Page 31 of Healing Hazel

Chapter 10

The ambulance wagon bumped alongthe mountain road, seeming to hit every rock on the way. Jim thought it high time the International Red Cross invested in some modern conveyances. The springs were old and hardly functioned properly, and if the seats had once borne some sort of padding, it had long since worn away. His lower back ached and his legs were tired from bracing.

This rescue mission had been the shortest yet. The fighting had taken place on a rocky hillside away from any town, and the most difficult part had been hauling the wounded over the rough terrain to the road. Luckily, there had been no town damaged and no civilians hurt.

Dr. Laurent shifted beside him, searching for a comfortable position. The patients in the wagon were unusually quiet, which Jim hoped was a good sign. Or perhaps it was an indication of their training. Most of the wounded men they were transporting belonged to the British Legion.

As the wagons drew near the hospital, Jim saw a nurse waiting in front of the large arched doors of the hospital entrance.

“It is Hazel,” Dr. Laurent said needlessly. “She appears to be distressed.”

Jim squinted, sitting up on the seat for a better view. He assumed, at first, that she must have been waiting in order to assist with the new patients, but from the agitated way she held herself, shoulders high, hands clasped, he could tell something was wrong.

Before the wagon stopped, she hurried toward them, walking alongside as they drew to a stop. “Dr. Jackson, you must come at once. You must help Jakinda.”

“Has something happened?”

“Blood. She has blood in her urine and her tears.”

Dr. Laurent’s breath came out in a hiss.

Miss Thornton twisted her fingers together. “Dr. Ruiz says nothing can be done, but there must be something. Please, you must come.”

“Dr. Ruiz can be trusted to evaluate the patient accurately.” Jim climbed out of the wagon and started toward the rear, where orderlies were already unloading the wounded. “I’m sorry. But if he says there is nothing...” He motioned for Lucía to help one of the men attempting to climb down from the wagon.

“Dr. Jackson, please.” Miss Thornton touched his arm.

The tremor in her voice pierced him. He turned and saw her eyes were red and wet with unspilled tears. Her hand was shaking on his arm.

He glanced to where Dr. Laurent and Lucía were giving directions, sorting the patients either for surgery or to the ward to wait. The other nurses and Dr. Ruiz had joined them. He looked back at Miss Thornton, acquiescing. He supposed he could spare a moment.

She rushed through the doors ahead of him.

Jim followed, hurrying to keep up as they walked quickly through the stone passageways to the West ward.

“I discovered the blood hours ago,” she said, speaking quickly. “Just after lunch. Since then she has developed a fever.”

“Has her pain worsened?”

“Yes. She seemed to be in much more pain today. She could hardly sit up for a drink of water.”

Miss Thornton spoke with assurance, and Jim couldn’t help but notice how her confidence had grown in the short time since she’d arrived.

When they reached Jakinda’s bedside, Jim saw a cooling rag had been placed on her head. He touched her cheek. Her skin was hot and her breathing shallow. “Has her temperature been taken recently?” He felt her wrist for a pulse. It came fast but very weak.

“About half an hour ago.” Miss Thornton handed him the chart.

He glanced at the numbers. Blood pressure was low—severely so. And her temperature had risen significantly.

Orderlies hurried by, pushing a gurney into an operating room. Dr. Ruiz hurried after, rolling up his sleeves.

Jim looked back at the chart, seeing Dr. Ruiz had given Jakinda a higher dose of morphine. He nodded. It was exactly what he would have done. He saw a bit of blood on her lips and in the corners of her eyes.

“She needs surgery,” Miss Thornton said. “You can stop the bleeding inside.”

Jim set the chart on the bed and turned to the nurse. Her eyes were wide, and she looked nearly frantic. “Miss Thornton, her organs are failing. Surgery won’t... it won’t restore them.”

“Perhaps there is still time. You could try.” Miss Thornton’s voice was getting higher.

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