The Rocket

THE UNEXPECTED CHANGE OF EVENTS As Robert drove home, Carol sat quietly in the passenger seat next to him, wondering what to do about this apparent tension between Josh and her husband. Maybe it's just teenage hormones kicking in and making him feel so emotional. He didn't really hate his father, did he? “You don’t think you could have let him just be with his friends tonight?” Carol pleaded in Josh’s defense. “Carol please, please don’t guilt trip me on this,” Robert said. “I’m always made out to be the bad guy. I just want him to be a good man.” “He is good,” she said. “And he’s a boy.” “He can be the best Carol. He can be outstanding. He’s a natural athlete. He’s fast, strong, smart, and I want him to be able to keep his head on straight. With the right focus, our son can play in the NFL! Do you know what that means?” “He’s only 15 years old Robert,” Carol realized how proud Robert was of Josh, their only son, but she felt like there were times when she had to bring him back to earth. Robert gave carol a scowling look as the cell phone rang. “Hello? Yes, it is,” he said. As he listened to the voice on the other end, his face drained white with fear and anxiety. He put the phone down and brought the car to a screeching stop. Then, he frantically made a U-turn. “What’s going on Robert?” yelled Carol. “What are you doing?” “Josh is hurt,” he said with emotion. “They had to call an ambulance. We must go to the hospital now.” Carol couldn’t help it as tears welled up in her eyes. “He’s going to be okay, isn’t he?” she begged. “I don’t know,” Robert responded, also trying to hold back tears. ________________________________________________________________________As the ambulance carrying Josh arrived at the hospital, emergency room doctors and nurses were there waiting to take over care and rush him to an exam room. “Okay careful now people, let’s get that bleeding stopped,” a doctor ordered as they whisked him down the corridor. The EMT handing him off began his report; “15-year-old male who supposedly jumped off a moving trailer and hit his head on the cement. He’s got a five-centimeter gash in the back of his head and has lost a lot of blood. We started an IV of D5W in the left arm and have been pushing fluids. He has been in and out of consciousness, although his vitals seem stable. We applied a pressure dressing to the wound, but he still seems to be oozing blood from the wound.” As they wheeled him into the exam room, a well-known doctor, Dr. Bacha, was ready and waiting for Josh with his trauma team. A neck collar had been secured around Josh’s neck for protection, in case of neck fracture. “I need an x-ray of that neck immediately and a CT of his head,” the doctor ordered. “And keep pressure on that wound.” Josh was then whisked off to radiology where x-rays and CT scans were done. Dr. Bacha attended the CT scan and reviewed the x-rays right away. He was relieved to see Josh’s neck was not broken. As they wheeled Josh back into the exam room, Dr. Bacha got ready to address the wound. “Let's gently remove this neck brace and see what we have here,” he ordered. The team removed the neck collar and rolled Josh on his side, so the doctor could get a look. Two nurses gently removed the bloodied pressure dressing. ________________________________________________________________________Meanwhile, in the waiting room, the two other boys who were helping with the tables, along with the driver of the van, and several other folks from the picnic all gathered to pray. They were all very concerned and wondered how bad Josh’s injuries were. About then, Robert and Carol made it to the ER and blasted through the doors, frantically running up to the reception desk. “My son, Joshua Davis, I was told he was here. Is he here? What happened?” “Sir, what is your name?” the receptionist asked as she remained calm and professional. “I’m Robert Davis!” yelled Robert. “I’m his father! We’re his parents!” By now Robert was yelling and out of control with anxiety and fear. Everyone in the waiting room stopped to stare. “Yes, of course,” explained the receptionist. “He is being seen by the doctor right now. If you could kindly take a seat, the doctor will be out to speak with you soon.” “What happened!” blurted out Carol. “We heard he fell. Did you see him come in or even talk to him?” “Um, no,” she stuttered. “Listen, the doctor will be out to speak with you as soon as he can. Right now, I need you to stay calm. I’m sure he’s going to be alright.” Robert and Carol exchanged a worried expression. They were in no mood for this gal’s formality, they needed to see their son now. They both turned around as if they were going to sit down and join their friends, when Carol suddenly turned around and burst through the entry doors to the exam rooms, Robert trailing behind! “Mrs. Davis please!” yelled the receptionist. “You can’t go back there!” Carol ran through the halls, checking all the rooms, until she found Josh. Finally, she saw a room with lots of activity going on. She looked in and there was Josh, lying on his side, his head being supported by nurses, as the doctor was diligently doing something to the back of his head. She also noticed there was a lot of blood. Both of them stopped short at the door and gasped. “Oh Josh! Oh, my boy!” she cried outloud as tears ran down her cheeks. Robert stood behind her and gently held her as he also took in the sight. Carol slowly walked forward so she could look Josh in the eyes. “Hi honey. We are here.” He looked at her, but he was groggy. “Mom, mom, where am I? My head hurts.” was all he could manage to say. “You had an accident honey; you’re in the hospital. We love you. We will be right here.” Dr. Bacha glanced up and asked, “Are you his mother?” “Yes.” she replied. “Josh has a two-inch jagged gash here on the back of his head. I couldn’t close the whole wound, but I did manage to close the area that was bleeding. He has a concussion, and a skull fracture, so he’s not quite himself. I will be done here in a few minutes and then I’ll come out and speak with you. How does that sound?” Dr. Bacha sounded so gentle and calm, and reassuring, that Carol was able to breathe again. One of the nurses came alongside Carol and gently guided Carol back towards the door of the room, where Robert was watching quietly, in shock. “Dr. Bacha needs to finish doing his job helping your son.” she said as she passed them both off to the receptionist, who had run in behind them. As they walked away, Robert glanced back at his son. He looked so helpless. He wanted to stay with him, but he knew he had to let go and let the doctor work on him.