When Debbie turned to the door, Ric was tapping on the glass. Robert immediately put Gini’s hand on the bed and continued his exam.
It took a while for Gini to recover, but once she did, she was back to her scheduled day. Since the illness, she seemed to be having more issues with her right hand. But Debbie continued with the large crayons and drawing shapes. Robert came at the end of the therapy. Gini had a crayon fisted in her left hand drawing a circle. The beginning of the drawing was a bold line, but as she moved the crayon, the drawing line got lighter until the crayon was no longer on the paper.
“Sir… ka.”
“Very good, Gini.” Robert was observing.
“Geen… sir… ka.”
He squeezed her shoulder.
“Here you go, baby,” Debbie said. “I’ve got your audiobook ready.”
“What’s the story?” Robert asked.
“Gur… uff… lah… uff.”
“Oh, what’s her name?”
“See… lest.”
“Who’s she in love with?”
“Ber… ton.”
“Are you reading Listen to the Heartbeats?”
“Oh… yes…”
“That is such a good book,” he said enthusiastically.
“Robert, you read romance novels?”
“Sure, why not? It’s a good story, and they made a movie from it.”
Debbie opened the door for Ric.
“Robert, I can’t believe you read Listen to the Heartbeats,” Debbie said as Ric walked in behind her.
“Hey, sweets.” Ric acknowledged the doctor and kissed Gini on the cheek. “That’s a good novel. They made a movie about it.”
Debbie laughed out loud. “You two manly men read romance novels, that’s hilarious.”
Robert made his entry on Gini’s chart and left.
Chapter 7—Complications
The problem with Gini’s right side continued, especially when she was tired. Dr. Young and Debbie had discussed the issue and decided Debbie should keep working with Gini’s hands. The damage to her brain was on the left side so it was expected that movement on the right side of the body would be affected. The illness had taken a lot out of Gini. They concluded once Gini’s energy was back she would regain strength and movement.
Gini was quite frustrated with Aaron if he cut the session short, but he knew when to stop so she wouldn’t collapse on the right leg.
It had been a couple of weeks. Debbie texted Robert that Gini’s right hand wasn’t working at all that day. When he got to the unit, he was surprised to see her sitting at the kitchen table with her right arm in a sling.
“Ock…tor… un… gee.” She looked at him and smiled.
Both Robert and Debbie thought it curious. All of a sudden, she was calling him Dr. Young rather than Dr. Robert Young, even though she still called him both. It occurred to Debbie, after putting some thought into it, what had changed when she started calling him Dr. Young was that he started wearing his glasses—which he did more and more. Robert said it was probably because she was introduced to him without glasses as Dr. Robert Young. This was just more evidence that she had vision.
He watched Gini, with great concentration, pick up a potato chip with her left thumb and forefinger, then put it in her mouth. He rubbed on her arm at her accomplishment.
Debbie was still fixing the rest of their lunch, cottage cheese salad with fruit, and veggie sticks.
“Want to stay for lunch, Robert?”
“No thanks, I’m only here to observe.”
“Sweetheart, did you draw circles today?”
“Scare.” She was working on picking up another chip.
“Squares?”
“Oh… yes… yeyyow… back.”
“Maybe Debbie can show them to me later.”
Debbie nodded. “New frames?”
“Yes! Actually, new glasses. My vision is changing quickly. I guess that’s why my eyes have been bothering me. Do you like them?”
“Very much. They make you look distinguished and wise.”
“Weez.” Gini giggled.
“Well, as long as they don’t make me look older.”
Gini thrust her tongue. “Weez… uff… ear.” Then she shook her head and tried again. Wise… ond… u … year.” She took a deep breath.
Robert shook his head; her words were getting better. “Thank you. Beyond my years rather than wise because I’m an old man.”
“No… be… uff… ode.”
He pulled a chair up next to her and slowly took her right arm out of the sling. She reached for another chip. When he moved her right arm, the left arm became confused and drifted to the left and off the table. He looked at Gini’s expression. Her eyes were closed, but her eyebrows were pulled up, giving her a strained look. He put the arm back in the sling. She thrust for a second and then went for the chip.
“Huh,” he said. “I’m going to ask for a consultation with John. Something’s amiss.”
It was as if when her right arm moved there was a disconnect with the rest of her body—a loose wire.
“Ock… tor… on… my.”
“Yes, Dr. John Meyer. What’s your schedule?” He looked back at Debbie after entering information on Gini’s chart.
“Lunch, then her nap.”
“I’ll try for three-thirty.”
“She has therapy with Aaron from three to four.”
“Okay, five o’clock then,” he said as he walked out the door.
Dr. Meyer ordered a brain scan. The two doctors were amazed at the difference in her brain since the accident. A lot of the dark, void areas were smaller. The spots where brain matter had been lost even looked different. But neither could see any change that could reasonably be causing the problem with her right side, particularly her hand.
John looked
