Dr. Lyman Douglas had cared for Tess Ryan through two miscarriages and her present pregnancy. She and Mike had the resources that would have allowed her to be cared for anywhere in the country, but it was Lyman Douglas she insisted upon. She knew he wasn’t the busiest doctor in town but she revered him for his calm, caring manner and meticulous approach to her care.
Tess Ryan’s C-section was scheduled for noon but since the entire operating team was present and ready to begin, Douglas instructed the nurse manager to have Tess brought to the operating room early.
Fifteen minutes later, accompanied by Mike, Tess was wheeled into the preoperative holding unit. Douglas was there to meet them.
“Are you ready?” he asked Mike.
“I was kind of hoping Jack would be here. I’ve been calling him but he’s not picking up. I’m a little surprised.”
Douglas glanced down at his watch. “We’re only about thirty minutes early. We can wait if you want.”
Mike shuffled his feet for a few seconds. “We might as well go now. I’m sure he’s on his way.”
“Okay,” Douglas said. He then motioned at the patient care assistant who moved forward, kicked the break release and slowly began to bring Tess out into the main corridor.
Before they started down the hallway into the operating room, Mike raised his hand. “Can you hold it a sec?” he asked.
Leaning over the railing, Mike eased the sheet a little higher up on Tess’s chest. He then leaned over and kissed her twice on the forehead. A couple of his tears dropped on her cheek. He gingerly dried them aside with his finger. He then interlocked his pinky with hers for a few seconds—a habit born from their high school days. Lowering his head, he whispered, “I love you, Tess.” He then took a step back, looked at Douglas and nodded.
“Just have a seat in the waiting room,” Douglas said. “I’ll be out to talk with you as soon as we’re done. You can still come into the operating room and watch if you’d like. It’s not too late.”
“I don’t think so. I’ll be in the waiting room.”
He then watched as the stretcher carrying the woman he cherished disappeared through the doors that led to operating room number two.