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“If you think he can assist, that’s good. If not, we have resources, too,” Gabe assures me.
“Let’s figure out what’s happening to Izzy. Then we’ll make a plan.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ameline
This situation feels utterly surreal.
Isadora, my estranged sister is fighting for her life in the ICU, and suddenly, I’m facing the prospect of caring for her children. The situation is completely overwhelming.
The biggest question that haunts me is, why now? Why did Izzy reach out to me after all this time?Why does she think I’m capable of taking care of her children? For all she knows, I hate kids, and . . . well, she doesn’t know me.
If it were my child, I wouldn’t entrust her to Izzy or Cedric.
Focus on this meeting, Ameline. You can make assumptions later.
I take a deep breath and look around. The conference room at Seattle Memorial seems out of place compared to the emotional chaos inside me. Its walls, a clinical white, are neatly lined with medical charts, contributing to an ambiance that feels more academic than compassionate.
The lengthy table at the center holds a gathering of serious faces. Next to me, Gabe’s hand clasps mine firmly.
Dr. Voss starts the discussion. “Izzy’s condition is stable and complex—” He looks around the table. After his colleagues nod, he continues, “Her alcohol abuse has likely contributed to hypertension and atrial fibrillation, both major risk factors for the stroke she suffered.”
Dr. Navarra, reinforcing his point, adjusts her glasses and glances at her tablet. “The heart issues she’s facing are severe. Her irregular heartbeat is a direct consequence of her long-term alcohol abuse. Do we know when this started?”
I shake my head because she moved out of the house when she was eighteen. Who knows what happened while she lived in Portland, and then . . . Well, there’s the part where she stopped speaking to me for years because her father said so.
A father who’s not around to look after his children. I should wake her up and ask, “Where is Richard, Izzy? He certainly didn’t give you enough money to feed them, did he?”
Okay, that’s petty, but no one could blame me.
Dr. Kovalenko is the psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine. “We believe the opioid abuse further exacerbated her risk for stroke.”
I can’t help but interlace my fingers tightly. “What does this mean for her recovery?” I swallow hard. “Will she even recover?”
“We don’t know the extent of the brain damage yet,” Dr. Voss responds. “She’s in an induced coma and until the swelling in the brain reduces, we can’t take her out of it.”
Dr. Thibodeaux, the rehab specialist, offers a small but hopeful smile. “Once we know her prognosis, we can discuss next steps. Keep in mind that recovery will definitely be slow. When we learn more about her situation, we’ll be able to create a plan for her. We recommend that she goes to a specialized rehabilitation facility—one that addresses both her physical and mental health needs.”
Gabe nods. “Is she having withdrawals now?”
Dr. Kovalenko leans forward. “She is, and it’s going to be hard to help her if she doesn’t have a way of communicating with us. Again, we’re not sure yet what was affected by the stroke. It could be her speech, mobility . . . everything will be addressed after she wakes up and while she’s here. We’ll give you the necessary recommendations for when it’s time for her to head to a facility.”
“What about Caleb? Her baby is only a few weeks old.” I voice the question weighing heavily on my mind. “If she was using during the pregnancy, would he be affected?”
The lack of research on my part leaves me anxious. I could wait to power on my computer when I get to Gabe’s penthouse, but Google might not know as much as the doctors.
Dr. Voss exchanges a glance with Dr. Kovalenko before responding. “Alcohol and opioid use during pregnancy can have significant impacts. There’s a risk of developmental delays, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in newborns, known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.”
Dr. Kovalenko adds, “The symptoms can vary, from feeding difficulties to seizures in severe cases. It’s crucial to monitor the baby closely. Has he been tested yet? Check with his pediatrician.”
Gabe, who has been paying more attention to his phone than the conversation, clears his throat, drawing the room’s attention. “We don’t know the answer to those questions. So far, we’ve learned that he was born at home with a midwife’s assistance.”
I open my mouth to ask how he knows, but close it, remembering that he mentioned he would do some digging around Izzy’s medical history.
“My wife and I haven’t been in Isadora’s life for years. We got a call this morning that the little ones were at the neighbors’ place,” he continues. “I’ll make sure to get Caleb examined as soon as possible.”
“Instead of taking him to the pediatrician, we recommend bringing him to the pediatric emergency room,” Dr. Kovalenko says. “They can assess his health comprehensively and provide the necessary care.”
