Going Full Throttle

Chapter 39

I sang Finn You Are My Sunshine three times over before the doctor finally came in. It was such a relief for him to be calm, I didn't dare stop until I had no other choice.

"Finn Evans?" The man asked as he walked in reading a clipboard. He looked up and smiled at me and Finn laying on the bed together then moved toward us. He eyed Tyler who stood on the side of the bed closest to the door. Tyler loomed solemnly over Finn and me like a bodyguard, and I didn't blame the man for being hesitant. The doctor nodded respectfully to our bodyguard then swept into the small space between the bed and the wall. "I'm Dr. Khan. Can you tell me what happened?"

Dr. Khan listened intently as I went over the events of the day again. How Finn had seemed fine at first, healthy and energetic even, then how everything had gone downhill. I squeezed Finn a little tighter as I spoke, not wanting him to get upset as he heard the details of what he'd done while he was unconscious.

"And you are Finn's mom, yes?" Dr. Khan asked when I finished speaking. He frowned down at the board, probably seeing the different last names as he added, "Pia Callahan?"

I didn't miss a beat as I rubbed Finn's back and responded, "I'm his parent and legal guardian, yes." I didn't bother to look at the Evans at any point in all of this. My only focus was Finn and this doctor who had better help him. My words weren't to antagonize them. They were just the truth and I wasn't about to shy away from it. I had told them to come because they were Finn's family, and I knew they would be beside themselves with worry. That didn't mean I would step aside.

Dr. Khan briefly scanned the room of mismatched adults, all staring at Finn as though he were their personal responsibility, then nodded. He seemed to catch on that there were different dynamics at play here.

"So," the doctor said with a kind smile to Finn, "we have to run some tests to be sure. An EEG to start then an MRI and some blood work." I nodded intently as the doctor spoke, ensuring I didn't miss anything. "It does sound as though he had a seizure from what you've told me. The tests should help us rule out any health concerns, but seizures in children are not at all uncommon. Finn has a fever, which can trigger them, as well as drops in blood sugars or even emotional distress."

"And all of that gets done now?" I asked. I had experience with seizures from work. I knew that realistically, there wasn't a ton that a doctor could do after one. When my clients had seizures we didn't even call 911 unless it went over three minutes. Those were with mostly elderly men though, not my four-year-old nephew. I didn't want to leave this hospital until I knew he was okay.

"Yes," Dr. Khan nodded. "We'll do the tests now, and we will give him some fluids and try to bring the fever down before you go home.

I slumped as relief hit me. Anxiety still swirled in my stomach, making my mind obsess over all of the worst-case-scenarios. It was watered down now though by the hope that this was just one horrible day. A day I would never forget for the rest of my life, but would also never be repeated.

Dr. Khan left after that to go order the tests and once again we were all alone together. I kissed Finn's hair then whispered in his ear, "Look at all the people who are here to help you."

Finn lifted his head off my chest and sleepily looked around the room. The pallor of his cheeks still concerned me, but his eyes lit up when he saw Tyler and his grandparents.

"Finn, I'm going to get up for a second so you can say hi to Grandma and Grandpa okay?" I said quietly. He paused for a moment then nodded. Tyler held a hand out for me to grab as I climbed off of the bed but before I could move Finn caught my hand.