36
Donna
“Come on, Momma you gotta let them work,” Donna urged, pulling her mother out of the way.
She hugged her from behind and promised her that their family would be okay. They were still outside of her parents’ house, surrounded by concerned neighbors, first responders, and flashing lights from countless emergency vehicles.
From what it looked like, someone had driven or walked up and opened fire on Bella. Her dad pushed her to safety and jumped in the line of fire. Bella was unconscious but breathing. Her heart rate and blood pressure were normal, but she had a large gash on the side of her head. Presumably, when she was pushed, she hit her head on the large, blood-covered decorative boulder near the walkway. She was hurt, but she would more than likely recover fully.
Her dad, on the other hand, was not breathing. When the Emergency Medical Technicians arrived, they took over. One used a heart monitor to check for heart rhythm, while another started an IV. The EMT with the monitor shook her head, so a third resumed CPR.
Donna’s hysterical mother was praying out loud while digging her nails so deep into her hands, she was beginning to draw blood. But Donna couldn’t think about the pain. She was too busy watching with disbelief as paramedics worked to keep her dad alive. The EMT stopped compressions so the other could check for heartbeat.
“No sinus rhythm!” the paramedic shouted.
Donna’s heart dropped when they resumed CPR.
“Christ Hospital!” a paramedic shouted from the ambulance Bella was being loaded into.
“Ma, why don’t you go with Bella? I’ll stay here with dad.”
Her mom turned and looked at her like she was the one that hit her head. “I will never leave my husband. Bella will be fine. My husband is dying!”
Donna’s heart nearly stopped. The thought of her father not surviving was inconceivable.
“Daddy is not dying!” she gritted.
“Push a round of Epi!” said one performing compression.
“Epi’s in,” said another.
Once again, they stopped CPR to check for a heartbeat.
“I got a pulse. Let’s get him intubated.”
The words brought instant comfort. She and her mother simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her mom retracted her claws from her hand. They watched as a tube, meant to breathe for him, was inserted into her dad’s mouth and guided down his throat. When one of the EMTs looked up at them, Donna could see the relief in her eyes as she said, “We’re gonna transport him now.”
“Mamma, you go with Daddy. I’m gonna ride with Bella.”
Her mother cupped her face and kissed her. Her mom’s eyes were red and swollen from crying.
“I’ll see you at the hospital,” she promised before following behind her dad.
Donna ran to the other ambulance and caught them just as they were pulling away. The vehicle came to a halt and the back door flew open. She climbed in and sat across from her sister. Bella was still unconscious, but her heart rate was normal, and she was still breathing normally on her own. Donna grabbed her hand, careful of the IV, and talked to her sister all the way to the hospital.
* * *
“Donna?”Bella called out in a pained voice.
Donna hurried over to her sister while her mom ran out to get a doctor. The fact that she’d been unconscious for hours was terrifying. She had become consumed with a fear of Bella never waking up.
“I’m here,” she whispered.
Her entire head was swollen. Her dad might have saved her life, but he did a number on her nugget.
“Aye!” Bella squealed. “My head.”
Donna winced from simply imagining her sister’s pain. “I know, Sis.”
