Chapter 5

Brad wept unashamed into his hands. “I love you, Abby; please come back to me!”

Scott, Vicky, Dan, Karen, and their families sat in silence, waiting for the doctor to arrive. Fifteen minutes seemed like an eternity. “What is keeping that doctor?” Scott complained.

They were all numbed by Abby’s condition. They hugged and patted each other, trying to console each other. There was the occasional sniffle from them; there was no shame in crying for Abby. As tough as Peter and Derek were at playing hockey, they couldn’t hold back tears for their sister.

“Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Kendall?” A tall, medium-built man in his mid-forties asked. He wore a white overcoat and a stethoscope around his neck.

“Yes, that’s us,” Scott replied, wiping his nose.

“Hi, I’m Doctor Burnett. So sorry for the delay, but Friday night is already very busy,” he said, stepping into the quiet room and shaking Scott’s hand. Scott introduced Vicky, Dan, Karen, Wendy, Tina, and the others. “Why don’t we sit down?”

He tried to be professional but couldn’t help noticing the cleavage shown by the women. Karen leaned over to scratch her ankle, and he had a clear view of her left nipple.

Doctor Burnett paused for a moment, looking at Abby’s medical chart. His experience had taught him to keep his emotions in check when telling families bad news. He lost count of the number of times he’s had to inform a family that their loved one has passed away.

“Abby has suffered a very serious injury,” he started. He then took a small card from the top of his clipboard. “It’s customary for us to search through a patient’s belongings for anything that might tell us about them, such as any allergies or medications being taken. We found this card in Abby’s wallet. She’s registered with the Ontario Liver Donor Association?”

“Yes, she is. She and some of her high school friends organized a Liver Donor organ drive a few years ago,” Vicky answered.

“I wish more people took the time and effort to become organ donors. I see on Abby’s card that you and she have also consented to donate all her organs and tissues in the event of her death,” Doctor Burnett said, handing the card to Scott.

Scott’s right hand was visibly shaking with raw emotion. He broke down, sobbing uncontrollably into Vicky’s left breast. She hugged his head against her chest, her tears matching his, and kissed his head.

“Abby would want you to use as much of her body as you can to help save other people. You still have my permission to do so. She would have wanted it that way,” Scott sobbed.

Grief totally absorbed Scott’s body as he realized his only daughter was dead. “No parent should have to bury their own child! Abby ... Abby ... Abby!” Scott muttered, sobbing uncontrollably.

Dan and Karen cried non-stop into the others embrace. Wendy, rubbing her baby bump and wiping her tears, was fearful her overwrought emotions might harm her growing baby. She and Tina held hands tightly. Peter and Derek let their tears of sorrow flow freely, crying into Brenda and Diane’s shoulders.

“Her injuries were too severe to save her?” Karen asked, her voice cracking, “I was a nurse at Trenton Memorial many years ago.”

“Please, can we see Abby before you take her to the morgue?” Vicky pleaded, wiping her reddened eyes.

“Mr. Kendall,” Doctor Burnett said, touching Scott’s right shoulder. “Mr. Kendall ... Scott,” he repeated, giving him a slight nudge. Scott raised his head, wiping tears from both eyes. “I must have used the wrong wording to describe Abby’s condition, and I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding.”

“I don’t want to harvest any of Abby’s organs for donation to other people. I showed you the card because Abby needs a liver transplant.”

“What, what are you saying?” Scott questioned.

“Everyone, Abby isn’t dead. However, she will be if she doesn’t receive a new liver within the next several hours.”

“Abby’s still alive?” Scott exclaimed loudly.

“Yes, she is for now. Her gallbladder lies below her liver and may be damaged and might need repair or removal. If necessary, we can live without our gallbladder. She has several broken ribs, which will heal, and a few other bumps and bruises. Her brain activity is very good, so there is a probability she suffered a concussion. Her blood pressure has also settled down,” he said, lifting the next page.

“All of Abby’s tox screens came back negative for drugs and alcohol and negative for pregnancy. I called the number on the card, and the Liver Association is screening liver donors right now as we speak.” Doctor Burnett explained. “I have alerted our transplant team to be on standby. All this action is on the assumption that since she is of minor age, we’ll have your authorization to operate on your daughter.”

“She’s alive! Abby’s alive!” Scott shrieked, hugging Vicky, “Yes, yes, of course, you have our permission!”

“Can’t you use a liver from me or my brother?” Derek asked.

“Have you been screened by the Liver Association?”

“No, we haven’t,” Peter replied.

“It would take too long to see if either one of you is a suitable donor, and Abby doesn’t have that amount of time remaining.”

Brad wiped his burning eyes and runny nose, taking Abby’s hand again and repeating what he had said before. “I don’t want to seem like I’m selfish, but this is my wish: I need you in my life; I need you to be my wife. Please fight to live; I’ll give you all that I can give. I love you and need you. I’ll give you all that I can; I need to be your husband.” His tears fell on Abby’s cheeks once more as he wept silently.

“Uhh, mmm, mmm,” Brad heard her groan and felt her stir. He looked at her face, eyes fluttering, then gradually opened. She squinted in the bright light, trying to focus her vision, and then tried to breathe and talk. “Ugg, ugg, ugg,” Abby’s eyes widened, fear and panic setting in as she fought to breathe against the breathing tube down her throat.

“Abby, Abby!” Brad exclaimed. He stopped her hands from pulling at the air tube. He cupped her face in his hands. “Abby, honey, shhh, shhh, it’s okay. There’s a tube down your throat helping you breathe,” he said softly. Brad picked up the buzzer button and repeatedly pressed it.

“It’s okay; I’m here, and you’re going to be alright. I love you, Abby!” Her eyes darted around, trying to figure out what had happened. “It’s alright, Abby, my love; the nurse is coming!” Brad’s soothing words helped Abby to calm down a little. She gripped his wrists, trying to figure out what had happened, her eyes asking a hundred questions.

The nurse came in, “She’s waking up; she’s waking up!” Brad exclaimed. The nurse came to Abby’s left side and peered closely at her. She checked her vital signs on the machine and shone a light into her eyes.

“This is a good sign. I’ll get Doctor Burnett!” She said.

“I’ll get him!” Brad said, darting out of the room. He ran frantically down the hall, looking in every room he passed. He practically ran past the room his family was in, and his shoes squeaked on the floor as he skidded to a stop. “She’s awake; she’s awake; Abby’s awake!” He yelled from the doorway.

Everyone scrambled out of the room towards Abby’s bedside, Karen and Vicky’s breasts practically bouncing out of their tops. Dan held Wendy’s hand as she carefully hurried along the ceramic floor. Scott came to Abby’s left, taking her hand in his as the others gathered around her.

Doctor Burnett checked her vital signs and said, “This is a very good sign. I’ll ask everyone to leave the room for a moment so I can check out Abby more thoroughly. Maybe she won’t need the breathing tube.”

They gathered outside the door and hugged each other. Karen hugged and kissed Brad. “I’m so happy for you, honey,” she said. Ordinarily, Brad would have enjoyed his face buried in his mom’s chest, but Abby was all-important to him at this time. As Karen breathed, she happened to sniff Brad’s neck and shoulder.

“Where have you been? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you smell ... like Dan’s wife, Laura.”

“What did you say?” Dan exclaimed, looking at her.

“I fell asleep at Abby’s bedside, and I had the most fantastic dream I’ve ever had in my life! I saw Aunt Laura. She looks as beautiful as she ever has. We hugged and kissed each other, and when I called her Mom, she laughed and said, ‘Oh, so now that I’m dead, you finally decided to call me Mom.’”

“What do you mean, you saw Laura?” Karen furrowed her brow.

“I don’t know what I had—a dream or an out-of-body experience—but I saw Laura and I played fetch with Max. And I also saw Abby’s mom, Maryanne,” he stated, looking at Scott.

“Oh, come on now, Brad, that isn’t a nice thing to say,” Dan said, looking at Scott.

“Honestly, I’m telling you the truth, Mr. Kendall. I’m telling you all, as sure as I’m standing here. I saw Laura, Abby’s mom, and Max, our dog, plus I also saw Abby!”

“Doesn’t he smell like Laura?” Karen asked, looking at Dan. He stepped forward and hugged Brad, sniffing him.

“You do smell like Laura, and I also sense Max, and I also detect another woman,” Dan said.

“Maybe you just wanted to remember them,” Scott said, leaning closer to Brad and sniffing the air around him. “Oh my God, I smell Maryanne’s scent or perfume on Brad!” He said this, leaning closer. “That can’t be.”

“I’m telling you I saw them! And I also met Elliott, the man who was killed in the other car in Laura’s accident! And Abby and I saw the most unusual tree ever. It had smooth bark and shiny, silvery leaves. Laura called it the ‘Susej Tree.’ Jesus spelled backwards. She said the Susej tree’s seeds came from the tears of Jesus.”