Chapter 8

 

Andre

 

. ~ .

 

ANDRE SAT IN the waiting area of the E.R. with Drew on his lap. It stabbed his soul when he came downstairs and saw Ava sitting at the kitchen table, lying face down while little Drew was crying, screaming at the top of his lungs, and she hadn’t budged. Andre shook her because he thought she might’ve fallen asleep, still tired from last night, but she was out of it, groggy and could barely open her eyes. And her weak pulse didn’t help matters.

He dialed 911 immediately thereafter and within minutes paramedics arrived. Andre gave them the rundown on Ava’s heart condition and they secured her on a stretcher.

The sight of her lying there instantly broke his heart and now, as he sat in the E.R., waiting for her doctor to come out and give him an update, he tried to control his rapid breathing and remain calm for Drew’s sake.

“Mr. Rockwell,” Dr. Burke said from a distance, waving Andre in his direction.

Andre scooped up Andrew in his arms and followed Dr. Burke to a private corner in the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Andre asked. “Is she okay?”

“Well, you remember when I told you that at some point, the medication wouldn’t be as effective, and we would have to do the valve surgery?”

“Yes. Is that where we are?”

“Yes, and we need to act fast.”

“Okay, but what if the valve surgery doesn’t work?”

“Then she will need a transplant.”

Andre grimaced, then bounced Drew a little to settle him. His thoughts were scattered. Ava was doing so well with the medication and now, she was here, in the hospital, needing to have surgery.

“Dr. Burke, are there any other options? I mean, what if we try a different medication? That was our next plan of action anyway, correct?”

“I’m afraid we don’t have the time for that avenue.”

Andre frowned. “Is she awake? Can I see her?”

“Yes. She’s awake. We’ll be moving her upstairs in a few, but for now, you can come on back.”

Andre followed Dr. Burke down the brightly lit, cold hallway corridor to where his wife was located. She wasn’t even in a room. It was just a space enclosed by a curtain. She had an oxygen tube at her nose and her eyes were barely opened.

“Ma ma,” Andrew said and tried to wiggle his little body out of Andre’s arms to get close to her.

“Drew, calm down, son. Mommy’s not feeling well,” Andre said throaty. It pained him to see her like this.

“Hey,” she said, sounding like she had been drugged.

“Hey, baby.” Andre held her hand. “How do you feel?”

“Tired,” she replied.

“I spoke with Dr. Burke. He ah...he said you need to have the surgery, Ava.”

Andre watched tears fall from her eyes.

“Sweetheart, don’t cry. This is going to make you better. We discussed this, remember?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to have surgery, Andre,” she slurred. “I’m scared.”

“Ava, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he told her, but they both had everything to be afraid of – she of dying, and he of losing her. But he would be strong for her, coach her through this and see to it that she was getting everything she needed. “The medication is losing its effect and now you have to have the surgery, sweetheart. There’s no way around it.”

She sniffled more, then asked, “Did you call my Mom?”

“No, but I will, as soon as they move you upstairs.”

“Okay.” She dabbed her eyes. “When do I have to have the surgery, Andre?”

“Today, as soon as I give the doctor the go ahead, and like I said, I will call your mother, but unfortunately, she won’t be here before the surgery.”

“Then I want to talk to her.”

“Okay, baby. I’ll make sure you do.”

Andre watched as the curtains ruffled and a nurse peeped through. “Hi. Are you Mr. Rockwell?”

“Yes.”

“Hi there, I’m Brandy,” she said, extending her hand to shake his. “I’ll be looking after your wife this afternoon. Right now, we need to take her upstairs. Someone will be out to the waiting room to get you once we get her settled.”

Andre looked at Ava, finding it hard to keep the look of worry off of his face. “Why can’t I go with her?”

“It’ll be easier this way, Mr. Rockwell. Don’t worry...we’ll make sure you’re here the second she’s set up.”

“Please see to it that I am,” Andre said. Then he looked at Ava, leaned down and kissed her lips. “I’ll see you soon, baby.”

She smiled weakly.

“I love you, Ava.”

“Love you, too.”

Andre walked away from her with a sour feeling in his stomach. It didn’t help matters that Andrew began screaming and crying for her, wanting his mother more than anything right now. Andre consoled him and while he sat in the waiting room, anxiously looking for Brandy or whomever it was to come out and take him up to Ava’s room, he called his parents and Maria, notifying them of Ava’s hospital stay and impending surgery.

Maria broke out in tears, crying while begging Andre at the same time to take care of her daughter. Andre promised her that he would.

When Andre told his mother what was going on, she also cried but gave her son some encouraging words – telling him to be the strong man that his father raised him to be and to make sure Ava knew how much he loved her. His father let him know that they would pack right away, pick up Maria and take the first available flight to Charlotte.