CHAPTER NINE

TIMOTHY RUSHED TO the hospital and a receptionist gave him a room number on the Med-Surg floor. As usual, he took the stairs. Hospital elevators moved too slow for concerned family members. Though he worked there, things smelled different to Timothy as the relative of a patient—the combination of disinfectant and sick people. Things sounded different, too—patients calling from their beds, doctor pages on the intercom system, and dinner trays clanking in the hallway. And things looked different—patients sitting in wheelchairs and lying on gurneys in the hallway. How long have they been sitting there? Are they being ignored?

“Mom, how are you?” Timothy leaned over the bed and kissed Mom on the forehead. She felt clammy and looked pale.

“Okay, I guess. My chest hurts a little,” she said, massaging it.

“She’s going to be okay, but it was touch and go when she got here,” Leslie said.

“You didn’t tell me that on the phone,” Timothy said.

“I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily. I figured it could wait until you got here,” she said.

“Mom, what happened?”

“I laid down for a nap because I felt sick to my stomach, and then I had trouble breathing, so I called your sister, and Ike came right over. He’s such a fine son-in-law.”

“When I got there, the house smelled terrible from the furnace fumes,” Ike said. “It choked me and burned my eyes. I couldn’t believe Mom had been breathing that stuff. When I saw her, I knew we had to get her to the hospital. Her color was bad, so I brought her to the ER.”

“He got me here just in time,” Mom said.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Timothy said.

“It’s not your fault. You were at work,” Mom said.

“No, I’m sorry the furnace got so bad. I should’ve taken care of that earlier in the week.”

“You didn’t know this would happen,” Mom said.

Timothy glanced at Leslie and noticed her wet eyes. Ike looked solemn. Mom asked for a sip of water and for someone to adjust the head of her bed so she could sit up a little. She also wanted another blanket. She looked about as pitiful as Timothy had ever seen her.

Doctor Hanson came in.

“Evening, Tim,” the doctor said.

“Hi, Doc. Thanks for taking care of my mom.”

“She was one sick cookie when they brought her in here. The fact she has only one lung didn’t help. She told me she had it removed about twenty years ago because of a tumor.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Leslie said.

“That didn’t help with this,” Doctor Hanson said. “She got here just in time, thanks to your brother-in-law.”

“Yes, he’s a sweet man,” Mom said.

“I know. Ike knows how much we appreciate his swift action.” Timothy nodded to Ike, the reluctant hero.

“You know you can’t stay in that house? It’s toxic for anyone, especially your mother,” Doctor Hanson said.

“I know, Doc. I’ll deal with it first thing in the morning,” Timothy said.

“Okay. We want to keep your mother for a couple of days to watch for any complications. Where will she go when I discharge her?”

“She’ll come home with us for a few days,” Leslie said.

“Thank you, dear. You’re so good to me. I don’t want to impose.”

“I shut down the furnace when I was there and opened a few windows. You may want to go by and close the windows tonight, Tim. It should have cleared enough by now to go in there to do that.”

“Thanks, Ike,” Timothy said.

“Aren’t I lucky to have a family like this, Doctor Hanson?”

“Yes, ma’am, you are. Now, just think about getting better, and I’ll be in tomorrow to check on you.”

Timothy felt responsible for this. Mom had asked him to look at the furnace a few days earlier, but he didn’t see any problems. He thought, Thank God she had her wits about her to call Leslie, or who knows what could have happened?

“Timothy, I don’t know how we’re going to pay for this.”

“For what, Mom?” he asked.

“The hospital, the furnace—”

“You let me take care of that, Mom,” Timothy said.

Timothy knew she did not have the money to pay for a new furnace, so he mentally reviewed his finances to figure out where to get it.

“You’re a good boy too, Timmy. Where will you stay tonight?” Mom said.

“I’ll call Cheryl. I’m sure I can stay in her brother’s room. He went back to school today.”

“Oh, you don’t want to impose on her family. I imagine your sister could make some room for you.”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

“He’ll be okay, Mom,” Leslie said.

“All right, do what you think is best. I’m sure your friend’s family won’t mind too much. Her parents will be there, right?”

Even in her condition, Mom still had enough strength to comment on Cheryl, the other woman. Timothy shook his head and grinned at Ike.

“What will you do about the furnace?” Mom said.

“In the morning, I’ll call the repair service and see when they can come out. I’m sure they will understand it’s an emergency.”

“Do they offer financing? I only have a few hundred dollars in my savings account and fifty dollars in my checking account.”

“Mom, I told you not to worry about this. I’ll take care of it,” Timothy said.

“Okay, but if you get over to your friend’s house and there’s no room for you, go to Leslie’s house, and she’ll make room for you. Family takes care of blood.”

“Like Ike took care of you, right Mom?” Leslie said.

“Yes, dear. Ike knows what I mean.”

Timothy released a deep breath full of anxiety and leaned over and kissed Mom on the forehead.

She grabbed his hand tightly. “Timmy, I feel bad you have to work so hard. I don’t know what I would do without you. I don’t want you to feel guilty about the furnace.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Bye.”

In the hallway, Timothy paused to collect his thoughts. It’s just life. Things like this happen all the time to everyone; just one more thing. Cheryl is always reminding me bad things happen, then good things happen, to everyone, not just me.

Self-talk helped him bounce back, especially during his recovery from his injuries.

He stopped at the first-floor telephone bank and dropped a dime to call Cheryl. He told her what happened and asked if he could spend the night. She had a lot of questions, and he told her he would answer them when he got to her house. First, he had to go by his house, close the windows, and lock up.

Timothy felt the cold air on his face and hands. The temperature dropped below freezing after dark. Gotta get home and close those windows. His car started on the third attempt, but the heater did not cooperate on the ride home. Probably the damn thermostat.