Persuade by Lacey Weatherford

Author:Lacey Weatherford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: loss, cancer, military, medical, grief, navy, las vegas, age, nurse, medic
Publisher: Lacey Weatherford

CHAPTER 16

Sutton-

We left everything in the truck, rushing into the house that had way too many lights on for the middle of the night. Several vehicles I didn’t recognize were parked outside, and goosebumps rose on my skin. Things must be bad.

Ash grabbed my hand, practically crushing it as we entered through the kitchen. Several women were in the kitchen, but they waved us by, into Mary’s room where we found two hospice nurses attending her.

Mary’s eyes were closed, and while she seemed to be resting, her breathing appeared labored. The critical care nurse inside me kicked into gear.

“What’s her last set of vitals?” She looked gray to me, that suggested a lack of oxygen.

“Her blood pressure a bit high, one forty-nine over a hundred,” one of the women spoke, Susan, if I remembered correctly. “Pulse is also high at one ten, and respirations have been holding in the neighborhood of thirty per minute. We’ve sedated her for pain.”

I turned to Asher. “There’s no way for us to know for sure what has happened without testing. You have power of attorney. She has a DNR order, but that only pertains to an actual cardiac arrest. If she’s suffered a blood clot from her injury, it is a separate issue from what she was put on hospice for. That means you can call for an ambulance to take her to the hospital and seek further treatment for her current condition if you wish. This is completely your choice.”

“Make the call.” He didn’t even hesitate for one second.

The other nurse took out her cell phone and dialed 911, giving the dispatcher all the information. “They’re on their way,” she added, hanging up and looking at Asher with sympathy in her eyes. “You’re welcome to sit by her and hold her hand. We’ve recently given her some morphine to help with the pain, but she may still be able to hear you.”

Ash nodded and sat beside her, taking her the hand of her uninjured arm and bringing it to his lips, he kissed her. “Don’t leave me yet, Mom. I’m not ready.”

The tremor in his voice swiftly brought back the memories of the car accident that had taken both of my parents. Quietly, I slipped into the adjacent bathroom and shut the door, allowing my tears for Asher’s heartache to flow freely down my face. No one was ever ready to lose their parents, especially at such a young age.

I held my hand over my mouth, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened me as memories of Dayton joined in along with some of Asher’s dad. We’d lost so many people already. It wasn’t fair to have to lose Mary too. While she wasn’t my biological mom, she meant as much to me. She’d been my only support for years, the very rock that’s held me close and kept me falling apart so many times in my life. Like Ash, I wasn’t ready to lose her either, but I was also a nurse who’d seen reality in action.

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