Damian strode into the hospital with large steps. His heart raced twice as fast upon hearing the news from Darwin that his daughter was suddenly hospitalized and needed immediate surgery.
Initially, Damian thought it was normal, knowing that Veronica was about to give birth soon. However, his heart ached when his son-in-law explained that Veronica had experienced bleeding and needed extra assistance. He never expected that his beloved daughter would go through such a serious event.
On the way to the hospital, Damian even had to clutch his chest several times, feeling the pain. This news had truly shocked him.
“How is Veronica, Win?” Damian asked when he arrived in front of the delivery room.
“Veronica is still under the care of the medical team, Pa. She might still be undergoing the cesarean section surgery to ensure the safety of our baby first. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly.”
“Oh, my God…” Damian sighed heavily and took a deep breath. He couldn’t deny that he was extremely worried right now. “Why did this happen all of a sudden, Win?”
Darwin let out a heavy sigh as well. He had been thinking all along that something serious might happen to his wife.
“Darwin also doesn’t know how it all started, Pa. Yesterday afternoon, she went out to buy some baby supplies she hadn’t gotten before. According to Kennedy’s wife, Veronica accidentally slipped and fell. Initially, she was okay. In fact, when she was transferred to the delivery room earlier, Veronica was still conscious.”
Damian sighed deeply again, struggling to keep his composure.
“I don’t know why, but Veronica has been a frequent visitor to the hospital since she was a child. I’ve always been amazed.”
“But she always recovers quickly, right?” Darwin responded. “That means Veronica is a strong woman, Pa. I believe she will recover quickly and get better soon. Please stay calm. There’s no need to worry too much. Let’s pray together for her swift recovery,” Darwin said, trying to reassure his father-in-law. He was afraid that Damian’s excessive worry might negatively affect his heart, or worse, weaken it further.
“I hope so too, Win. Veronica must be okay. She cannot have any complications.”
Sixty minutes passed, and Darwin and the others waited for Veronica to receive treatment from the medical team. After not too long, the doctor who was handling the case finally came out. Darwin and Damian both stood up and approached the doctor to hear the latest news about Veronica’s condition.
“How is she, doctor? Was the surgery successful?”
“Yes, doctor,” Damian added. “Are my daughter and my grandson okay?”
The doctor first removed the medical mask they were wearing and then nodded confidently while responding to the two men in front of them.
“The cesarean section surgery went smoothly as expected. First and foremost, congratulations to both of you. Mrs. Veronica has just given birth to a very healthy baby boy.”
Darwin and Damian breathed a sigh of relief. They were so overwhelmed with joy that they even hugged each other, their eyes glistening with tears. Hearing the news that Veronica had given birth to a healthy baby and that both were safe was a tremendous relief.
“Once the baby is cleaned up, both of you can see him in the baby room,” the doctor said.
Darwin nodded, a smile still on his lips. However, he soon remembered Veronica’s condition. “Thank you so much for your help, doctor. What about the bleeding that occurred with my wife? Is everything being managed well?”
The doctor nodded, but what puzzled Darwin was that the doctor’s expression appeared serious and tense, quite different from the initial relaxed demeanor when discussing the baby’s condition.
“Actually, the surgery Mrs. Veronica underwent went smoothly. Even the bleeding was successfully stopped. However…”
“However, what, doctor?”
The doctor then looked at Darwin and Damian alternately, took a deep breath, and slowly conveyed what had actually happened to the patient.
“However, your wife is still in critical condition.”
“Critical?”
“Yes, Mr. Darwin. We need to wait for approximately forty-eight more hours to see if Mrs. Veronica’s condition improves or deteriorates. We will be closely monitoring and providing intensive care. We can only hope that Mrs. Veronica will overcome this difficult period.”
Darwin’s face instantly paled. He had just felt joy over the birth of his little son, and now he was hit with the news that his wife was not in good condition. Dark thoughts and fears flooded his heart and mind. How could he go on with life if Veronica wasn’t by his side? Would Darwin be able to endure it?