Previously…

“She’s waking up. She’s going to be confused about her surroundings. She’s asking for water, but she can’t drink right now. I’m going to get a cup of ice to wet her lips and mouth. We don’t know how long she’s going to be awake, but right now everything looks good.  The neurologist is on his way.”

Tina and Kit watched the action around the room as they clutched each other’s hand tightly both never leaving Bette’s face.

————-

Neurologist, Dr. Noah Springfield, entered Bette’s room and her examined her and wrote notes in her chart. He spoke with the nurses and then walked over to Tina and Kit to explain what was going on as Dr. Francis examined Bette. 

“Ms. Kennard, Ms. Porter…Ms. Porter is a little confused. She remembered leaving her apartment, being in the ambulance and being treated in the emergency room.  I would like to run a few more tests on her. There doesn’t seem to be any lingering effects of the coma.

Dr. Francis walked over to Dr. Springfield, Tina and Kit.

“I agree with Dr. Springfield. No effects of the coma. I’ve ordered a portable chest x-ray for her collapsed lung.  If it shows the lungs are fine, the chest tube will be removed. I want to keep her on IV fluids and start her on a clear liquid diet and if she tolerates that she’s progress to a full liquid diet then soft and then a regular diet. Tomorrow she’ll be transported from ICU to a private floor on the med-surg unit and later in the week she will begin physical therapy.

Tina tried to listen to what the doctors were telling her. Occasionally, she glanced at Bette during the conversation and watched her from the corridor while the x-ray technician wheeled the portable x-ray machine in her room and slid the plate underneath her back.

“Thank you, Dr. Springfield and Dr. Francis,” said Kit. Kit turned to Tina. “That’s good news.”

Kit and Tina returned to Bette’s room once the x-ray technician left the room.  Kit walked over to her sister and combed her fingers through Bette’s hair. “Did you hear what the doctor said Bette? They are going to take the tube from your chest once the x-ray shows your lungs are okay.”