I wave at Leigh as I go by and head straight for my chair to sit down, grabbing Jake’s hand. “I missed you. Today’s the day we’ve been waiting for. You’re going to wake up Jake. I just know it. Zander, your dad, and I will be with you. It’s your birthday too. Happy 18th handsome. I made cupcakes for lunch.” A bit of stubble shows on his cheeks this morning, meaning he didn’t get a shave yesterday.
Zander joins me, saying hello to Jake, before sitting on the couch. “Did you notice the new patient?”
“No, where?”
“Two doors down. They must have arrived this week,” Zander tells me.
Leigh comes into the room then. “Morning. How are we today?” She asks.
“Good. So ready for this,” I reply.
“That’s what I like to hear,” she smiles. “We have a new arrival. Dr. Crosby has already spoken to them, and they’ve signed all the paperwork. Would you give them permission to observe Jake’s procedure this morning? There’s no obligation to allow them to doso. This is an emotional family affair, but we thought it would be helpful for them to see, if you don’t mind.”
I look at Zander, who shrugs his shoulder. “Your choice, darling.”
“Shouldn’t Ray be answering this question?” I ask Leigh.
“You both have the power to make decisions regarding Jake, but you can wait and talk to him if you wish. No hurry.”
“I’ll wait for Ray, then. Thanks Leigh.” She smiles before going back into the hallway.
“Where's Ray? Should we call him?” I ask. He’s usually here before us. I hope everything's all right.
“Let’s give him until 8am before we call. It’s a hard day,” Zander responds.
Nodding, I grab my phone when it dings. All the guys texted wishing Jake luck this morning in our group chat. I thank them, and Seb texts me right back. Gabby’s boyfriend is picking her up to drive her to school this morning, and Seb is grumbling. Aww, Seb doesn’t want her to grow up. Anyone Gabby ends up with will need to stand up to Troy, Nick, and Seb.
Best wishes come in from Holly, Jaxon, Mal, Sarah, and Sue as well, before 8am. Zander texts Ray just after eight as Dr. Crosby walks into the room. “Good morning. We’re missing Ray. Should I wait for him?”
“He’s running late,” Zander replies, holding up his phone. “He’ll be here at 8:30.”
“Very well. The procedure is the same as last time. You’ll notice the length of stimulation is longer, and I’ll be applying the current inside the nerve cluster this morning. Leigh will get Jake into a hospital gown again, and you can ride down with her, just like before. Do you have any questions for me this morning?”
I shake my head no, so she smiles and leaves to prep.
A few minutes later, Leigh comes back in to get Jake ready. Ray shows up, looking exhausted as she finishes dressing him. “Goodmorning, Ray. I’ll give you two a minute to talk,” she says, before leaving the room.
“Hi. Um, Leigh asked if the family of the new patient could watch the procedure this morning,” I tell him.
He shakes his head immediately. “No. I don’t need other people watching this.”
I’m shocked at his response. I look at Zander, who is staring at Ray with sadness in his eyes. “Are you sure? It might be good for them.”
“I’m sure. This is hard enough,” he says, pacing the room and running his hands through his hair.
“Okay,” I reply. Leigh pokes her head in, and I shake my head no, nodding towards Ray. She nods in reply before leaving. She’s back quickly, ready to take Jake downstairs. I hold his hand again as Leigh tells him where we’re going. We split up to enter the viewing hall after I kiss his cheek, telling him I love him. There are already several people in scrubs standing in the room this time, as we take the same three chairs as before.
As the lights turn on and Dr. Crosby, Leigh, and Matt, the PhD candidate working with Dr. Crosby, get prepped, the room quickly fills up. Zander places his arm across the back of my chair since there are strangers standing behind me against the wall. Everybody seems to be respectful of us, though, talking in inaudible whispers or remaining quiet.
The two monitors blare to life, causing my stomach to do somersaults. My hands are clammy, and a rapid, insistent drumming in my ears is all I can hear above the rising anticipation. Zander takes my right hand in his, his grip firm and reassuring. My left hand closes around Ray’s. He remains silent, but the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw betrays his stress.
Dr. Crosby starts her explanation of the brain waves and what she’s about to do. When she makes her incision, I hold my breath. Zander whispers in my ear, “breathe darling.”
I release my breath, realizing this part is taking longer than last time since she’s going deeper. My eyes stay glued to the closest monitor as she works. Once she’s ready, she nods at Matt and the countdown starts.
I stare at his brainwaves, willing them to change with all my heart and soul. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ray is staring at the floor, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen. At 45 seconds, the waves change. They change! Then they go back. Dr. Crosby makes a slight adjustment, and his brain waves change again. Oh my god! It’s working!
A grin breaks across my face as I squeeze both hands in mine. Ray looks up from the floor. “It’s working,” I whisper. The countdown goes over the minute mark, but Dr. Crosby continues the stimulation. She makes another slight adjustment, and the wave pattern increases. The clock stops, and I can tell she’s smiling behind her mask. “She did it,” I breathe.
