Lacey stared at Dr. Brady’s face and nodded. She had a thousand questions she wanted to ask, the first of which was simple—where’s my family?
Ruiz leaned over Lacey and gently removed the tube. “Lacey, you’re gonna feel a little discomfort.” She expertly slid it out, which immediately opened Lacey’s throat.
She began coughing violently, so Ruiz lovingly touched her face to comfort her. Seconds later, the nurses adjusted Lacey in her bed, propping her up slightly so she could get a better view of her surroundings.
Lacey conducted her own self-assessment, carefully testing her limbs to see if they functioned. She wiggled her toes and fingers. She tensed her muscles in her legs and arms. She slowly turned her head side to side. Other than the normal stiffness associated with lying perfectly still for days, she felt fine.
“Doctor,” Nurse Ruiz whispered into his ear. “Her son is very anxious to see his mom. Can we let him in?”
Dr. Brady furrowed his brow. “Give me a moment to test her mental acuity.”
He turned to Lacey. “Do you feel like you can talk? I know your throat is sore. We’ll fix that in a moment.”
She nodded and whispered yes. This resulted in another coughing fit, from which she quickly recovered. Nurse Ruiz allowed her a brief sip of water.
“Okay. Do you know what state you’re in?”
“Colorado,” she whispered.
“Good. And what year is it?”
Lacey scowled, which caused Dr. Brady some concern. He thought she was struggling to find an answer.
“Lacey?”
“It depends. How long have I been out?”
Dr. Brady stepped back from her bed and stuffed the penlight into his pocket with a smile. “I’d have to research where sense of humor falls on the Glasgow Coma Scale, but I think that means you’re fine.”
The Glasgow Coma Scale was a clinical tool used to measure a patient’s level of consciousness after a brain injury. Physicians focus on eye opening response, verbal interaction, and motor skills.
Nonetheless, he wanted to go through the rest of the procedures.
Lacey forced a smile and looked toward the door. “Owen? Tucker?”
Dr. Brady raised his index finger in the air. “Just a moment.” He left her room and spoke briefly with Tucker before letting him in.
“Can I see her now?” Tucker asked before Dr. Brady was able to close the door behind him.
“She is doing very well, young man, but it’s important that we not allow her to become agitated. Her brain is still recovering from a very traumatic event, just like yours did. She needs some time to process what is happening before she takes in any unsettling news.”
Tucker sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “How do I hide Dad’s surgery from her?”
Overnight, Dr. Forrest had performed the transtibial amputation on Owen’s lower legs. It was one of the most frequent forms of amputation due to the rate of diabetes in America. Dr. Forrest was successful in leaving Owen with two well-padded residual limbs that could easily tolerate prosthetic replacements. He was still in recovery and remained in a coma of his own.
“I’ll be with you the entire time,” Dr. Brady responded. “Let’s just stay positive and tell her that your dad is still fighting the good fight. Okay?”
Tucker forced a smile and nodded. He was fully dressed now. Sheriff Mobley had retrieved the family’s Bronco and pulled it into the local auto repair garage across the street from the sheriff’s office. He’d secured the McDowells’ belongings at the station and delivered clothing for Tucker early that morning. His appearance would never suggest to his mother that he had been in the same medical condition she was just a day ago.
He eased into the room first, and his face beamed with the broadest smile of his life. “Hi, Mom.”
Tucker tried to remain calm as the doctor had suggested, but he couldn’t control his emotions. Tears flowed out of his eyes, and he rushed to her side. Lacey gingerly raised her arms to accept his embrace, allowing his warm salty tears to pour off his cheeks and join hers. For a minute, the two held one another without speaking, not that words were necessary.
When they finally let go of one another, Lacey’s piercing eyes looked into Tucker’s soul as only a mother could. Tucker felt it immediately and tried to look away, seeking Dr. Brady for moral support. His mom suddenly found her strength and squeezed her son’s hand before he could bolt out of the room. He’d never been able to lie to his mom, and now was no different.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Saturday, November 2
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center
La Junta, Colorado
Lacey and Tucker spent the next hour talking with Dr. Brady. The family’s attending physician was also no match for the strong-willed Lacey McDowell. Her reaction to the news was expected, but her sadness extended to both her husband and Tucker. She felt guilty for not being there to help her teenage son make such a difficult decision. She assured him that she would’ve supported his choice, and she meant it. After the shock of what had been required to provide Owen a chance at living was over, she swelled with pride as she realized her son had become a man.
She’d first become impressed with Tucker’s survival instincts when they sought shelter as the threat of the nuclear attacks materialized. Under the high-pressure conditions inside the fallout shelter, Tucker had kept a cool head and did everything to help his parents stay safe. Then, after they began their trek east, he had been so nonchalant with dealing with the dead bodies on the highway overpass that she became concerned. His acceptance of death, especially at the hands of two gunmen, had shocked her at first.
It was during those few minutes alone in the Bronco before the flash freeze overtook him that Tucker had assuaged her fears. He’d explained to her that he was never one to stir up drama, much less fabricate it, as many of his teenage friends did. In a very adult way, he’d stated there were enough challenges growing up without making up any.
He’d talked about drug use by his friends. Teenage pregnancies that parents were unaware of. Cheating on exams and term papers that went undiscovered. He’d been completely honest with her in those few minutes before they nearly froze to death.
As they talked in the hospital room alone, she realized Tucker had handled the freeze anomaly better than she had. It was her concern for Owen and the impulsive decision to charge out into the frigid air that had put them in peril. Tucker saved her, and now, with his ability to make a very heart-wrenching decision, he’d given Owen a better chance of survival as well.
On Dr. Brady’s orders, without objection from Lacey, she took some time to sleep. She was feeling much stronger and even took in some solid food, if you could call lime Jell-O and a cup of applesauce solid.
While she napped, Tucker donned his jacket and took a fifteen minute walk down the street to speak with Sheriff Mobley. He hadn’t stopped by the hospital that morning, and Tucker wasn’t sure if he was aware of his mom waking up.
To his surprise, Tucker learned that Sheriff Mobley had spent the entire morning making arrangements on behalf of the McDowell family. He was aware of Lacey’s condition, but he chose to give Tucker time alone with his mom before he stopped by to introduce himself. In the meantime, he’d done several things to benefit their anticipated travels.
First, he encouraged Tucker to keep his family in La Junta for as long as they wanted. One of the locals offered up a fully furnished rental property down the street from the hospital to be used for as long as the McDowells wanted it. Families prepared foods for them. The city manager gathered up packaged MREs to feed them on their journey once they chose to leave. Sheriff Mobley filled their gas containers and topped off the tank to their truck. And, with the help of several townspeople, they found a radiator hose to repair Black & Blue.