Pat nodded and silently followed Ida’s doctor.
As soon as they were seated, Geoff pulled out a medium-sized tablet. He tapped on the screen and looked at Pat. “We thought Ida was responding to the antibiotics we gave her, but the last scan showed more fluid building up in her lungs. She took a severe turn for the worst this evening. We’re concerned that her infection has spread to other parts of her body.”
Brett frowned. “How does that happen?”
“The bacterial infection travels through the bloodstream to other vital organs, like the liver and the heart. If we can’t find a treatment that works, it can severely damage the organs.”
“Could Ida die?” Pat asked.
Geoff nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Ida’s stroke and age make her more susceptible to complications from the infection. We’ve changed to a more aggressive treatment plan, but it’s not without its own side effects.” He paused, giving Brett the feeling they were about to hear the worst news. “We placed Ida in an induced coma half an hour ago. A ventilator is helping to oxygenate her blood. Combined with the new drug regime, we’re giving her the best chance of recovering from the infection.”
Brett’s heart pounded. He glanced at Pat, hoping this wasn’t too much for him.
Pat’s face was a blank mask. “When will you know if the drugs are working?”
“The next three hours will be crucial. But before we go any further, I have something else I need to discuss with you.” The doctor paused. “Before we placed Ida into an induced coma, she asked us not to resuscitate her if her heart stops beating.”
Pat’s already pale skin had turned gray.
Geoff placed his hand on Pat’s wrist. “Take a deep breath. That’s it. In and out. Take your time.”
Brett watched Pat slowly process what Geoff had told them.
“Ida can’t talk very well. How did she tell you not to resuscitate her?” Pat stumbled over the last words.
“She spoke to one of our nurses who asked me to see her. Ida clearly said DNR to the nurse. When I asked her if she wanted us to issue a do-not-resuscitate order, she nodded.”
Tears filled Pat’s eyes. “She’s exhausted. Ida wouldn’t have known what she was saying.”
“We explained what a do-not-resuscitate order involves. She doesn’t want us to perform CPR, Pat.”
“But if her heart stops beating and you do nothing, she’ll die.”
The anguish in Pat’s voice tore through Brett’s chest.
Geoff nodded. “We’re hopeful the new treatment will work, but if it doesn’t, you need to prepare yourself for the worst.” His pager beeped and he looked at the message. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ll ask one of the nurses to answer any questions you have. If you need me for anything, the nurses will find me. I’ll talk to you as soon as I can.”
With a heavy heart, Brett watched the doctor leave the room.
“Ida is a fighter,” Pat whispered. “She’s been through so much. She wouldn’t give up. She can’t.”
Brett wrapped his arm around Pat’s trembling shoulders and hugged him tight. He tried to think of something to say, words that would make everything easier to handle. But nothing could change what had happened. All they could do was pray that the new treatment worked.
***
Claire rubbed her eyes as she wandered into the living room. “Have you heard from Brett?”
Hannah shook her head. “It’s probably too early. He would have arrived at the hospital only a short time ago.”
“Do you want some company?”
“I’m okay. You go to bed. One of us needs to be awake early tomorrow.”
Claire flopped onto the couch beside Hannah. “We’ve survived on hardly any sleep before. Staying up tonight won’t make any difference. Did Pat say anything about Ida before he left?”
“Only that the doctor wanted to see him about Ida’s treatment. Bilateral pneumonia can be hard to treat, especially with Ida’s medical history.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine. There are so many drugs on the market that something has to clear the infection.”
