Nuclear Winter Whiteout Bobby Akart (love letters to the dead .txt) 📖

over Lacey and performed his own examination. He tested her eye, motor and verbal response. He studied her arms and legs for evidence of unusual spasms.

He flashed his penlight across the front of her face. “Follow my light with your eyes.” She did.

Then he removed her covers and grasped her hand. “Squeeze my hand, please.” She gave him a firm grip.

As he checked her heart and lungs, he spoke to her in a casual tone. He took a personal approach to keep her calm. “Lacey, welcome back. As you can see, we have you in the hospital. There’s a lot to discuss, but I need you to remain calm. Your heart rate is slightly elevated, and we’re gonna give you some medicine to slow it down. You’re breathing remarkably well. I’m gonna have Nurse Ruiz remove your breathing tube so you can speak with us. How does that sound?”

Lacey stared at Dr. Brady’s face and nodded. She had a thousand questions she wanted to ask, the first of which was simple—where’s my family?

Ruiz leaned over Lacey and gently removed the tube. “Lacey, you’re gonna feel a little discomfort.” She expertly slid it out, which immediately opened Lacey’s throat.

She began coughing violently, so Ruiz lovingly touched her face to comfort her. Seconds later, the nurses adjusted Lacey in her bed, propping her up slightly so she could get a better view of her surroundings.

Lacey conducted her own self-assessment, carefully testing her limbs to see if they functioned. She wiggled her toes and fingers. She tensed her muscles in her legs and arms. She slowly turned her head side to side. Other than the normal stiffness associated with lying perfectly still for days, she felt fine.

“Doctor,” Nurse Ruiz whispered into his ear. “Her son is very anxious to see his mom. Can we let him in?”

Dr. Brady furrowed his brow. “Give me a moment to test her mental acuity.”

He turned to Lacey. “Do you feel like you can talk? I know your throat is sore. We’ll fix that in a moment.”

She nodded and whispered yes. This resulted in another coughing fit, from which she quickly recovered. Nurse Ruiz allowed her a brief sip of water.

“Okay. Do you know what state you’re in?”

“Colorado,” she whispered.

“Good. And what year is it?”

Lacey scowled, which caused Dr. Brady some concern. He thought she was struggling to find an answer.

“Lacey?”

“It depends. How long have I been out?”

Dr. Brady stepped back from her bed and stuffed the penlight into his pocket with a smile. “I’d have to research where sense of humor falls on the Glasgow Coma Scale, but I think that means you’re fine.”

The Glasgow Coma Scale was a clinical tool used to measure a patient’s level of consciousness after a brain injury. Physicians focus on eye opening response, verbal interaction, and motor skills.

Nonetheless, he wanted to go through the rest of the procedures.

Lacey forced a smile and looked toward the door. “Owen? Tucker?”

Dr. Brady raised his index finger in the air. “Just a moment.” He left her room and spoke briefly with Tucker before letting him in.

“Can I see her now?” Tucker asked before Dr. Brady was able to close the door behind him.

“She is doing very well, young man, but it’s important that we not allow her to become agitated. Her brain is still recovering from a very traumatic event, just like yours did. She needs some time to process what is happening before she takes in any unsettling news.”

Tucker sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “How do I hide Dad’s surgery from her?”

Overnight, Dr. Forrest had performed the transtibial amputation on Owen’s lower legs. It was one of the most frequent forms of amputation due to the rate of diabetes in America. Dr. Forrest was successful in leaving Owen with two well-padded residual limbs that could easily tolerate prosthetic replacements. He was still in recovery and remained in a coma of his own.

“I’ll be with you the entire time,” Dr. Brady responded. “Let’s just stay positive and tell her that your dad is still fighting the good fight. Okay?”

Tucker forced a smile and nodded. He was fully dressed now. Sheriff Mobley had retrieved the family’s Bronco and pulled it into the local auto repair garage across the street from the sheriff’s office. He’d secured the McDowells’ belongings at the station and delivered clothing for Tucker early that morning. His appearance would never suggest to his mother that he had been in the same medical condition she was just a day ago.

He eased into the room first, and his face beamed with the broadest smile of his life. “Hi, Mom.”

Tucker tried to remain calm as the doctor had suggested, but he couldn’t control his emotions. Tears flowed out of his eyes, and he rushed to her side. Lacey gingerly raised her arms to accept his embrace, allowing his warm salty tears to pour off his cheeks and join hers. For a minute, the two held one another without speaking, not that words were necessary.

When they finally let go of one another, Lacey’s piercing eyes looked into Tucker’s soul as only a mother could. Tucker felt it immediately and tried to look away, seeking Dr. Brady for moral support. His mom suddenly found her strength and squeezed her son’s hand before he could bolt out of the room. He’d never been able to lie to his mom, and now was no different.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Saturday, November 2

Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center

La Junta, Colorado

Lacey and Tucker spent the next hour talking with Dr. Brady. The family’s attending physician was also no match for the strong-willed Lacey McDowell. Her reaction to the news was expected, but her sadness extended to both her husband and Tucker. She felt guilty for not being there to help her teenage son make such a difficult decision. She assured him that she would’ve supported his choice, and she meant it. After the shock of what had been required to provide Owen a chance at living was over, she swelled with pride as