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After watching some television, I feel my stomach get fuller and fuller. The cartoons bore me quite fast, but I don’t really have a choice in what I do now. Either going to sleep (which is quite impossible after sleeping so long) or stay awake and watch dull cartoons.
I think I’ve been bored for about an hour when some people enter the room. The nurse comes first, and with her my mom and a man I don’t recognize. The nurse switches the television off, and takes my headphones off my head. Mum hugs me, and whispers in my ear “good to see you awake, my princess”. Most of the time I hate it when she calls me that, but now it doesn’t really bother me. The man walks to my bed and starts talking
“Hi Dana, I’m Martin, one of the doctors here. Nice to see you awake after so long. Do you know how long you slept?” I blink my right eye (no) and he nods. “I thought so. You’ve been asleep for almost four weeks.”
I smile, thinking that sleeping for four weeks is quite an achievement for someone like me. My friends like to brag about how long they sleep in the weekends, well, I slept the longest of all!
However, the doctor continues: ”All that sleep was not because you were tired, of course, but because we kept you asleep in order for your body to heal properly. When the car hit you, you broke quite some bones. You broke your right lower leg, your left upper leg and hip, your right wrist and shoulder, your left upper arm and, most importantly, your skull. You’re quite lucky to be alive and awake!”
Wow! I didn’t even realise until now how many bones there are that can break! Seems like I won’t be dancing for quite a while… And my skull, that’s quite a sturdy bone. That car hit me real hard!
“Because of that broken skull, we had to keep you under for so long. And because of that, we made a small hole at the lower end of your neck. Through that hole, we put a small hose that is connected to a machine that breaths for you. That’s why you can’t talk right now.”
Ah, that’s the noise I heard! That machine breaths for me. Fascinating, but also a bit scary.
“In the coming weeks, we’ll try if you are still able to breath by yourself. We’ll also start some physical therapy to get you up and running as fast as possible again.”
Sounds good!
“I have to warn you though, that it will take at least 6 months before you can function independently anymore. There might even be some permanent damage we can’t see now, which will keep you from doing what you always did for the rest of your life.”
Ow… That sounds really scary! I feel tears coming into my eyes. Mom holds my hand and brushes my forehead. She says: “Don’t worry, hon, I’ll be there for you! You’ll do great, I’m sure! Let’s take it day by day. Don’t think about the future, focus on now.”
Well, that sounds easier than it feels. I feel scared and happy at the same time. Until now, no permanent damage seems to be found. That’s a good thing! But the doctor doesn’t warn because of nothing…
The nurse walks over to my bedside and starts wiping my tears away. “Don’t cry, honey, up till now you’re doing the best thing one could hope for with such an injury!”
After some time, I calm down again. The doctor wishes me well and goes onto his next patient. Mom sits to my side in to a chair. As I can’t move my neck, I can’t see her at all. However, I can hear her breathing and talking, which is enough for now. The nurse checks my diaper, leaves the room and comes back some moments after.
“I’ve got something for you!” She shows me a small box with a large red button. “since your thumbs are still free, I thought you’d be able to use this!” She places it under my left thumb. “If you press this button once, it will call a nurse. If you press it twice, an alarm will go off and we’ll come running to you. Let’s try, press it once!” I try my best to move my thumb. It seems to be quite difficult to get it to do what I want it to do. It feels like I’m moving jelly, instead of a thumb. But, finally, I hear a long beep.
“Well done! You pressed it!”
I smile, seems like I’m still able to do something! At least I can call someone.
“I’ve got something else for you in the afternoon. But right now, you look like you can’t really keep your eyes open anymore. Do you want to nap for a while?”
I blink my left eye (yes) and the nurse shuts the curtains.
“Come with me, mom,” she says “your daughter needs her sleep. Do you want some coffee? It’s time for my break, come with me!”
Mom kisses my forehead and follows the nurse. They both leave the room. I listen to the slow and steady whoosh of the breathing machine. Some moments later, I fall asleep. Lying here and being awake seems to be exhausting at the moment!