Leave The City (Book 8 of Adopted by the Josephs)

41. Tyler

Samantha began to recover so much faster once she was awake and aware. She still tired easily, but she'd been moved out of critical care and onto a regular medical floor. Zoe, her nurse on the critical care ward actually cried a little when we packed Sam's few belongings up. She wasn't allowed too many things in critical care, so it was just her phone, retrieved from the wreckage of Brandi's car, her leg, which had been damaged but we'd had repaired while she was in a coma, and a few cards from friends.

"You've come so far," Zoe said to Samantha as we loaded her into a wheelchair to move rooms. "We didn't know at first if you were going to make it. But look at you."

Samantha smiled at Zoe.

"Thanks, Zoe," she said. "Thanks for taking care of me. And my family."

"You just keep improving and healing and getting better, okay?"

Samantha nodded and Zoe hugged her. Samantha hugged her back.

On the medical floor, Samantha had a private room so we had more room to stretch out. Josh and Debby were visiting with Sam, so Jenna and I took advantage of the time and went to get some coffee and snacks. We came back into the room about an hour later. Samantha was awake, and talking with her aunt and uncle.

"Hi Mom, hi Dad," Samantha smiled. I looked at her. She looked so different from the first day we saw her. She'd showered, with Jenna's help, in the morning, and was in a pair of her own pyjamas.

"Sam, we have some news for you," I said, smiling and holding onto Jenna.

"Uh oh," she said. "Is it good news?"

"We think so," Jenna said.

"You're going to be a big sister, again," I smiled.

"No way! Really? When?"

"April," Jenna said.

"Holy sh...ugar!" Sam said. I smiled at her changing tack with her language. She was free to swear, but she also knew we weren't big fans of it, and preferred it to be kept to a minimum.

"So, Junie and Baby Bean are going to share a birthday?" she asked.

"Baby Bean?" I asked.

"Peanut, Nugget, Bean," Samantha smiled and laughed. It was music to our ears.

"You're happy about this?" Jenna asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Samantha asked.

"Just checking," Jenna smiled.

Rosie and Junie came in a little while later with Brendon and Sarah. Sam had fallen asleep, but as soon as Rosie sang her name, she opened her eyes and smiled at her sisters.

Even though she wasn't in the ICU anymore, Sam was still being followed for her kidneys. The dialysis had helped and she was scheduled for surgery to cut away some of the adhesions in her left kidney.

She slept for nearly two days after that surgery.

We welcomed in the New Year in the hospital.

Once Sam had been moved to the medical floor they had her up and walking more. She was using a walker because it was easier for her and gave her a little more stability.

She had been complaining of her stomach hurting, but they'd also had her doing exercises to strengthen the core muscles.

Sam and I were doing a round of her floor when I saw her go pale.

"Sam? You okay?" I asked. She leaned on the wall beside her and took a deep breath.

"I don't feel good," she muttered. I saw her hands grip the walker, the knuckles going white.  She closed her eyes and I could see she was trying not to throw up.