Page 79 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

ON THE LIGHTER

“Ho, ho, ho,” Gabriela said, walking into the third patient’s hospital room on Christmas morning two and a half weeks later.

“You’re not Santa,” Molly said, giggling. “You’re my doctor.”

“I’m not Santa,” she agreed. She was wearing red scrubs under the lab coat, had a black belt around it, and black sneakers on her feet. Even had some white fuzzy socks that she’d tucked the bottom of her scrubs into. The Santa hat was her crowning touch. “But I like to pretend I’m him. How are you feeling?”

“Better. Can I go home today? Santa came. I know he did. And I’m missing it.”

Poor little girl came in running too high a temperature for Gabriela to consider releasing her home yesterday. All her preliminary blood work came back good, except her white blood cell count. High enough to show some kind of infection, but nothing pointing to what or where.

And with her fever not breaking, it was a night in the hospital, despite everyone’s protests.

“I know, sweetie.” She’d pulled up Molly’s chart before she came in. “Your fever is still here, but not as high. So that is good. Nothing hurts on you at all?”

She was completely baffled, but if the fever broke, they’d have no reason to keep her.

“I’m hungry,” Molly said. “Does that count? Like my belly hurts because it wants food. I ordered it. The nurse showed me how.”

She turned when she heard a noise behind her, saw Molly’s mother coming in. She knew there was another child in the family and probably home with the father.

“Can Molly come home today?”

“Merry Christmas. We were just talking. Her fever isn’t as high, but that is to be expected since we are keeping acetaminophen in her round the clock along with fluids. She ordered breakfast. Her blood work is showing an infection, but without knowing what, I don’t want to blindly give her an antibiotic or just assume.”

“But if her fever is down, can she still go home? It’s Christmas. Even for a few hours and come back.”

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t work that way. If we could pinpoint the infection it’d make it easier and I’d get her out of here for you this morning, even with the fever at what it is.”

“I want to go home and open my gifts,” Molly said, starting to cry.

She really felt for the little girl. Six years old was still young enough to believe and old enough to really enjoy the holidays.

“Here is your breakfast. Why don’t you try to eat and I’ll have a little chat with your mother in the hall?”

The aide brought over Molly’s food, took the top off and left while Gabriela stood outside the door.

“There is no way she can go home for a few hours?” Molly’s mother asked. “I want her better, but she’s just a kid.”

“Let’s give it some time. My fear is letting her out of here only for her to come back again tomorrow. If in a couple hours she’s still stable with her temperature, I’ll release her. Our office isn’t open this weekend. No one wants to sit in the ER again.”

“No.”

“Let’s see how she’s doing with her breakfast.”

They moved back into the room to see Molly spitting her food out.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, moving closer. “Does it taste funny?”

“It hurts.”

“What does? Your throat? Your tongue?”

“My tooth.”

Gabriela pulled her penlight out. “Open up for me.”

She was looking around at the back teeth, then up under the roof of her mouth. She didn’t see anything.