"Hiya, Beth." Colleen Rice smiled at her. "There is a new little one. Claude is in isolette 4. His mom used meth until her labor. The meds help a bit, but..."
Elizabeth waved away the nurse's guilt. A tiny boy was wearing a blue hat and crying in jags. "Hey, handsome boy." When she scooped him up, his body stiffened. She opened the blanket to let his limbs move.
Balancing the newborn over her arm, she sat in a rocking chair. A couple of tries and the little boy latched on to a bottle. Singing a song filled her with fond memories as she thought about the man she never stopped loving. “Home Alone” –he sang it to her the night she had her wisdom teeth extracted. The medication made her scared and upset her stomach. Unlike her parents, who left her to attend a function, he refused to go. A warm remembrance of a baritone voice merged with her version.
Nothing to worry your head about today,
You are always safe in my embrace.
As I gaze into your beautiful face,
My heart fills with my love for you.
We have a lifetime of things to do,
But all you need is to rest without dismay.
The infant settled down, and, once he fell asleep, found some peace. Dr. Lois Massey, an obstetrician, joined her friend. "Adorable, isn't he?"
"Yes. What's his story?"
"Mom is a long-time meth user. Urine and blood are positive. After detox, he’s going to her mother in Nebraska. Thankfully, Mom signed over her parental rights. Not great, but better than most.” The two women pondered Claude. "Bad morning, huh?"
"You could say that." Before saying more, her pager vibrated. Elizabeth returned the baby to his isolette. "Gotta go."
The intensive care unit was busy. A duo of corrections officers guarded one of the rooms. "What's going on?"
Miles Gerba, the intensivist on duty, stood to answer her. "There’s an issue concerning one of Randy Knox's patients, a Silverton jail admission. Came in last night after a dispute. Dr. Simms did a liver embolization, but I don't think it worked. I paged Randy, who thinks he's malingering. Ordered Hailey Ullman to evaluate him, and per Randy, she cleared him. His BP is holding, but the man is pale, sweaty and shields from any touch," Miles reported worriedly.
"Order another CT. I'll evaluate the patient and deal with Knox. Don't ever worry about calling me."
"Thanks. Beth. These bruises happened over time. The man can't go back to the same cell—he will end up back here or worse."
"The warden decides placement; we can only ask."
The lead physicians, accompanied by two third-year residents, Byron Hall, the wide-eyed Hailey Ullman, and the intensivist, walked to the prisoner’s room.
Two State of Iowa corrections officers from Strongford Penitentiary stood in front of the door. "Good morning." The taller CO held the door for her. "Miles, thought you said Silverton?"
"The prisoner is in our custody now. After his conviction, he was due to be transferred to us. We took over this morning," the polite second guard said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth stepped between the CO's. The patient demonstrated a gray pallor and a sweat-covered forehead. "Sir, I'm Dr. Reed. Not feeling so well, hmm? Can you tell me when this started?" She washed her hands, and when she snapped her gloves on, it made him jump.
"Never stopped, not since I got here," he said. "I'm so nauseous."
"Did you tell anyone?" She gestured Tommy Kline, head nurse, inside.
Tommy frowned. “I called Dr. Knox for an order."
"Give our patient 8.0 mg ondansetron IV for nausea." With no regard for the ordering hierarchy, she took responsibility. "Please, may I examine you?" His abdomen displayed the same bruising she saw on other Silverton inmates. "How did this happen? Who hurt you?"
"My bunkmate," he replied in a flat tone.
"Did you strike your head?" She palpated his head and neck.
"No."
Elizabeth chewed her cheek. The convict had one round bruise on his back and two on his belly. Holding his hands in her now ungloved palms, she spoke to him, "I believe you’re bleeding into your belly. Radiology will be up to take you for a CT scan to give me a better look. After, I'll meet you in the operating room. Dr. Hall is going to get you ready. If it’s safe for you, I’ll make sure you receive some more pain medication. Don't be afraid. Dr. Ullman, please notify Dr. Knox.”
