When he reported in on the eighth floor, he requested an anti-Coch serum injection.
The call had gone out to all medical personnel—currently working or not—to report to any hospital in the area to help with the epidemic. Every institution was understaffed to take care of both the virus-infected people and other patients.
The minute Lisa heard that Debbie was sick, she signed up. She took the serum and volunteered to work on the eighth floor. Her mother came to take care of Timmy when Lenny was working. She would sleep in the nurses’ quarters.
Debbie slowly opened her eyes. She had no idea how long she had been sick. Until that very moment, she had felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. Nothing seemed to make sense, but now she knew where she was and why.
“Debs,” Lisa said. She brushed her hand down Debbie’s face.
Lisa was fully covered with a paper gown, mask across her nose and mouth, and gloved hands.
“Lisa, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to take care of you.” Lisa smiled. She’d been there three days, and Debbie had given no sign she knew Lisa—or anyone for that matter—was there. “I think you are feeling better.”
“How’s Gini? I need to be with Gini.”
“For once, you need to take care of yourself first. Gini is fine. Enjoying her new baby. Oh, Debbie, Jessica is so cute.”
Robert walked up behind Lisa. “Well, look who’s awake.”
He was dressed in the same protective clothing. “I guess the serum is working.”
“Robert, you shouldn’t be here. You’ll infect Gini and Jessica.”
“I’m here working. Gini and I are video chatting.”
“Thank goodness she isn’t sick. Is she still in the hospital?”
“Yes, for a couple more days. Then they both can go home. Jessica has gained a half pound already. I think Gini is providing some good nutritious milk. And Gini is getting stronger every day. Vicky has had her up a couple of times a day walking. We’ll all go home together.”
Lisa helped Debbie sit up a little and gave her some water. “How’s the house coming along?” Debbie asked after taking a sip.
“I just talked to the builder. He said probably three weeks to the walk- through.”
“Good…” Debbie slumped a bit.
“You need to start slow, Debbie. Don’t overdo,” Robert instructed.
“Yes sir, Doctor,” Debbie said with a touch of attitude.
Our Debbie is back, Robert thought.
Debbie’s fever had come down to 101, but she wasn’t out of the woods until it was back to normal. It appeared the searing pain was gone.
Robert’s pager went off. “Rest, now.” He patted her arm.
He looked down to read it:
Gini’s running a low-grade fever.
“Gotta go.” He rushed out of the room.
Lisa followed him out with her eyes. He went serious way too quickly for it to be just another patient.
Chapter 9—Ups and Downs
“What just happened?” Debbie asked.
“I don’t know,” Lisa said, turning back toward the bed.
“What did the message say?”
“Debs, now, he probably needed to go to a patient. Please, just rest.” Lisa knew Debbie had seen the same fear in his eyes that she had when he read the page.
Robert went to the cell phone room and called John.
“What’s happening to Gini?”
“Nothing that I know of.”
“I got a page saying she’s running a fever.”
“Hmm… she complained that her right breast was hurting her this morning. Maybe she’s developing an infection in a milk duct, common in breastfeeding moms. Vicky had one with Noah. The infection responds well to antibiotics. Who sent the page?”
“Linda.” Why am I talking to John? Robert thought. I should be talking to Linda.
“She’s had quite the week. I talked to her this morning and she said in the midst of the crisis, babies are falling from the sky. Ten, I think she said, delivered the last few days. Kinda rights a wrong, in a way.”
“I’m concerned that Gini might have a fever. I’ll call Linda.”
“There’s nothing wrong with concern. But don’t go crazy with fear. Take a breath and relax a minute. You’re probably tired.”
“I am.”
“Remember that ride? Here yah go!”
Robert laughed. “Think I might need to buy a helmet.”
“I’ll go check on Gini in a few minutes. I didn’t get a page or message… I’m just looking at Gini’s chart. Says what I told you, breast discomfort on the right side, 99.7 fever, watch for breast infection.”
“Thanks, John.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Robert took a deep breath and looked on his contact list for Linda’s phone number. When he looked up, he saw Micky at the sanitizer station. A nurse was helping her put on a gown, mask, and gloves. Debbie would be happy to see Micky, he was sure.
He called Linda, and the call went immediately to voicemail—probably delivering another baby. He got up to go eat. Sitting there, he realized how tired he was, and a bit shaky from missing meals. The hospital had set up an eating station in another wing on the floor and a large room with beds for sleeping. Just as he got in the hall, he got another page.
Gini’s fever just spiked to 103.
Robert started toward the shower area almost in a run, tearing off his gown, gloves, and facemask, and throwing them in the special bin when he reached the shower room. He let the hottest water he could stand run down his body. Swiftly, he redressed in clean scrubs and dashed to the maternity floor. After being sprayed with disinfectant, he had no time to wait for the elevator. He took the stairs.
Micky gently tapped on Debbie’s door and then went in. “Look
