Thursday - 6/10
SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Kayla was at the circulation desk, looking over her upcoming appointments for the day. Sarah walked over.
SARAH: Morning.
KAYLA: Good morning.
SARAH: Sleep well?
KAYLA: Not really. You?
SARAH: Same.
KAYLA: Last night was...a long night, and it’s just the first in a series of long days while Salem recovers from that storm.
Sarah nodded.
KAYLA: I don’t suppose there’s any news on Steve’s condition?
SARAH: I’m sorry.
KAYLA: Not your fault.
SARAH: We’re doing the best we can to get him to come out of the coma, but right now, we’re kind of stuck until he wakes up.
KAYLA: I understand. Believe me, I do.
SARAH: I’ll let you know if anything changes.
KAYLA: Thank you.
MELANIE: I was in your office. I think we were doing an ultrasound. Then, the sirens went off and...I don’t really remember, after that.
TANAKA: That’s understandable. A pop-up tornado hit Salem and the surrounding area yesterday during your appointment. Those sirens you heard were telling us to seek shelter immediately. While you were trying to get off of the examination table, you fell and were knocked out.
MELANIE: I fell? But...oh no, not again! Please tell me it hasn’t happened again!
PHILIP: Melanie, it’s okay.
MELANIE: Is my baby okay? Please tell me I didn’t lose this one, too!
TANAKA: You have not lost the baby, Melanie.
MELANIE: But, something’s not right, I can tell. What’s going on? What’s wrong with my baby?
ADDIE: I’ll give you three some privacy and see if the latest round of bloodwork is back yet.
PHILIP: Thanks, Dr. Horton.
Addie left the room and closed the door behind her.
MELANIE: What’s going on?
Dr. Tanaka sat down on the stool by Melanie’s bedside opposite Philip.
TANAKA: In the fall, you broke your left arm, hence why it is in a sling. As for the baby, it has survived so far. However, it has suffered a placental abruption.
Dr. Tanaka explained to Melanie what he had told Philip and Maggie the night before.
MELANIE: B-but it’ll be okay, right?
TANAKA: There may be some complications. We are and will continue to monitor the both of you closely and give you the best care that we can. From what we can tell, it is a mild abruption, and while even a mild one can have potential complications, we are making every effort to make sure the baby is as healthy as can be.
Melanie nodded. She opened her mouth to say something, but found that she couldn’t make the words come out. Philip squeezed her hand.
PHILIP: It’s gonna be okay. Addie and Dr. Tanaka are doing everything they can.
TANAKA: Are you in any pain?
Melanie shook her head.
TANAKA: All right. That’s good. I know this is a lot to hear, especially as you’ve just woken up. I’ll give the two of you some privacy and check back in with you later.
PHILIP: Thanks.
Dr. Tanaka nodded and left the room. Melanie let out a sob. Philip moved from his chair to the edge of the bed and gently put an arm around her. She leaned into him.
PHILIP: It’s okay. This baby is gonna survive. With parents like you and me, how can it not, huh? It’s gonna be hard for a little while, but it will survive. Everything will be okay.
Philip kissed the side of Melanie’s head and held her. Meanwhile, Addie knocked on the door of the lab. Benny opened it.
BENNY: Hi, I was just coming to find you. I have Melanie Jonas’ latest bloodwork results.
She handed Addie an envelope.
ADDIE: Thanks, this is exactly why I came down here.
BENNY: No problem. How’d things go last night?
ADDIE: It was a madhouse! And I have a feeling today isn’t gonna be much different.
Benny nodded.
BENNY: I hear you. It’s been practically non-stop down here, as well.
ADDIE: That makes sense. What about you? How’d you, your sister, Steven, Doug and Julie manage?
BENNY: They’re all fine. Mattie’s game from yesterday got rained out, and thankfully she made it home before the tornado hit. We just narrowly avoided getting hit, but there’s a few broken windows, thanks to flying debris.
ADDIE: I know what you mean.
Both sighed.
ADDIE: I should get back to work. Good luck to you.
BENNY: You too.
Addie walked back upstairs. Meanwhile, Tommy was in Rex’s room with Cassie. He had just finished telling Rex about the damage to his arm and spine.
REX: Dammit!
CASSIE: I know, I had a similar reaction when they told me last night.
TOMMY: The good news is that it will heal, though that will take time. However, with the right amount of physical therapy, I have every confidence that you’ll be able to walk again.
REX: How long will it take?
TOMMY: Because the damage began in your spine, it will likely take longer for your legs to heal. Ordinary, it would be six to eight weeks, and we could realistically see massive improvements in that time. Realistically, however, it could take up to three months. It all depends on how your body responds to treatment and therapy.
Rex nodded.
REX: All right. Thanks, doc.
TOMMY: You’re welcome. I’ll have one of our therapists stop and check in with you this afternoon.
CASSIE: Thanks.
Tommy nodded and left the room. Cassie gently hugged Rex.
CASSIE: I’m so glad you’re okay! If I’d lost you-
REX: You don’t need to worry about that, Cass. I’m here, and I’ll be fine once my legs and back are healed.
ST. LUKE’S
Eric, Sister Mary Moira and several others were helping Father Louis clean up the church. It was full of debris, and papers had flown everywhere. Eric looked up when he heard a knock on the door, and saw Nicholas enter.
ERIC: Nicholas?
NICHOLAS: Hello, Eric. Sorry to intrude, but the door was open.
ERIC; That’s not a problem, what can I do for you?
NICHOLAS: That is actually what I came to ask you. I want to know if there’s anything I can do to help.
