Broken Birds, Part 37, A Space in Time / Epilogue

Part 37
A Space in Time
Epilogue

The emergency chopper screamed through the night. Michael, Jennifer, Beth and Kat were on board. The doctor Jennifer had on call had not been able to come. He was drunk.

The delivery began normally. Then Kat began to bleed badly.

Barbara had seen this before. She made suggestions that Jennifer instantly implemented, learning just how valuable Barbara’s OB/GYN and neo-natal experience had become. Barbara remained behind given Jan’s condition and stress.

Terror gripped the harem. They sat around the enormous main living room. They looked to Barbara for consolation and information.

“Her uterus ruptured or tore as the child started to descend. We don’t have the equipment to handle it. It requires a full surgical room. I think we got the bleeding under control.” She said with more confidence than she felt.

“You’ve seen this before?” Kelly asked.

“I did a tour in Iraq with a civilian group. While it’s pretty rare here, we saw several cases. Usually they turned out OK.”

“And when they don’t?” Shoshana had to ask, terror for her own baby increasing.

“Shoshana, I don’t want you and Jan to worry. I’ve seen your files and sonograms. Little Momma there looks to be in great shape. We had the chopper on call because Kat was having problems, probably from the first birth. I see absolutely nothing to think your child will have problems.”

Alice silently thanked their guest, watching faces relax.

Had they been at the hospital, they would have been terrified.

They rushed Kat into the operating theatre. Jennifer scrubbed and observed. They worked quickly. They delivered the child by Cesarean and set about trying to salvage Kat’s uterus.

The surgeon looked at Jennifer. “You incised her?” Jennifer nodded. “Where did you learn to do this?”

Jennifer knew what he was seeing. “Our PA suggested it.”

“I’ve got to meet her. She probably saved this woman’s life.”

His team set about trying to save Kat’s uterus. They failed. The damage had been too great. Kat’s blood pressure started to drop. They removed it.

Jennifer approached Michael and Beth.
“She’s alive. So is your son. We had to take her uterus out. It was just too damaged,” She hugged Beth who had dreamed of a second child with her DNA, “The head surgeon said we could have lost them both if we didn’t have Barbara.”

“You saved her.” Michael said, not knowing what had happened in the clinic.

Jennifer shook her head. “I did what she told me to do. She’s amazing. She never blinked. She wouldn’t let Kat or the baby die.”

They collapsed together.

Michael called the house with the news. There was happiness and sadness. Mostly, however there were thanks for their guest who had saved their sister and son.

Kat stayed in hospital for nearly two weeks. As requested, Barbara came with Michael and Beth to retrieve her.

“Where did you learn that technique for stopping uterine bleeding?” the surgeon asked, “It’s amazingly effective.”

“The first time I saw it was about four years ago when I was attached to a military unit in Iraq. We did a lot of OB/GYN surgery and problem deliveries for the locals. The first doc I saw use it was a Brit.”

“Any other techniques?” he said smiling.

She produced a flash drive. “I copied my files. There may be some new stuff on this. Look in the “Surgical Techniques” file.”

His eyes snapped open. Jennifer had introduced DNA implantation into the fertility clinic of the hospital. This woman may have given the surgical group a similar gift.

On the way back, Kat took her hand, “I understand I owe you my life.”

A warm glow began to grow inside Barbara as she shook her head, “Jennifer did everything.”

“Maybe she did what you told her to do, but you saved me and my son.” Pain registered on her face.

“Rest Honey.”

Beth watched them.