo. His magnificent voice surrounded her.
She closed her eyes and let the jets work on her aching muscles.

The mix of whirlpool, wine, music, and exhaustion of her body contributed to Clarice not hearing Ginger’s screams.

Her eyes jerked open. She saw evil black eyes, greasy dank hair, and smelled rotten whiskey breath. A rough hand closed over her mouth and she was pulled forcibly from the tub.




The Newton Times

The close community of Newton is praying that John Baker, the alleged violent killer of Dr. Clarice Barton and her young daughter is found immediately. The rapist escaped from the Newton County Jail.

A neighbor reported a man in a prison jumpsuit in the neighborhood about four in the afternoon. His name and photo were shown several times on the local news. Police had been in the area searching for this offender who was being arraigned on Monday for the stabbing and rape of a Marion Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs is in serious condition in White County Medical Center.

The crime scene is described as “brutal” from a veteran detective. Both mother and daughter were raped and stabbed a number of times.

Any information should be reported to the Newton Police Department. The family is offering a reward of five thousand dollars for pertinent information leading to the capture of this offender.
.

By Kathie Stehr