Page 115 of Keep This Promise
I touch her face, she’s cold, and I have to hold back my tears as we rush her back the way I came. When we get to the ambulance, Holden starts barking orders while I climb in.
“Get the IV going. She needs potassium. I administered three units of insulin. She’s non-responsive.” He bangs on the roof. “Go!”
The vehicle takes off, and I stare at my little girl, cradling her tiny hand in mine. She looks so frail and still. Her hair is pushed back, and even though I’d imagined she’d be covered in dirt, she’s not. My mind races as I wonder the horrors she endured these last two days, and I pray she’ll pull through.
“Pulse looks steady,” the paramedic says. “O2 is low.”
“Start the oxygen.”
When he doesn’t move fast enough, Holden grabs the mask, places it over her face, and adjusts a knob. His voice is hoarse as he talks to her. “Come on, Eden. Come on, sweet girl. Mummy and Daddy need to see those eyes.”
“Six minutes out,” the driver yells back to us.
I kiss her knuckles, tears falling. “I love you, Eden. Please wake up.”
Holden turns to me. “She’s not in as bad of shape as she could’ve been. She’ll survive this. Even if I have to go to Heaven and drag her back, she’ll survive.”
The steel in his words almost makes me believe it.
“Pulse ox is back up in the 90s,” the paramedic says.
Holden pushes Eden’s blonde hair back. “That’s my good girl. Breathe.” Then he turns to the driver. “I need the trauma team ready when we arrive. Call ahead and let them know we have a three-year-old diabetic in possible ketoacidosis with internal injuries unknown. She inhaled smoke from an explosion and has a minor head injury. She was non-responsive upon arrival.”
Eden’s leg moves, and a second later, the other leg does as well. “Holden!”
He shines a light in her eyes. “Pupils are responding.”
“Were they before?” I ask.
“No.”
I watch, waiting and willing her to move again, but she doesn’t.
“Two minutes out.”
Holden turns to me. “When we get there, the team will take over, and we have to let them take her.”
“I’m not leaving her,” I say adamantly.
“I understand you not wanting to, but we need the team to focus on her, not us.”
He’s right. I know he is, but I am just so afraid to let her out of my sight. Then a tiny hand moves. I look over, her eyes are still closed, but she’s reaching for me with her other arm. “Holden, look.”
“Eden, my darling, it’s okay,” I say as I grab for her other hand.
“Mummy?” Eden’s soft voice croaks, and relief crashes through me.
“Eden. I’m right here.”
She looks at Holden, her lip wobbling. “Hi, Daddy.”
His voice breaks. “Hi, bug.”
She called him Daddy.
“I was scared.”
He lets out a shaky sob, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. You’re safe now. You’re safe with us.”
