She smiled, and it came from her heart. “But look at you now. You survived what most people wouldn’t. You’re out of your coma, and you’re going to get better. You’ve got some things you need to re-learn, and I’ll be here to help you.”
He seemed to relax, his gaze dropping to the spoon. It was a struggle to pick it up and hold onto it, but he managed it. Then, with a look of determination on his face, he scooped out some Jello and carefully brought it to his mouth.
Megs cheered for him. “See? To be fair, Jello wobbles. It can be tricky shit to keep on a spoon even if you haven’t had your head smashed by a rock.”
Mitch laughed, the sound giving Megs’ heart wings.
His head aching,Mitch watched the lights pass overhead as they wheeled him from one room to another, the medical staff talking to each other about him.
“We removed his subclavian line. He’s got an IV. He just had two mgs of morphine before we brought him down. He had some clear liquids for breakfast, but nothing since.”
“He’s scheduled with PT and OT later today.”
“These two bags hold his belongings.”
Voices swirled around him, passing over him like the lights, not all of the words making sense, his mind on the reflection he’d seen in that mirror. He was that man—the one with the bandages on his head and the collar around his neck.
He’d recognized his face, though it was thinner. Something had happened to him. He must have fallen. He couldn’t remember.
Megs had explained. She could tell him again.
Where was she?
“I’m Debby, your ICU nurse.” A woman with brown hair and a warm smile patted his arm. He thought she might be the same woman who had helped Megs get him into this hospital gown. He’d been surprised to find he was naked. “I’m so happy you’re doing better, Mitch. You take care of yourself, okay?”
Mitch wanted to answer, to say something, but the words weren’t there.
Why was he in the hospital?
Where was Megs?
Megs satin the financial counselor’s office, an itemized hospital bill and a stack of brochures on the desk before her. These brochures were about acute recovery facilities. This one covered the process for getting Social Security. Another went over Medicare and what it had to offer. Yet another listed resources for making one’s home accessible and finding equipment like wheelchair-friendly vans and lifts.
“I need to read all of this, fill out all of these applications, find a good facility for Mitch, and arrange to have him transported there—and do it all now?”
“I know it’s overwhelming.” Lora, the financial counselor, was very good at sounding understanding and looking sympathetic while still demanding money. “Just take it one application at a time. How were you planning to pay today?”
And there it was—the monetary side of US healthcare raising its ugly head.
Their insurance hadn’t paid anything yet but would pick up much of the bill. But once Mitch was discharged and entered the rehab facility, their share of the cost would skyrocket. Of course, they had savings—retirement funds—but the better acute recovery centers cost more than ten thousand bucks a month.
“I can transfer some funds over and pay by debit card.” She would have to call Scarlet Springs Savings and Loan to do that. “I need to step out and make a phone call.”
Lora smiled. “Of course.”
Megs stepped out of the office and made her way to one of the exits. She walked out into the cool October wind, looked up the number, and called the bank. “Hey, it’s Megs Hill. Can I speak to Karl?”
Karl, the bank manager, knew her. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t have any problem helping her over the phone.
“Hey, Megs. We’re all so sorry about what happened to Mitch. How is he doing?”
“He’s awake now, and they’ve moved him out of ICU.” She explained the situation, told him how much they owed the hospital so far. “We’ve got more than enough to cover that in our retirement accounts. I need to transfer the money into checking so I can pay with by e-check.”
“Why, yes, you do have more than enough to cover it, but there’s another account—one set up by the folks of Scarlet—and we can tap into that first.”
Megs was reluctant to do that. “I don’t know. It would be great if those funds went to benefit the whole town.”
“The money is earmarked for your use in these regrettable circumstances. Joe was extremely clear about how the money was to be spent.”
