THE OPERATION

Part 2

THE AFTERMATH

 

by

 

Michelle A.

 

 

Oh God! How do I explain this to my mother? She’ll kill me.

 

**Wait a minute. Something is not right, but it keeps slipping away. Just like a ghost. So tired. Must be the medicines. Oh nooo!!! That was Michael’s motorcycle. His little baby. If mom doesn’t kill me, Michael surely will. Worry about it later. Sleep now.**

 

Cris. Cris. Cris honey. CRIS, wake up!

Oh, hi mom. Morning.

No dear. Its evening now. The accident was a few days ago.

Mom, what happened? I feel so confused. My heads fuzzy and its hard to think straight most of the time.

 

I guess the pain medication is keeping you pretty groggy. We’re not sure of all the details yet. Some of that will have to come from you, as you get better. A couple of days ago you and Michael had an argument. He insists that that had nothing to do with the anything and won’t talk about it. The next day, you borrowed his motorcycle to clear your head of cobwebs, you said anyway. Four hours later you were in the operating room. Some people found you in a pile of rocks and brush on the dirt bike track. Apparently the bike blew a tire just as you hit a jump and there was a tree across the path on the other side of the hill.

 

Don’t worry. You’re in good hands. Doctor Kline says that the operations were a complete success, unless you do something rash. You are young and should heal quickly with few, if any, scars. Dr. Kline has decided on a course of action designed to cope with your particular needs. You’ve already given you a mega dose of vitamins in your IV. They’ve also given me a couple more perscriptions for other medication for you, including more multivitamins for you to take everyday. They are still concerned about your cracked ribs, but they can’t do anything about them except bind them tight. Your back was bruised also, so that requires a special support brace.

So, sometime tomorrow, you are being measured for a special back support and rib band. You must have bounced like a rubber ball, according to Dr. Kline. At least one of those bounces was on your head, apparently. They just about had to give you a buzz cut to clean and patch your head up. Mostly scrapes and bruises, but like all head injuries, it bled like the dickens. There is more that we need to talk about, but that can wait til later.

 

Dr. Maxwell is still not satisfied with your progress and wants to talk to you tomorrow. I asked what he still needed to find out and what could I do that would help? He just said, it was about your memory loss. He thought that it was only temporary caused by the head injury but to let him worry about that. He was just about through with his examinations and tests and would give me a complete report when he was finished. He said not to worry , that this was fairly common with certain types of injuries. There was one unusual but not serious indication that he was still trying to look into. Well I’ve got to go and take care of a few things. See you tomorrow dear and I might have a surprise for you if I have the time. We can talk about the rest later or when you get home. Your brother and sister are asking how you feel, are wishing you a speedy recovery and quick trip home. Kiss and gentle hugs goodnight and sleep tight. Although, the way you’re wrapped like a mummy, ou will sleep ‘tight’ anyway. Night dear.

 

Night mom. Luv you. Hugs and kisses to everyone. Tell Michael I’m sorry about his bike. Is he very upset with me about it, mom?

 

Well, he’s upset about something he won’t talk about, but I’m not so sure that it’s about the bike. Although it could be that. He just won’t tell me what it is. He keeps mumbling something but gets real quiet when he knows I’m around. In the meantime, your sister has been moping around like she lost her best friend. I sure hope things get back to normal soon. That means you get well soon and get home. I guess that means a shopping trip too. Can’t wear what you’ve been wearing any more. They just won’t fit you the same as they used to. Night dear.

 

Night mom. See you tomorrow after you get back from work. I’m sorry I caused all these problems for you.

Don’t worry about that now, just get better. Goodnight. With that she left for the night.

**Should I continue that stupid story now. Maybe I should just forget it, since I gotten me into so much trouble already. Those stories I read, though, were so amateurish. I know I can do better, without even trying. I can’t let anyone know about this though, especially that snoop Dr. Kline. He’s strange. He acts so weird when no one else is around. Like I’m a guinea pig or something. These tubes and hoses sure are a pain. Tired, so tired. Sleep. Back to blissful sleep.**

 

Wake up Cris. It’s time for breakfast.

 

You call that breakfast? Soup broth and yellow Jell-O? At least a prisoner gets bread with his water. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. Haven’t you fed me since I’ve been here?

 

Well I see you’re feeling much better. If you feel good enough to complain, you must feel good enough to start some exercises to stop you from stiffening up too much. The physical therapist will be scheduled as soon as all the tubes are out. Besides, this is all you’re allowed to have. And yes we have fed you, lots of IV’s to keep you healthy. What more could you ask for? A complete nutritional diet for almost anyone. At least until we can make sure that your system is able to hold it down, and that you are drinking enough fluids. Then, we can take out both, the IV and the catheter. That won’t happen until you are drinking plenty of fluids, dear. Eat, drink and be merry, or they stay in. Here is your medication. Take them with your meal.

 

By the way, my name is nurse Christy. You gave us quite a scare there, for a bit. We were quite busy, taking care of you. Quite a reaction when you woke up. A little unusual though, its hard to know what is going through a patients mind when they first wake up. No harm done. Are we ready to start the day? Do you want the curtains open to let in the sunlight, or do you want to play vampire all day. The sunlight would do you good, but might be too bright to start with. Up to you dear.

 

Just leave them closed for now. Perhaps later I’ll be up to seeing the sun. The lights in here now seem really bright as it is.

 

** What happened to the four star hotel I ordered? Must be where they sent the bike. It appears, I was the one sent to the body shop. Breakfast was a total loss. You can’t even call bland soup and tasteless Jell-O, food. The only saving grace is that I get to order dinner from the bland menu. OH joy OH joy. Now those pills, that blue and red one was a horse pill if I ever saw one. The purple one reminds me of something, but I just can’t remember what.**

 

Cris you have a visitor. It’s Ms. Luebke, to measure you for your rib support brace. Veronica, this is Cris. Sit up dearie, so we can make the proper measurements. ( After several measurements.) OK, I think that will do it. They will be ready in two days for a fitting, and then you will be set. I surely hope you make a speedy recovery, dearie. I’ll see you in two days. Ta Ta.

**Wait a minute, I thought that was supposed to be a body brace and chest wrap? Nice lady but were all those measurements necessary? Her name tag was strange too. It said, " VAL’S HOUSE OF CORSETS ". Not exactly what I would call the local mainstream medical supply house. Have to ask mom about it later. Maybe she’ll know what’s going on. **

 

Lunch will be here in a few minutes, Cris. The Doctor said the IV could come out now, unless you want to keep it in? If you continue with your liquids, the catheter comes out tomorrow.

 

No that’s fine nurse, you can take that darned needle out anytime you want. The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned. Yesterday would be even better.

 

As long as you keep your fluids intake up, we won’t need the IV any longer. There, the IV’s out and your lunch is here. Chicken broth and lime Jell-O. Enjoy your meal. Here is your dinner menu. You can select anything from column A and B and two from column C. Oh, by the way, Dr. Kline called and said that he had an emergency and would see you tomorrow. Dr. Maxwell said that he was going to change your pain medication. You seem to be more sensitive than most. That’s why you’ve been groggy all the time. It should just take the edge off the pain. So you can expect to be a little bit more active tomorrow, Then maybe, we can schedule the physical therapist for you.

**What is it with that stupid story, that keeps running through my head? Why did I go nutzo when I woke up? What’s so bad about being a girl? Where did that come from? Is that quack mucking around in my head? So hard to concentrate. I wish I could figure out what’s going on? Maybe when they change my medication, it will be clearer. Can’t fight it any longer, back to sleep.**

 

Cris, Cris, moms here. I brought you some new clothes when you can get dressed. The ones you were wearing are not exactly fit to be worn by anyone. Besides, the way you are now, your clothes at home won’t fit anyway. Your days in jeans and T-shirts are over, so I went shopping. From now on its skirts and blouses, or dresses only. I’ve been getting fed up with your attitude. The changes have started and it’s going to be different from now on. I found some great bargains. We’ll go again when you are released, so that we can get a proper fitting for you. A hat or scarf will do for now. Later we’ll get a wig, so that you’ll look much better. What color hair do you want? Your natural color, or do you want to experiment with your looks? I found a couple of nice blouses on sale, the skirts to match were a little harder to find. Oh, you’re still asleep. I’ll come back later, after I put this stuff away. We will have a talk about the new you. Like it or not, its too late.

**Was I dreaming? Or was that really mom in here? What was she talking about blouses, skirts, wigs and hair color? And shopping for more later? The new me? The changes have already started? It’s too late? I must be dreaming or that story is driving me nuts again. Maybe I’ve already gone off the deep end. Nothing is making sense right now, except sleep.**

 

Cris, dinner time. Cris, wake up! Cris wake up, or we throw it to the hogs and you can have soup and Jell-O again. Those clothes are so pretty. I think you’ll look lovely in them, after the bandages are off. Must finish my rounds.

 

I’m awake! I’m awake! Give me a second to get ready.

** What? What did she say? Look lovely, ME? I must be dreaming. But the food is here. Oh, that’s right, it’s the bland menu. Still better than soup and Jell-O. Let’s see. Poached egg, oatmeal, toast and of course , the ever present Jell-O. Oh well. Sounds more like breakfast than dinner. Looks like bland again tomorrow, from the menu. You’d think it’s a weight watchers diet or something.**

 

Cris, I’m back.

 

Oh, hi mom. Where you here earlier? I have a vague sense that you were.

 

Yes dear. I was but you were asleep. I remembered that I had a teachers meeting with Michael’s teacher’s, so I’m in a hurry. If we get done in time we’ll stop by later. Hugs and kisses. Are you feeling any better? I hope so.

 

Yes mom. I’m doing better, and the doctor said he was changing my pain medication so I wouldn’t be so sleepy all the time. Right now the only thing I can seem to do right is sleep. Don’t worry mom, I’m sleeping so much now that I’m not very good company, or even aware enough to know if you are here. Tomorrow will be a better day to visit.

 

OK dear. I won’t say get plenty of rest, it’s obvious that you are. Do get to feeling better and don’t worry about a thing. Some of your friends are going to bring your homework by with notes so that you won’t miss much school. Sorry, got to run. Michael wouldn’t even come up to see you. I wonder what that is about. Hugs and kisses dear.

 

** Oh Joy, I won’t miss any homework. Maybe I should change friends.**

 

** Yes, I wonder what is going on with Michael? I know he has got to be pissed about his bike, but this is too much. I sure hope the new medicine will let me think this through. Rats, I forgot to ask her about those clothes. What do all these strange things mean? That damn story keeps running thru my head and I CAN’T THINK. Sleep, ever present sleep, per chance to dream. Naaww, wrong story.**

 

Cris. Time for your medicine. This is your new pain medicine. When you awake in the morning you’ll feel like a new you. Goodnight.

 

Night nurse. Thank you. Goodnight.

 

**Brightness. Someone turn off the lights **

**Still brightness. Nobody listens. Maybe if I said something, they would. Oh, that’s the sun. No wonder no one was turning it down. Wow I can think again. What has been bugging me? What’s odd? Purple pills come to mind. Hormones. Female hormones. VAL’s House of Corsets? Vitamins? Blouses, skirts, and wigs? The new me. Attitude adjustment. No more jeans and T-shirts. This keeps sounding more and more like one of those stupid stories. No wonder its bugged me so much. There is something else that staring me in the face but it hurts when I think about it. Is that quack involved in this, somehow? Are they trying to turn me into one of those sissy-boy things I’ve been reading about. Has he been hypnotizing me? It ain’t gonna happen to me. I’ll fight them all the way. No one in those stupid stories puts up a fight, or the story would be over before it began. Well this one is going to raise a stink. Who’s involved and why? The doctors must know and my mother would have to go along with it. They said that they DIDN’T do the operation. Or did they say that? Or did I just think that’s what they said? Wrapped up like a mummy, I can’t tell anything. I’ve been so groggy that I can’t be sure of anything. Now that damn story is making me paranoid as well.**

 

 

**Nurse Christy, did she say what I think she said, earlier?. Are they all in on this? Who can I trust? What is going on here? How could my mother do this to me. I can’t let them know that I know. WHAT DO I DO? Let me take inventory. Chest, a little too WELL padded under these bandages. Narrow waist. No bulges, but can’t feel anything there either. Maybe it’s already too late. What hospital is this anyway? The blanket has a name on it. Let’s see "Rose Landis Women’s Hospital" What am I doing in a private woman’s hospital? Duh, becoming one maybe, dope.**

 

How is my patient today? I’m Dr. Kline. When you went hysterical in the recovery room, you had us very concerned. I couldn’t get much sense out of you at the time. Your physical condition required that you be sedated, until you had some time to recover. That’s all I could do. So I called in Dr. Maxwell, who gave you a temporary hypnotic suggestion that avoids the area that was giving you fits. Are you ready to confront them now?

 

**That quack HAS been mucking around with my head.**

 

I’m not sure Doc. That was just a temporary shock, and I realize that it was all coincidence. Bad timing as it were, for me. I’ve been bothered all the time like something else is missing though, and hope by eliminating that block I can understand what is going on. It’s like the answers make sense but I can’t hear the questions that go with them.

 

Tell me what brought all this on? You obviously were upset when you went for your motorcycle ride. Why were you so upset?

 

Well I had a fight with my brother Michael, but can’t remember why. The next day I was still upset so I borrowed his motorcycle, his little baby, to cool off and put things in perspective. Oh, I remember now. The trail I usually use was blocked by rocks, so I took a trail I hadn’t used in a while. Unfortunately, just as I topped the hill the rear tire blew. If that wasn’t bad enough, a tree had fallen blocking the road just over the hill. If the tire hadn’t blown I might have made it. As I was going under, in the operating room, I was trying to mentally write part of a story. When I woke up, the parallels to that story were too much of a shock. That is , when I woke up, I thought that what I had written in the story had happened to me. If that was the only reason for the block, then you can have Dr. Maxwell take it off now. I realize that it was just a coincidence. It had nothing to do with reality. Maybe now, I can figure out what seems so wrong now to me.

 

What kind of story was it, that could make you react so violently?

 

Doc nothing makes sense since I woke up. With the sedatives, I haven’t had time to think yet. Give me a little time please?

 

OK, Cris. The reason I came here, was to change bandages and inspect my handiwork. While I’m at it I’ll remove the catheter too. Let’s see. Spread your legs. Looks like it’s starting to heal fine. No oozing or puffiness around the sutures. No one will ever know. Not a clue unless you’re a doctor.

 

Well Tina how does it look to you?

**Its flat. There is nothing THERE. They LIED to me. THEY LIED TO ME!! THEY LIED TO ME!!!!!! How is MOTHER going to EXPLAIN this to ME!!!**

 

Emergency, room 205 patient hysterical.

Dr. Maxwell, room 205, STAT.

Orderlies, room 205, STAT.

 

M O T H E R W H Y ?

 

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