Chapter 88: Your Mother Is A Very Strong Woman
The doctor overheard Keith's conversation and asked, "Excuse me, Sir, but is that Dr. Presley Young with whom you are speaking to?"
"Thank you. We are at the Grace Hospital in Jonathan City. I am going to send my private helicopter to pick you up." Keith nodded at the doctor. "Yes, I was speaking with Dr. Presley Young. He was attending a seminar and will be here in about an hour. Do you think you can keep her comfortable until then?"
"Yes, we can keep her comfortable until then. I will make arrangements with the other hospitals to have the equipment brought over. I will also make sure we have staff on the roof waiting for the arrival of Dr. Young." The doctor said, eagerly waiting for Keith to respond.
Keith nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Thank you."
The doctor nodded back and turned to Victoria, and said, "We'll do the best we can until the specialist arrives."
Everyone was speechless. Not knowing what to say. Victoria started to shake, and a layer of cold sweat formed on her forehead. Her lips began to tremble. "He'll do the best he can? What does that mean?"
Cathryn hurried over to her mother to comfort her, "Mom, it's going to be okay."
Dr. Young arrived on time. There were eight other cardiologists with him. They took Cathryn's grandma into the operating room. The family waited in the quiet room all evening. Occasionally the nurses would come out and inform the family what was going on. "She is still in critical condition, but she is in the best of hands. I'm very optimistic that she's going to pull through." The nurse said.
Clement went home to make some food to bring to the hospital, and everyone else left to get some rest except Victoria, Cathryn, and Keith. Cathryn sat in the chair, staring at the door where the nurse came out. The nurse came out again, and Victoria seemed relieved with the news. "Everyone is going as expected. Your mother is a very strong woman."
Victoria looked at Keith and said, "Cathryn, you haven't introduced me to this nice gentleman."
Victoria thanked him when he made the call to the doctor, but with everything going on, she never asked Cathryn who he was. This was the first time Victoria had a chance to talk to Keith.
Victoria went over and shook his hand. "I want to thank you for your firm handling of taking care of the doctors and equipment for us."
"It was my pleasure. Let me know if there's anything else that you or your family need." He smiled and went over and stood beside Cathryn.
Cathryn took a drink of water. "He's a friend," she murmured. She could barely get the words out. "Keith, I don't know what's wrong, but the room seems to be spinning around me, and I can't seem to focus on anything," she whispered. Cathryn felt dizzy, nauseated, and then fainted.
Cathryn was about to fall to the floor and was caught by Keith. Clement had just walked into the room. He dropped the food on the floor, and both Victoria and Clement quickly went over to Cathryn. "Cathryn, are you okay? What's wrong with her?"
"She's exhausted. Cathryn hasn't slept since she heard about her grandmother." Keith tried his best to reassure her parents. "I will take her to rest. Don't worry, she will be fine. I will come back and let you know how she's doing?"
"Thank you," said Cathryn's parents. "We don't even know your name. I can't thank you enough for all you've done."
He smiled and said, "It's Keith. No need to thank me. I would do anything for Cathryn." Keith turned around and took Cathryn to a private room that he arranged for the family members.
For about two days, Cathryn had a high fever, and she was slipping in and out of consciousness, "Cathryn, do you know where you are?" Keith asked.
Her vague stare wandered around the room. Cathryn focused on Keith's face. "Where.... How did...." she demanded feebly.
"You fainted, and we are still at the hospital." The whole time, Keith never left Cathryn's side because he was worried about her.
Cathryn had vivid dreams about her grandpa and cousin Stella. She didn't know what was real and what was a dream. "Grandpa," she shouted. Cathryn looked down, and her hands were covered in blood.
"Cathryn, I'm here. Why did you dream about your grandpa?" Victoria asked.
She looked at her mother, and the tears were streaming down her cheeks. "He's at peace now, Cathryn," Victoria patted her shoulder.
"Mom, what's wrong with grandpa?" Cathryn asked hastily. Suddenly everything disappeared, and all she could see was light. She opened her eyes and saw a vague figure next to her, "Keith, is that you?"
****
Cathryn opened her eyes and blinked at the sunlight streaming through her window. It took an instant for her eyes to adjust. Cathryn gradually smiled and squinted against the sun. Her heart slowed, the realization that her grandma may not make it through the night settling into her with cold clarity. "Grandma?" she asked. She threw the blankets on the floor and tried to sit up.
When she sat up and threaded her fingers through her hair, Keith glanced up and shook his head, and said, "You need to lie back down and rest." He picked up the blankets off the floor and made her lie down. Keith's strength and warmth pierced her body, somehow easing the gravity of her world.
Cathryn's face was pale and covered with cold sweat. She gazed up at him, summoning the courage to address the painful subject. "Please tell me how my grandma is?"
Keith hesitated, but he knew he had to tell Cathryn the truth, "She's in surgery. It's very serious, but she's a very strong woman, and we're very optimistic that she'll pull through."
A sudden quiver ran through the entire length of her whole body, and Cathryn's hands began to shake. Tiredness ran through her body like a giant wave. "This is a nightmare. I'm not really awake. I can't be!" said Cathryn, panic-stricken.
Cathryn tried to get back up from the bed but was held down by Keith. "You need to rest a while longer and get some of your strength back," he said in a soft, gentle voice.
"But I made a promise to grandpa. I told him I would take care of her for him." Cathryn remembered her dream. Cathryn's eyes filled with tears, and they streamed down her cheeks.