Chapter 13

Wednesday 11:30 p.m. Post Anesthesia Care Unit

            Terri Shultz legs wobbled as she was helped off the gurney by Emily Rosen, RN. Her eyes watched the floor rush up to greet her and then recede as her body adjusted to standing up.

            “Whoa,” said Emily. Let’s take a minute to let you get your bearings.”

            “Yeah,” Terri used her hand to wipe perspiration off her forehead. Looking at her mom sitting in the chair by the gurney, the teenager noticed the relaxed look on her face. So many issues had been resolved with the miscarriage. No longer were they wrestling over what was best for Terri or what was best for the baby-to-be. Her whole family had been conflicted between the choices. It was as if God had made a discission for all of them.

            “Okay Terri, you have to be able to walk and urinate before you can go home.”

            “You mean pee?”

            “Yes, pee,” said Emily.

            “No problem.” Terri smiled at her mom. Her mom smiled back. “Where’s the bathroom?”

            “To our left over there.” Emily inclined her head in the direction.

            “Let’s go. I can do this.” Terri walked with Emily to the bathroom without a problem.

            “Isn’t it nice the way the young recover so quickly?” said Mrs. Shultz.

            “Definitely. Here is a list of limitations for Terri to follow. Dr. Baker’s phone number is at the bottom. Call his office for an appointment in the morning. Okay?”

            Mrs. Shultz accepted the paper and nodded her head in affirmation.

            “I’ll take Terri her clothes while you look over the instructions.”

            “Okay,” said Terri’s mom.

            Emily recrossed the room carrying the plastic hospital sack. She talked into the closed bathroom door. “Were you successful?”

            “Yes, and I left the evidence. I want to go home.”

            Terri opened the door for Emily who handed her the clothes and witnessed the yellowed toilet water. “Your mom has your instructions. No school for the rest of the week,” said Emily.

            “Great.”

            “Get dressed and come on out.”

            “Great,” repeated Terri.

            In moments, Terri came bouncing out of the bathroom dressed and ready to go.

            “I can’t see any reason to keep you two any longer. There isn’t a wheelchair on our unit, so you get to walk out. Dr. Baker didn’t think you needed to be admitted to a hospital room. He said to dismiss you straight from the recovery room.” Emily didn’t add that no one had been dismissed directly from the recovery room since the man walked out against medical advice after having the coke bottle removed from his rectum. Emily didn’t think Mrs. Shultz would want that information. She figured Terri probably would have thought it was funny, but Mrs. Shultz didn’t seem the type. 

            “Are you sure you are doing well enough, sweetheart.” Terri smiled to her mom. “Then that’s okay with me,” said Mrs. Shultz.

            With Terri leading the way at a fast pace, they were soon in the car on their way home and happy.