Page 112 of Loving the Legend
“So it’s common among firefighters?” Sid asks.
“Er—let me put it this way. Research shows that the risk of a cardiac event increases the longer a firefighter stays on the job. If a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary artery disease, it can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest. Mr. Sharma mentioned that your uncle recently complained about feeling a heaviness in his chest, resulting in him needing to lie down.”
I turn to Ishan. “When?”
His eyes well up. “Last week. We thought it was acid reflux,” he says, regret etched all over his face.
I grasp his shoulder and pull him into a hug. He presses his forehead against my chest and sobs.
Dr. Rivers gives us a minute, offering a sympathetic grin.
“It's not your fault,” I whisper. He nods and wipes his eyes with the tissues Nurse Ford passes out.
“Is the disease fatal?” I ask, finding my voice.
“I’ll be straight with you. Your uncle is lucky to be alive, thanks to the quick intervention of the paramedics. Most people who experience cardiac arrest do not survive. For survivors, there is a risk of brain injury, neurological dysfunction, neurocognitive deficits…”
Brain injury.
I gaze over at Adam, wondering if it’s still him in there. Will he recognize me, Ishan, or even himself? Since my parents’ deaths, I’ve feared losing my memories of them. I’ve feared losing Adam. I never imagined I could lose him this way.
Sid’s voice reels me back into the conversation. “How will we know if Adam suffered a brain impairment?”
Dr. Rivers raises her voice slightly to be heard over the phone. “When a cardiac arrest is treated very quickly, a person may recover with no signs of injury. Others may have mild to severe damage. When Mr. Washington wakes up, we’ll monitor him for signs—severe memory loss, loss of muscle control, and impaired speech, amongst other things. Keep in mind, if present, some symptoms may improve over time, so there isn’t immediate cause for alarm. The best way to help Mr. Washington is to try to remain calm and patient.”
“Can you tell us about the surgery performed and the road to recovery?” Ishan asks.
“Sure. We performed a less invasive procedure called an off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We take an artery or vein from one part of the body and use it to bypass a blocked coronary artery. The surgery restores normal blood flow to the patient’s heart. Instead of the traditional…”
What if he loses his ability to walk? I’ll have a ramp installed in his house. I’ll hire a home nurse for him. I’ll hire one anyway.
I can try to transfer to a basketball team on the East Coast so that I’m closer to him.
I wonder if he needs one of those heart monitor things. I’ll look up the best one money can buy. I wonder if they have app-controlled ones that alert family members if there’s an attack.
Maybe I should buy him a house close to the best hospital.
“…Recovery in the hospital can take up to a week if everything goes according to plan. Mr. Washington must attendour specialized postoperative rehabilitation and prevention program. In addition to monitored exercise, there’s an education component that will teach him about the lifestyle changes required to aid in risk reduction and prevention of future cardiac events.”
Thanks, Doctor. Si—David, caught most of that?” Ishan asks.
“Yep,” Sid replies.
“Thanks,” Ishan says, leaning against the wall.
“Doc, could you describe the level of pain Adam will be in after surgery?” Sid asks.
“Sure, we expect Mr. Washington…”
The machine beeps again, and my head snaps to Adam.
“What are the wires coming out of him?” I blurt out.
Dr. Rivers gestures with her hand. “Come closer. I’ll show you.”
I follow her to Adam, and my stomach twists at seeing the tube protruding from his throat. The doctor explains that it's there to help him breathe.
Drains, pacing wires, arterial pressure lines…I can’t keep up with it all. My head aches.
