The next couple of days were a blur. Mitch worked his shift on Monday and took Kelsey by to briefly visit her sister in ICU. Kelsey saw Dr. Rothman on Tuesday and had external wiring removed from her hand, plus a lighter splint to tide her over until her appointment with Occupational Therapy on Wednesday. Kelsey and Mitch spent as much time in ICU with Meghan’s still form as they were allowed. News of Meghan’s complications had spread like wildfire throughout the community’s Emergency Services, and she had a steady stream of visitors who left cards and expressed their concern and offered to help in any way needed.

Wednesday was the big day for Kelsey: she started therapy for her hand. She would start out with passive therapy first, her therapist, Brett, told her. He first molded a custom splint for her to wear, and then sat down across the narrow table from her. He showed Mitch how he could gently work with Kelsey’s fingers and wrist, putting them through a set of exercises to be done daily. The gentle movements were designed to not put stress on the tendons that were still healing while maintaining range of motion and mobility in her hand. Kelsey was glad that she had heeded Mitch’s advice about taking pain meds before her therapy session. She never would have believed that someone closing her hand into a fist would hurt so much!

Meanwhile, Meghan was slowly starting to recover. Her oxygen saturation levels were improving, and her blood test numbers were also starting to shift in the right direction. Dr. Anderson and Dr. Cooper were very optimistic that they could start weaning her off the sedation on Thursday and then see about starting to wean her off the vent on Friday.

Mitch and Kelsey were in Meghan’s room when she started waking up. First, it was just her eyelids fluttering, then some movement in her fingers and head. But Mitch was glad that he was close by her bed when he had to catch her hands and hold onto her so she didn’t pull out her trach tube! Kelsey called for the staff to assist, and while they were trying to reassure Meghan that she was fine, they did wind up using soft restraints to tie down her arms so she couldn’t pull out her trach tube.

It was a few hours before Meghan was awake enough to really be aware of what was going on and figured out how to relax into the vent. Not wanting to sedate her again, Dr. Anderson recommended a psych med at a low dose, just enough to calm her. It was Kelsey’s special touch, however, that really calmed Meghan down.

It took a couple of days to completely wean Meghan off of the ventilator, and even then she still had the trach tube in. Being awake and aware of what was going on, Meghan was released from the restraints they initially had needed to keep her from pulling her trach out. She was given a whiteboard and markers and was using that to communicate.

Meghan was still really weak, as her body fought against the pneumonia. She slept a lot. A nasogastric tube had been placed Wednesday, and she was receiving tube feedings through that to keep up her caloric intake. Mitch had decided to limit his and Kelsey’s time at the hospital over the weekend, a much-needed decision, but very difficult as well. Both of them wanted to stay with Meghan to keep her company, but they also knew that her recovery was going to be a marathon, not a sprint.

One week after entering the ICU, Meghan waved goodbye to the staff as she was transferred back to a Med-Surg Unit on the 5th floor. Her lab work was looking much better, and the pneumonia was almost gone. When Drs. Cooper and Anderson had rounded that morning, she had asked about the trach tube.

How long for trach tube out?

Dr. Cooper chuckled. “Well, I want to give you a couple more days with it in. I want to be 100 percent sure that your lungs aren’t going to play tricks on us.”

She slumped in a visible sigh. I just want to go home.

Dr. Anderson smiled at her reassuringly. “We know, Meghan. We’re doing everything in our power to get you healed up enough to go home. But I have good news.”

She erased the board quickly. Yeah? What?

He chuckled. “We’re going to boot you out of the ICU today. I’m transferring you to the Med-Surg unit on the 5th floor today. I’ll call and let your in-laws know.”

She gave them two thumbs up.

When Meghan arrived at her new room, there was a minor flurry of activity. Her IVs were rehung and hooked up to IV pumps. She was hooked back up to telemetry, replete with cardiac leads, a pulse-ox, and a blood pressure cuff, although the cuff was removed after obtaining a set of vital signs. Her catheter was checked for position and to make sure it was still emptying properly. The nurse peeked at Meghan’s incisions and looked at the insertion site for her central line.

Meghan was glad when everything calmed down. The flurry of activity had been enough to deplete her fragile energy reserves, and she fell asleep not long after everyone left.

When Meghan awoke, Kelsey and Mitch were already in the room. She waved at them, and Mitch retrieved her whiteboard while Kelsey leaned over for a hug.

New room. I’m glad.

Kelsey smiled. “Not as glad as we are, sis. Just think – one step towards going home!”

Yes. Just need everything off and escape.

Mitch cleared his throat, although Meghan could see he was trying not to laugh. “I think that escape plans might still be a little early, Meghan.”

Meghan cleared the whiteboard. Spoilsport!

A knock sounded on the door and Cherie popped her head into the room. She smiled hugely and disappeared from view for a second. “Dave! Get in here!” Cherie entered the room, followed by a grumbling Dave. He, however, lit up when he saw who Cherie was dragging him to see.

“Meghan! When did you escape the ICU?” He made his way over to the bed. Cherie already had Meghan in a cautious bear hug, but he grasped her hand for a minute before pulling over a chair and straddling it.

Meghan reached for her whiteboard. Earlier today. I wanted escape hospital but Mitch said no.

Dave shook his head in amusement. “Well, you need to focus on getting well. Breakfasts at the café are certainly lacking of late. You’re not around, and Tim with Ladder 56 is out with a broken collarbone. You know how much that boy likes to gab.”

I’m trying! Meghan mutely protested.

“Is there anything we can get for you? Books, magazines, EMS journals? I just got the new JEMS magazine last week,” Cherie offered. Meghan made grabby motions when the journal was mentioned. “How’d I guess,” Cherie laughed. She thought for a minute. “You know, I’m off tomorrow. I could bring over some nail polish and the journal, maybe do a bit of a spa thing here. Would you like that?”

Meghan thought for a minute, then nodded. Approve with nurses first.

“Of course, Chica. This’ll be fun!” Cherie rubbed her hands together gleefully.

“Mind if I join in on the fun?” Kelsey asked.

“Oh, of course, girl! We’ll make it a fun time, and Meghan can fall asleep anytime she needs to.” Cherie laughed, delighted.

Mitch and Dave gave each other blank looks, but both were pleased that Meghan looked like she was anticipating the time with her friend and sister. She looked perkier than she had in the last few weeks.

Cherie looked at her watch and reluctantly stood. “We’d best be getting back to the truck and back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow!” She and Dave said their goodbyes and left.

**********

The three women had fun the next day. Meghan’s tech for the day helped out, giving Meghan a bed bath, changing her linens and gown, and washed her hair. Kelsey brought stuff for facials, and the gals washed Meghan’s face, applied toner, moisturized, scrubbed, masked… It was like an in-hospital spa day for Meghan. She settled for a light pink polish for her fingernails, but then Cherie used a daring dark red on her toenails.

After two hours of spa fun, Meghan was worn out! She was also extremely grateful to her sister and her friend. It was a small return to normalcy in the midst of her long, protracted bout of medical issues.

She was pleasantly surprised when Mitch came by later with a bouquet of roses. Her smile was huge as he brought them close enough for her to smell them before setting them on the nightstand.

Beautiful! Thanks!

He gave her a big smile. “You’re welcome! It looks like the gals have you all gussied up. Let’s see.” He pretended to investigate their handiwork. “Pretty pink on your fingers. Did they do your toes? Oh, my! A dark, sexy red. Hmm. Kelsey, you should get that color for your toes!” Kelsey gave him a playful shove.

His teasing words, though, brought about the response he was after. Meghan had a faint blush to her cheeks and was smiling widely.