“I haven’t gotten down there yet, but that’s the first place I plan to visit.” Hopefully it was still there. Trips to the taco-making artist’s stand had been one of the highlights of her youth. “I’ve missed not only his food but his wisdom. Right now I’m staying at a hotel here in Coos Bay, but I’m planning to crash at home once you wake up. In my old bedroom, if it still has a bed. I called your minister at Grace Christian, and he’s having someone get your mail until I come down. He’s also got the whole congregation praying for—”
“I hear there’s good news.”
As Dr. Sherman swept into the room, Devyn stood. “The nurse said she opened her eyes earlier, but I haven’t seen any indications that she’s coming around.”
“Let’s try to encourage her.”
The doctor circled around to the other side of the bed and took Lauren’s hand. “Lauren, if you can hear me, squeeze my fingers.” After a moment, she raised her voice. “Lauren. Squeeze. My. Fingers. I know you can do it. See how I’m squeezing yours? Squeeze back.” After a few seconds, Dr. Sherman’s lips rose a hair. “Very good.”
When the doctor glanced over and gave a thumbs-up, Devyn’s throat contracted.
“Lauren, I want you to open your eyes and look at me.” A few beats ticked by, and the doctor leaned closer. “Come on. Open your eyes. I’m waiting for you.”
Nothing.
Devyn’s spirits dipped.
If she’d opened them earlier, unprompted, why wouldn’t she do it now? Did that mean—
Wait.
Lauren’s lashes fluttered ... and suddenly popped open.
Yes!
The neurologist eased closer to her. “Can you look at me? I’m on your right.”
Lauren continued to stare at the ceiling ... but her hand snaked up toward the ventilator tube.
“Excellent.” Dr. Sherman straightened and spoke across the bed. “Purposeful movement toward an area of discomfort indicates a heightened level of awareness. So does her response to commands and her earlier spontaneous eye opening. She’s wakeful and aware. That means consciousness is returning.” She refocused on Lauren. “Lauren, look at me.”
In slow motion, Lauren’s gaze shifted toward the doctor.
“Good job.” The doctor smiled at her, then released her hand.
“So what happens next?” Devyn gripped the siderail of the bed, watching her sister.
“We’ll change the settings on the ventilator, give her less support, and watch her closely for the next couple of hours. If everything looks good, we’ll remove the breathing tube.”
“She’ll be able to talk to us then, right?”
The doctor’s hesitation was brief but telling. “There would be no mechanical impediments to speech at that point.”
Translation?
There could be neurological ones.
Stomach knotting, Devyn took Lauren’s hand again as the doctor conferred with the nurse.
They’d passed one hurdle. Lauren was returning to them.
But would it be the fully functioning Lauren who’d tripped and fallen on Saturday—or someone who was going to need major assistance not only now but perhaps forever?
3
“That lady seems sad, Dad.”
At Isabel’s comment, Aaron angled sideways on the bench the two of them had claimed on the Hope Harbor wharf and followed the direction of her gaze.
