Still Drakes POV
“She has a traumatic brain injury, and she is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia in later years, but right now, she needs to be monitored carefully so she doesn’t suffer from severe memory loss. She needs to be monitored closely, and she needs to be in a good mood for the next few days so she can be operated on. The doctor says she would be fine, but that is only if we can get her to undergo the operation without stressing her brain.” I explained to her parents, trying hard to get them to understand the situation of things.
I went to her parents after the doctors performed a Craniotomy with Open Surgery on Mia. Doctor Larry said that her hematoma is large enough, so they had to remove a section of her skull to drain the hematoma. This type of surgery for a head injury is called a craniotomy. He keeps speaking to me as if I’m one of his medical students. I couldn’t understand some of the words he was using, so while they prepped her for her first surgery, I used my phone to search for more explanations, I believe I would understand it better if I read more about it. This way I don’t need to keep asking him questions like a fucking dumb lunatic.
I started with the first surgery he wanted to perform for her, which is called a craniotomy.
Big word right?
“Well, it is simply a surgery that allows the brain, if it is swollen, to bulge out of the skull and reduce intracranial pressure. Reducing ICP is crucial for preventing further damage. Once the hematoma is drained, the doctors can then directly operate on the brain to repair the broken blood vessels. This will stop further bleeding and swelling.
In addition, hematomas that are smaller than one centimeter can be treated with an aspiration procedure, a far less invasive surgery than a craniotomy.
During this procedure, your surgeon will drill a small hole called a burr hole into your skull. Then, the surgeon will place rubber tubes into the holes, which allow the blood from the hematoma to drain out.”
As I read it on google, I couldn’t help but imagine for dangerous it is going to be. I can’t believe that I will be saying this, but I was as scared as hell. I stopped doctor Larry on his way to the theater and I practically begged him to save her life for me.
“I can’t live without her, doctor. Please don’t let her die.” I pleaded calmly, earning me a soft tap on my shoulder as he nodded softly before going into the operating theater. I stood there, pacing the hallway in anger and fear. I kept thinking of different ways to hurt the people that put her here. She should never have tried to speak with Riley, what the hell was she thinking, what was she trying to prove?
As far as I’m concerned, she has nothing to prove to me, or to Riley. She should have let me handle my issues with Riley as I suggested. I’m pissed at her for putting herself in danger, and I’m pissed at myself for keeping the truth about Riley from her and making her believe that his life could be in danger. She thought she could save him, she actually believed that she was trying to save Riley from getting hurt by Loretta and Ashford.
If only she knew that Riley is just as bad as the other two, he is even worse than them. With the things I’m discovering about Riley, it’s safe to say that he is an asshole, even before he crossed paths with Loretta and Austin Foster. I don’t know how he managed to hide everything he did from the entire family, but I’m betting there is enough evidence to put him away for good, and I’m going to find it, no matter what.
I kept pacing in front of the door, waiting for the doctor to come out and announce to me that she is now doing okay and everything is going to be fine. I was not expecting her to be wheeled out of the room in her unconscious state, and I certainly wasn’t expecting her to be booked for another surgery. But doctor Larry explained to me that she will usually have to undergo reconstructive surgery of her skull, also known as cranioplasty, after a head injury. These surgeries mostly occur after the person recovers from their craniectomy.
“You can’t handle all these by yourself, Mr. Osborne. You are too pissed to be around her at the moment. I’ll suggest you get someone close to her, someone, that can make her happy.” He suggested. I glared at him, but he did not shiver in fear as I expected. His words suggest that I cannot be around my wife for now because I’m too pissed to be around my wife. Those are harsh words, and I would have been offended by his words if there weren’t true.
I know how furious I am and I know he is right when he said that I would only worsen her condition if she sees me like his. She was in a coma and he said she could be out for a few hours or a few days, depending on the people around her. I don’t need a soothsayer to tell me that I need to get her parents in her.
And so I left the hospital and went over to their house to break the news to her parents and get them to come with me to the hospital. When I arrived at their mansion, I met her parents in the living room, arguing about the whereabouts of their naughty, stubborn daughter, Carrie. I almost turned around and left them to their arguments but I couldn’t ignore the fact that Mia needs them now, besides, they need to come to terms with the fact that Mia is now their only child.
With a heavy heart, I walked into them and announced to them that their precious Carrie has been killed by my idiotic brother. I sat on the opposite side as I broke the news and told them the whole story that Carl narrated to me and how Mia convince them to go and have a private meeting with Riley.
Mr. Remington was short of words as he gazed into space, lost in his sadness. His wife sobbed beside him as I told them that Mia’s life was equally in danger. I told them of her injury and the first surgery that our her in a coma. I told them she is booked for a second surgery and she needs them around to survive it.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Drake. I put my family in your care and you let this happen?” her father scolded me furiously, his face contorted in anger.
“Why is she going into surgery again, why does she need to go for another surgery, what is wrong with my baby girl?” her mom sobbed hysterically. She refused to be comforted by anyone, and I don’t know how to make her feel better. I could only convince them to follow me to the hospital and let doctor Larry do all the explaining. I could sit here and explain to them all day long, but they will never understand a word I’m saying. It’s better if they just follow me to the hospital and listen to the doctor.
I managed to convince them to follow me to the hospital, I waited until her mom packed everything she needs to camp with Mia at the hospital. Once we arrived, her parents went straight to the hospital to get more information from the doctor about her condition. He gave them the same detailed explanation gave me, then he went on to explain to them about the reconstructive surgery that she would have to undergo when she woke up.
I stood by the door and listened as he gave us details of the next surgery that he would perform on her. I thought I was the only one curious about the details, but it turns out that Mia’s parents are even more curious than me. They wanted to know everything, even the tiniest detail about her condition and the dangers she is facing.
“Doctor Larry obliged them, and he started by telling them the process of a cranioplasty. He said that during a cranioplasty, the skull vault is repaired by inserting plastic or metal plates. Sometimes, if the damage was not too severe, the person’s skull bone can be reinserted.
Cranioplasty helps the person avoid recurrent brain damage, protects them from seizures, and relieves trephine syndrome, which sometimes occurs after the removal of a large skull bone.
Signs and symptoms of trephine syndrome include Headaches, Intolerance of vibration and noise, Loss of motivation and concentration, Anxiety, and fatigue.
Cranioplasty can also help increase cerebral blood flow and improve brain metabolism. Surgery after a head injury can save a life if performed early enough. The type of surgery that your doctor will choose depends on the complications that occur after an injury.
For example, if your TBI causes a brain hemorrhage, your doctor might perform an open craniotomy to stop the bleeding. On the other hand, if the head injury triggered swelling, you may need a shunt or a craniectomy.
And then, after the surgery, she will require prompt rehabilitation to ensure that she heals correctly. The sooner you begin therapy, the better chance you will have of making a full recovery. Once she regain consciousness and recover from her surgeries, he advised that she should begin her TBI rehabilitation as soon as possible. Some therapies they might require include, Speech therapy, Physical therapy. The more frequently she practices these therapies, the faster she will make a good recovery.”
While he was still talking, her father had a heart attack, right there in the doctor’s office. I had totally forgotten about his bad heart condition, I should never have told him all this, maybe I should have told his wife alone. But how are we going to keep the truth away from him, it’s just not possible.
The doctor said his condition is worse than it used to be because he keeps having heart attack more frequently and that has made his condition worse. He said there was no cure for his heart condition, he has to live with it for the rest of his life.
I know he is right…
Based on his limited knowledge, he may think that there is no cure for his heart condition. But I know of a certain laboratory that deals on experimental drugs and no approved surgical procedures. Their method is extreme, and that is why they have not been approved by the government.
He was taken to the emergency room, while his wife continued to cry her eyes out for her husband and her daughters. I can imaging how she feels right now, it would seem like her entire world is crumbling under her feet. I had to call in the house keepers I my house to come over here and assist in taking care of her. She needs help in taking care if her husband and daughter.
“I know a place where they can operate on your husband and give him a new heart. It’s a long shot, but I promise I’m going to make it work. I just need you to give me a chance to prove myself to you and your family. I’m sorry about Carrie, her death is something I can’t forget in a hurry. She lives in our hearts and we would cherish the memory we have of her. I’m going to do everything I can to save you husband and my wife, I won’t let them die, I promise.”
She looked up as me and tried to force out a smile, amid her tears. I know she is just forcing it, but I’m glad she is making an effort to smile and u promise to be by her side every step of the way, and I’ll see to it that they both get out of the hospital alive.