Coma Edited added Chapter 2

                                       Coma

                                                           Written by Scott Wilcox

    Sitting staring through my clenched hands, as thoughts paraded through my overwrought mind.  Could this be really happening again to my poor distraught family?  Engaged in my own little soap opera, I continued ignoring the world which went on around me.  Gazing precariously at the bed at my feet, not wanting to see, yet having no recourse.  I still can’t imagine behind all the machines and mechanisms, is my little brother lying unconscious.  So many life support mechanisms, I just couldn’t even began to understand.

   

    What continued to fester in my mind, was that Adam’s twenty short years and fate rests upon, either the quality of hospital care, or in God’s all powerful hands.  Therefore, I set my mind to the task of besieging the almighty to spare my brother’s life. 



    Yet to make matters worse, our mother was in an automobile accident, and she lay in a coma and later died from complications.  Our belief is that, much of the responsibility may lay in the incompetence of this very same hospital.



    A few years following her death while in court, the hospital was asked why the pressure on my mother’s head wasn’t relieved.  The feeble attempt to explain was simply, “The intern unplugged the IV.” 



    I blurted out, “What excuse me, the intern unplugged the IV, why would they do that, and yet nobody questioned that.  This left a big doubt about the competence of not only the hospital, but the court system as well.”



    I had to remain focused, and return my thoughts back to my brother’s predicament, and all the thoughts and prayers I needed to ensue.  At that moment Elaine, my older by two years sister, entered the room in tears.  Getting to my feet quickly, I embraced my sister trying to calm her insecurities.  “I know Elaine he is the baby, but I can’t begin to explain, yet I know he will be fine.”  I didn’t really believe a word I was telling my sister, but I had to say something and I wanted to believe it myself as much as I did her.



    As the water works ebbed, we both sat down and tried desperately to regain some sense of decorum.  Going over moments of our lives, we shared with Adam and how we laughed and enjoyed.  This was our meager attempt to bring his life back into our lives, as he lay there fighting for his.  Following several minutes of warmth and gaiety I announced, “Well we have to continue to pray for his well being.”



    Elaine’s face turned stone cold as she said, “I did more praying then I ever did for mom and look what help it did, Robert I don’t believe he is listening.” 



    A feeling of pity and sorrow brushed over me as I responded, “Elaine I know he listens, I just think it may have been mom’s time.  Besides you know how dad told us, she had arthritis and the doctors said she would eventually be in a wheel chair?  Perhaps he knew how she wouldn’t be able to handle that and brought her home.  I want to believe there is a reason for everything and I don’t know them all.”



    After my sermon, Elaine’s face didn’t seem to ease, as she looked passed me and thought of mom, and how she missed her so much.  Trying not to alienate my sister, I hugged her as I said, “I know how devastating mom’s death was, but I just somehow know this will be different.”  With those words, her tension seemed to lessen, as she accepted my warmth and shared the brotherly hug. 



    As the anxiety lessened to some extent, in the room came my oldest sister Samantha, with her husband Tim not far behind.  Right away she was no nonsense as she asked, “Ok what have we heard, how is he doing?”



    Since I was here first, I took the lead and downheartedly said, “Well the doctor said that there was a sixty to forty percent chance he won’t make it through the night.  If he does, there is a fifty to fifty chance he will be brain damaged.”  We all looked down at poor Adam, and I still couldn’t believe I was talking about my little brother. 



    Samantha took mom’s death the hardest, but she seemed to shine in this bleakest of moments.  It kind of reminded me of mom, as she said, “Ok well we know we’ll be here for the duration, so does anybody need anything, coffee, soda maybe something to eat?”  Not being able to think about anything else at the moment, we all declined her offer.  We simply continued to reminisce about our wonderful family times, especially during the holidays.  Speaking of the holidays, we knew Thanksgiving was but a week away.  A holiday, which was always a big deal in the Vandosan family, and yet somehow we knew it wouldn’t be this year.



    After all how can you be thankful, when the youngest of your clan lies in a coma battling for his own existence?  Looking down again at his youthful appearance, Adam didn’t even look his age, he looked much younger and he had so much too live for.  Knowing him as I do, if he could he would get up and say, “Hey what’s with all the somber faces, I’m just resting here.”



    Shaking myself from my daydream, to allow the nurse who had arrived, to do her duties, she checked all his connections and vitals.  After finishing what she needed to do, she turned as I noticed her name tag said Theresa.  She quietly and pleasantly said, “It’s a good idea to talk to the patient as much as possible, to stimulate the brain and keep him wanting to come back.”



    We all thanked her for her kindness, as she went about the remainder of her duties.  Uncertain of just what to say, I was the first to step up and act as if he was awake.  I began to explain my day, and how work was and the family.  Each of us took turns explaining our mundane days and our wonderful families as we sat there hoping for some sign of life. 



End of Chapter one.



Chapter 2





    Unsure of what all these machines showed and what they should show, I tried my best to understand what they were displaying.  There were so many numbers, waves, dials and bleeps.  Confusion sets in, as the moments pass by and hardly a bit of comprehension enters my mind.  The only thing I knew for sure of was the heart monitor, and I knew it couldn’t flat line. 



    Meanwhile my sisters are talking amongst one another about the past and the possibilities of his future.  Elaine was getting very emotional, while Samantha fought to try to remain aloof.  I’m not sure if it was her trying to be logical, or perhaps trying to continue to seem cool so we wouldn’t worry.



    Whatever she was doing, we didn’t pay much attention to her motivation as we were too concerned about my brother.  It didn’t take long before we were barking at one another.  Not really angry with one another, but really at the situation. 



    Samantha took this time to step up to Adam’s bed and looked down at her little brother and started, “Hey Adam, I’ve been trying to get my upstairs bathroom redecorated.  I’ve been having a problem finding someone that can do the job.”



    She continued to ramble on, as me and Elaine talked quietly in the corner.  Elaine inquisitively questioned, “How did this all happen again?” 



    I took a deep breath trying to steady my emotions as I stammered, “Well as I understand it, he had a job interview and didn’t have a ride.  I guess according to Nancy he was frantic.”



    Cordially Elaine trying to intercede asked, “I am sorry, but where is Nancy?”

Taking a breath I said, “Well, I think she was too broken up to see her boyfriend like this and she went down to the cafeteria.  We really have to talk with her; I think she blames herself for this.”



    Elaine said, “I understand how she feels, do you think she will be alright?”



    Looking down I thought a few seconds and then replied, “Well she said she just needed a few moments to herself.”



    Apologetic Elaine said, “I’m so sorry I interrupted, please continue with what you were saying.”



    I of course had to take a moment, to even remember what I was talking about, then I continued, “Oh yes Adam didn’t know what he was going to do, so he decided to ride a ten speed bicycle to the interview.  Well from there, the story kind of gets shaky and kind of falls apart.  But from the police report, we know that at Michigan Avenue and John Daily, he was struck by a car.  He was knocked sixty feet through the air, and landed in a heap.”



    Elaine looked kind of green, as her squeamish sensibilities took over as she remarked, “I’m kind of sorry I asked.  I might need to join Nancy after all.”

   

    About that time, we noticed Samantha tiring out and joining us back behind the scenes.  Elaine jumped right in as she walked up to our brother and began, “Adam, I know your going to be fine, because you know my birthday is coming up and we expect you to be there.  I know we missed your birthday, but we’ll celebrate it with mine.  So you have to get well before my birthday, so we have something to honor.”

   

    While she continued talking with Adam, Samantha and I sequestered our selves and Sam asked, “Are you going to be able to stay, or do you have to get going?”

   

    I was trying not to look insulted quickly said, “Oh no I’ll be here all night, what about you?”



    She remained cool as a cucumber as she answered, “Same here, I’ll be sacking out on the floor if necessary.”



    Pausing a moment, and as I was about to continue, Elaine came back over trembling and quaking as she said, “I’m sorry I can’t go on anymore, I need to go and join Nancy for awhile.”



    Without missing a beat Samantha chimed in, “Sounds like a good idea, maybe I’ll join you.”



    I was rather relieved, because I wasn’t really looking forward to talking to my comatose brother.  Sure I could remain strong in the shadows, but talking to him all helpless and weak.  I know the song goes, he ain’t heavy he’s my brother, but this is different.  I mean sure it’s easy to say, you help your brother out.  However, when you feel helpless and they want you to talk, what can you say?  I could give him advice all day long, but how do you talk to your half dead sibling?



    The grief and stress aside I slowly strode forward trying to get what I planned to say in order; unfortunately I kept drawing a blank.  Here I am getting stage fright, just to talk with my brother.  The closer I got the less prepared I seemed to be, if only he could speak, he could help me out.



    Arriving at his bedside, glancing down at my baby brother, looking like a SciFi movie with all his tubes and wires.  Seeing him hanging on, between life and death, made it even harder for me to find a voice.  Clearing my throat, as if that would make it any better, I never thought I’d struggle to talk with my only brother. 



    Leering down at this helpless mass I began, “Adam, I can’t believe I am standing here, teetering over what to say to my baby brother.  You’ve brought this family through a great deal of stress, and if I could only see your smiling face it would make it all worth while.  As your older brother, you have to listen to me now.  You  are not about to leave this family before you finish what needs to be done.  So don’t you think for a second, that I won’t come wherever you go and kick your scrawny little behind?”



    With that little speech, I had to step out of the room, I couldn’t even begin to understand, just how difficult and demanding something like this could be. 



    While outside the room trying to catch my breath, a nurse came over and asked, “Excuse me sir, are you alright?



    Surprised and thankful that someone would take time from their day to ask, said, “Yes thank you, just a bit emotional over my brother’s dilemma.”



    Without missing a beat, she pleasantly asked, “Would you like to visit our chapel right down the hall there?”



    Shocked to have been asked such a question, I tried to remain sincere as I explained, “Not at the moment thank you, but perhaps in a little while.”



    As she walked away, I couldn’t help but wonder, how it must be to work at a place which has so much suffering day in and day out.  I could only salute these wonderful people, who give so much of themselves to help make others well.           



    Meanwhile we rejoin Elaine and Samantha entering the cafeteria and looking for Nancy.  After a few minutes of searching Elaine finally perked up and said, “There she is over there.”



    The sisters ambled over to her table and Samantha asked, “May we join you?”



    Nancy almost comatose herself looked up with a zombie like look and eventually grunted, “If you still care to?”



    The sisters sat down at her table and Elaine started trying to console the young girl said, “Nancy I know we could all try and blame ourselves for what happened.  But what I think Adam really needs is our help, thinking about him, talking to him, praying for him, whatever you can do.  Everything we can do will help and when he gets out of this hospital he’ll need us all the more.”  Trying to sound convincing even though she was very uncertain of his possibilities.



    Samantha added, “Yes Elaine is correct and we need to gather strength from each other to be able to carry on.  Because this will not be an easy thing we must do.  However, we have to remember just what Adam has to go through.”



    That statement seemed to get a real understanding in Nancy’s mind, as she stood up and said, “You are both so right, I have to go and sit with my boyfriend, if you will excuse me?”



    Both sisters just held out their hands gesturing her to be on her way with their blessings.  Samantha looked over to her sister and said, “You did well I think we helped her out, now can you help me?”



    Elaine flattered but realistic said, “Thank you but I really think she listened more to your powerful words than anything.  If you need to lean on me Sam, I’m all ears and a shoulder to cry on, if need be.”  The sisters continued to try to be the strength each needed in this trouble time.



    Meanwhile Nancy was struggling with her own demons, as she made her way through the hospital halls.  Trying not to allow all the pain and suffering around her to bring her down.  Her new found courage; will and determination could not be discouraged so easily.  With her head held high and firm lip she continued on without waver. 



    At that moment I saw her and said, “Hello Nancy, I see you look like your feeling better.”



    Looking up briefly she said, “I finally realized, I had to be here to support the love of my life.  Be it heck or high water I will not fail.”



    I was impressed, since for Nancy that was the closet to a swear word I ever heard her utter.  I knew that she meant business and nothing was going to slow her down.  Walking into the room she sat down beside Adam and grabbed his hand and held on tightly.  “Now listen Adam, I know you think you can escape this way, but we aren’t about to let you go that easily.  We are here for the duration, so whether it takes a week or a year we will be here waiting.  Robert, Samantha, Elaine, I and the remainder of your family and friends won’t stand by idly.”



    While she continued to pour her heart out I stood back with a respectful grin.  I had always known she was a very strong willed person and could stand tall in a crisis.  I was delighted that she was in Adam’s corner at the moment.  Thoughts continued to rush through my head about the care she could provide, that I am sure he would need.  Even though subconsciously, I wasn’t sure he would make it through the night; I wasn’t about to consciously admit it. 



End of Chapter 2