DECEMBER ELEVENTH
NUMBER OF CASES: 2,287
NUMBER OF DEATHS: 7
Jack opened his eyes and shook the sleep from his head. He was just about to throw back the covers and climb out of bed when his phone rang.
“Dr. Wyatt, it’s Marc. I’m sorry to call you so early but I’m in the ICU with Dr. Fuller.” From the foreboding tone of Marc’s voice, Jack was certain he wasn’t calling to tell him Tess and the other patients were showing signs of recovery.
“What’s going on?”
“Tess had a major seizure. She’s been completely unresponsive to any form of stimuli ever since. Dr. Fuller called the neurologist on call for a stat consult. She agreed that Tess meets coma criteria.” Marc paused for a moment before adding, “I think things may be going south faster than we anticipated.”
Thumbing his eyebrow, Jack said nothing at first. He wasn’t stunned by the news. He suspected things would get worse before they got better, but he was hoping it wouldn’t be this soon. It was obvious the slower GNS progressed, the better the chances were of finding a cure. “How is the baby doing?”
“I’m just about to begin a complete evaluation. Madison’s on her way in.”
“Has anybody spoken to Mike yet?”
“No. Dr. Fuller thought you might want to be the one to make the call.”
“Do you know if he’s in the hospital?” Jack asked, looking down at his watch.
“I haven’t seen him as yet. He usually comes in at around eight.”
“I’ll call him after I’ve had a chance to look at Tess. I should be there within the hour.”
Jack showered and got dressed as quickly as he was able. Forty minutes after receiving the phone call from Marc, he was at Tess’s bedside. She still had the splotchy red rash, but it was now weeping a thick orange-black colored fluid from the edges. All spontaneous movement was gone. Her face was absent any animation and a gray crescent arc of puffy tissue had developed beneath her eyes.
Jack barely noticed when one of the nurses approached.
“Dr. Wyatt, Mr. Ryan just called. He said he’d meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Dreading his impending conversation with Mike, Jack sat down on the far side of the room to gather his thoughts. There was no question in his mind that Dr. Fuller was right: Tess was in a profound coma. With the death toll rising every day, Jack had no idea how long Tess could hold on. He had too much respect for Mike to try to conceal the truth from him. Feeling his options melting faster than a baby’s birthday candle, Jack started for the exit.