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Ryder’s hand covered hers. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
Surprised at his touch, at the electricity that shot up her arm, McKenzie met his gaze, marveling at the compassion she saw there, as if he understood all too well the devastation she was about to unleash upon the Littles.
“I... Thank you. That would be wonderful.”
* * *
Why had Ryder offered to go with her to tell Sawyer’s parents their precious baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and their lives would never be as they’d thought when they’d arrived at the hospital expecting to bring home a healthy baby?
Typically, by the point he interacted with a baby’s parents they already had a good idea of what was going on. The Littles didn’t.
But he’d seen the heaviness on McKenzie’s heart at the prospect of going to talk to the baby’s parents. What was it about her that had him yet again offering to jump to the rescue?
Ryder watched as McKenzie told the baby’s upset family why they’d noticed the blue tinge to Sawyer’s skin. Seeing how she patiently explained the problems with Sawyer’s heart, answering their questions, and even drawing a simple visual of a normal heart and a likeness of Sawyer’s, impressed Ryder with her compassion and thoroughness.
It also brought back memories.
Memories that he’d been too young to really understand at the time.
Memories that had changed his life.
Memories he relived every time he went into surgery, knowing his actions and a whole lot of divine intervention determined whether another family would go through what his once had.
“This is Dr. Ryder Andrews. He’s a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon and I consulted with him on your daughter’s case. He examined her with me, saw what I saw on the ultrasound of Sawyer’s heart. I know this is a lot to take in, but time is of the essence and decisions have to be made.
“I’m going to let him explain his recommendations, and then we’ll discuss how you want to proceed.”
As McKenzie had, Ryder explained what was needed for Sawyer to survive, he laid out the staggering obstacles that stood in her way, and the different options on tackling those obstacles.
He also gave the less-than-stellar statistics Sawyer faced, even with surgery.
“She’ll die if you don’t operate? You’re sure?”
“Positive. Without a way to get oxygenated blood to her body, she has zero chance of survival. Even with surgery, she might not make it.” He referred to the statistics he’d given them with each phase of treatment. “It’s up to you on how we proceed. You can choose not to operate if that’s what you both want.”
“But she’d die!” Sawyer’s mother sobbed, triggering her husband to wrap his arms around her.
“With surgery Sawyer faces a lifetime of health challenges, but she does have a good chance of surviving and eventually having a somewhat normal life,” McKenzie informed them, reaching over to place her hand on the woman’s arm. “The decision is yours. If you need some time alone to discuss it, we can step out for a few minutes.”
Sawyer’s parents both shook their heads.
“We don’t need more time,” her father said, hugging his wife tighter.
“Operate,” they said simultaneously.
Ryder explained what would happen over the next few days.
Not surprising to him, McKenzie hugged them, assuring she would keep them informed each step along the way.
Ryder shook their hands. As he was getting ready to move away, Sawyer’s mother grasped his hand.
Tears ran down her face as her gaze met his. “Please save our baby girl.”
Sharp pains stabbed into Ryder’s chest. “I’ll do my best.”
The woman nodded. “Thank you.”
“I—I know it’s not much, but I do somewhat understand what you’re feeling.” He took a deep breath. “Over twenty years ago, my sister was born with the same condition Sawyer has.” Ryder swallowed back the emotions that hit him when he recalled the turmoil his parents had gone through following Chrissy’s birth. The same hell Sawyer’s parents faced.
