“It has almost been a parade of doctors here. I will need credits to keep track of the cast.”

The doctor smiled. “I understand. I saw Dr. Filer leaving and I saw on the chart that Dr. Teil has been here. Right now there is not a lot I can tell you other than we had a lot of nerve damage in your arm and we reconnected as much as we could. You may have some loss of sensation or movement, that will have to be determined as time goes on.”

“I can’t feel anything in my fingers at all. I can touch them and they aren’t there.”

“We will watch that for a few days and see if it starts to come back.”

“Will it?”

“Your body will determine that. If it doesn’t we can do additional surgery to help it restore the function. Right now it is wait and see.”

Dr. Ansil came just before noon. He checked her Karen’s chest and listened to her lungs. “How are you feeling?”

“I hurt some but not bad. I’m tired.”

“Both are to be expected. If the pain gets bad, take some meds. Your chest sounds good. We want to get you up walking.”

“The one doctor said he wanted to get me a sling to hold my arm.”

“I saw a PT down the hall carrying one. It is probably for you. She will probably have one of the nurses help her get you up for the first time.”

“I just didn’t want to do something that hurts me.”

“That is good. We put a lot of things back together in your arm and chest. We want them to heal. So take it slow and easy at first but we need you up walking to keep you from getting pneumonia.”

“I will try. How long will I be here? How long till I can get back to work?”

“Karen. I am a doctor, not a fortune teller. But if things go well we will be sending you home within a week, maybe a day or two more. You had two major surgeries yesterday. We did what we could. Now we need to see how your body begins to mend.”

“I’m sorry. I just want to get back. I promise to do my best.”

“You do that, we will support you, and we will get you back as fast as possible.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”

He had barely gone when the nurse and another woman came in. “Hi. I’m Roan, I’m here to help you with PT today. First thing we are going to get this sling on your arm, then we will help you get out of bed and walk.”

They helped her get the sling on her arm and Roan asked her to move her fingers. She was not able to do it. Karen passed it off as too early since surgery. They helped her get to the side of the bed, then stand and walk. Twenty minutes later Karen was back in bed, tired but happy to get up. Roan told her she was to try to move her fingers and she could walk as much as she wanted if she had a nurse to walk with her.

She had a good lunch and dinner and was up several times. When she was in bed for long periods they took off the sling and lay her arm on the pillow. She had several visitors in the evening.

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Karen 3: Starting Back