Monday

Dr. Davis was allowed to start to come out of the medication at just after noon. The locals were started at two. His wife and daughter flew home early. Ellen and Liz were with him as he started coming out of the drug-induced fog. By evening Dr. Davis was totally awake. He wanted to take off the casts and check his stumps but his wife, a nurse told him to be a good patient and wait for Dr. Kramer.

Dr. Kramer came in about eight thirty. He looked tired.

Dr. Davis looked up at him. “You did our procedure on my stumps?”

“Your procedure, yes.”

“Thanks. But you don’t understand. Your name is on the application for the program as the alternative. With this the program is yours.”

“No. It is ours. I can’t do it without you. There are things you know that I do not. And there is experience I don’t have. We need to get you back on your feet.”

“But how can I do it?”

“You’ve been telling patients they just have to get up and try. Are you a special case?”

“No. Thanks Dr. But it is going to take weeks for me to get up. I can’t operate from a wheelchair. If we go six weeks without a case we loose everything. We need two limbs a week to keep going.”

“Then you have at least fifteen weeks to get back on your feet.”

“How?”

“We were ahead seven cases last Monday morning, you did three Monday and two more Tuesday. I checked the wording, it counts amputations not patients. Last week we did the three gals for Fritz, the other three cases that came in, the boy with a DBK, Sandra and you. That put us twenty four ahead at the end of the week. Then Sunday we did six double amputations.”

“Six doubles? Oh. Dear God, What happened.”

“There were six cops. They were in a building when landmines in the floor blew.”

“But the money for the procedures?”

“That was some more good news. Last Thursday night the papers came in. I didn’t open them till Friday and didn’t get to tell you. The FDA ruled that we are no longer experimental. We are in a “Restricted to trial” category. Insurance pays the amount they pay for regular surgery.”

“That still puts us nearly a grand short per limb.”

“I wrote the hospital a personal check for seven grand. They will tell me when it runs out. Fritz found out about it that evening. He is sending me a check for $7,500 for me and a $15,000 check for the hospital plus what he paid for the cases we did and we can file for insurance money for some of them. He doesn’t want the money back, it isn’t a loan. I have the $7,500 check I can put in any time we need it. We’re covered for about twenty more cases.”

“You. I am so lucky to have you. Without your organization and loyalty this project would be dying.”

“I’m privileged to work with a surgeon like you, one who teaches others. You have taught me daily, you have taught others and you have encouraged me to teach what I know. My pastor told me when I left medical school I would be good. But he told me about a scripture that I would never have connected with being a doctor. It is where it says that Elisha poured water over the hands of Elijah. Elisha did far greater things than Elijah. He told me if I wanted to be great I was to find a good man and pour water over his hands. I asked what that meant. He told me that I should find that man and serve him in any way I could and learn from him. I have tried to do that and at times I have failed.”

“You have done that and you have done it well. If that is the road to greatness you are headed in the right direction.”

“There is more good news. The two docs from Hollywood are coming back next week. They promised four more fully funded cases.”

Tuesday Week 2

Anna, Maria, Larry, Carla, Dale and Deedee were being cared for at the hospital. One thing they all realized, if any of them had been kneeling or bent over when the explosion occurred that person would be dead. As bad as the current situation was, it was better than that.

Denise Chapter 01: Success in Hollywood

Denise Chapter 47: The Investigation is Costly

Denise Chapter 49: Carol Gets Her New Leg