She’d never called 9-1-1 before, but Dat had called it for Mamm when she’d had her first stroke. After Noelle dialed and the dispatcher answered, she quickly told the woman on the line what was wrong and what their address was. The dispatcher said an ambulance would be there as soon as possible.
When Noelle hung up, she knew it was likely that summoning EMTs meant Dat would have to go to the hospital, a place to which she’d never wanted to return. She inhaled sharply as she continued on to Salome’s. When she arrived, she burst through the front door and quickly explained what happened and that the EMTs were on their way.
“He was fine earlier today,” Salome said. “I’ll grab the smelling salts. Hopefully he’ll revive before they arrive.”
Without answering her sister, Noelle hurried back out the door, stumbling as she rushed toward the lane. She caught herself before she fell and continued on in the ruts of refrozen snow along the edge of the lane.
As she reached the new house, red lights fell over the snow, coming from the opposite direction. She left the door open for the EMTs as she rushed into the house. “Dat!” she called out.
Once more he stirred and tried to open his eyes but nothing happened. She hadn’t realized her sister was right behind her until Salome said, “Why didn’t you close the door? Were you born in a barn?”
“I left it open for the EMTs.”
“They might be Englischers, but I’m pretty sure they know how to open a door.” Salome’s usual cynical humor seemed to Noelle to be rather inappropriate, considering what bad shape Dat was in.
Salome held the smelling salts up to Dat’s nose. He jerked away and then opened his eyes as two EMTs came through the door, quickly introducing themselves.
“I’m Jeff,” the older one said.
“And I’m Brent,” the younger one added. “Tell us about the patient and what’s going on,” he said as they gathered around Dat and placed their bags on the floor.
Salome held up the smelling salts. “These did the trick.”
“How about if we check him out?” Brent asked. “Take his blood pressure. Pulse. That sort of thing.”
Noelle nodded.
Jeff knelt down by Dat’s chair. “Sir, how are you feeling?”
“Poorly,” Dat said. “Been tired all day, and I fell earlier.”
“Was anyone with you when that happened?”
Dat shook his head.
Noelle’s face grew warm. She shouldn’t have left him alone.
Jeff glanced from Salome to Noelle. “Do both of you live here?”
Salome shook her head. “Just my sister. I live down the lane.”
“I was working at the Christmas Market all day. I just got home.” Noelle’s voice shook as she spoke. “I thought Dat was just sleeping in his chair, but when I tried to wake him I couldn’t.”
Brent took a blood pressure cuff out of his bag while Jeff explained to Dat what they were going to do. After Brent took Dat’s blood pressure, he said it was ninety over sixty. “That’s low and could explain why you fell. And perhaps why your daughter couldn’t wake you.”
Brent moved his hand down to Dat’s wrist to check his pulse. “Did you hit your head?”
“I do not believe so.”
Brent dropped his hand from Dat’s wrist and turned to Jeff. “I’m concerned about this irregular heartbeat.” He turned back to Dat. “Do you mind if I check for a bump from when you fell?”
“Of course not,” Dat answered.
Brent examined Dat’s head and then said, “You have a goose egg on the back of your head. We should take you into the hospital and have a doctor examine you.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Dat said.
“It is.” Noelle touched his arm. “We need to find out what’s wrong.”
Salome stepped back and brushed her hands together. “You’ll need to go with him.”
The thought of going with Dat alone worried Noelle. “What about talking with the doctors?”
“You’ll manage just fine,” Salome said.
“How will we get home?”
Salome shrugged. “Call Pamela, although it might be the middle of the night.”
Noelle stepped back beside Salome. “What if Pamela can’t get us?”
“I suppose you can take a taxi, but it will be expensive.”
Noelle still had the cash from the market in her purse. She’d use that. “What about the market tomorrow? Do you feel up to doing it?”
“Not with my back the way it is.”
“What about Moriah?”
Salome shook her head. “She’s in no shape to do it either . . .” Her voice trailed off.
“Can you call someone else in the family and see if they can take over for one day?”
Salome wrinkled her nose. “No one else has been involved in the business for years. We can’t expect someone to take over just like that. I’ll call Steve and tell him our booth will be empty.”
Noelle’s eyes burned. Salome was right. It wasn’t as if any of their sisters or nieces lived in their district or knew anything about the business. She didn’t want to lose a day of sales, but she didn’t know what else to do. “All right.” She headed for the coatrack and grabbed both Dat’s coat and hers.
Jeff had left the house but now returned with a gurney. Noelle held the door open for him.
As Salome approached, she sighed and muttered, “I’m sure he can walk.”
Noelle didn’t respond, but she did grab Dat’s cane, grateful for the reminder. He’d need it once he was discharged.
Dat had no signs of a brain injury, so the emergency doctor didn’t order a CT scan, but he did order an EKG because Dat’s heartbeat was irregular. When the doctor came in again, he said the EKG showed Dat’s heart was enlarged. “And you have fluid in your lungs too,” he said. “You need to see a cardiologist.” He gave Dat a piece of paper with a name and a number on it. “Call on Monday,” he said. “And
