Freedom (Gone For Soldiers) by Jeffry S. Hepple

Author:Jeffry S. Hepple [Hepple, Jeffry S.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: J. Hepple, Inc. DBA Elisco Publishing
Published: 2012-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

December 16, 1863

Danville, Virginia

The Confederate Soldiers’ Hospital, like the Confederate Subsistence Department’s Danville Depot, was in a former tobacco warehouse. Urilla stood up as a weary-looking young surgeon came into the makeshift waiting room. “Did he survive the surgery?”

“Yes,” the doctor said. “He’ll eventually have full movement of the hip. That will permit him to walk with a prosthetic leg and a cane. Too bad they had to take the leg off above the knee. Having a functioning knee makes all the difference. If we could gotten him sooner…”

“And his arm?”

“I was able to save it, but the damage to the muscle and connective tissue is extensive.”

“Are you saying his arm’s paralyzed?”

“He may regain limited use of it in time.”

“How limited?”

“Much of that depends upon him. If he exercises, he could regain eighty to ninety percent. If he coddles and protects it, the muscles will atrophy and the joints will calcify.”

“He’ll exercise,” Urilla said, brightening a bit.

“Don’t expect too much,” the doctor warned. “This is going to be life-altering for both of you.”

“When can I take him home?”

“Let’s wait a few days and talk again.”

“The trains from here to Richmond are very crowded. I’ll need to make a reservation as soon as I can.”

The doctor thought a moment. “I promise that you’ll have him home by Christmas, but I won’t be able to tell you anything else for a day or two.”

“Thank you,” Urilla said.

“I’ll be off duty soon. Could I take you to dinner?”

“Would it improve the care that my husband gets?”

He smiled. “It might.”

“I’ll wait here for you.”

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