Jailah Monè Young
📍New York, New York
December 5th
"Hi I'm here to see Dante Young." I spoke as I caressed Jaycee's hair while she laid on my chest inside of the baby wrap.
"And what is your relationship to the patient?" The receptionist asked as he typed on the computer.
"I'm his wife." He nodded his head and then handed me a visitors pass
"He has been moved to the second floor. The elevators are to your left. Once you get off on the second floor he is in room 222, the last room down the hall." The male said and I nodded my head as I walked to the direction of the elevators.
I got on hitting the number two button, my palms were sweaty my heart was beating fast and my eyes began to tear up. I rocked side to side to calm Jaycee down as the elevator came to a stop.
I got off and headed down the long hallway, going to see my husband. On one hand I was excited to see him and on the other I was a nervous wreck not prepared to see him still hooked on the machines using it to breathe.
I found his room and just stood on the outside of it with my hand holding the handle. I took a deep breath in and pushed the handle down to open the door.
As soon as I walked in there he was, still attached to the machines which help him breathe and track his brain activity.
I walked over to the chair near the wall and moved it closer to him so I can sit and hold his hand.
I unraveled the baby wrap so I can take Jaycee out so she can see her dad. I picked her up and kissed her head and turned her around to face him. She looked just like him to me, they had the same eyes, ears and nose.
Jaycee just babbled and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. I sat her in the cradle position as I held onto the Dante's hand.
"Hey babe.. it's me. I'm so sorry for not coming to see you more often. I love you so much my heart, I've just been going through a lot with the kids and my mental health. But I'll be here for you now and every step of the way." I spoke as I continued to run my fingers on the back of his hand.
I let go of his hand as I grabbed the remote to the turn the tv on, I couldn't stand sitting in silence especially listening to the small beeping sounds coming from the machines.
"Okay Dante let's check your vitals." I heard a soft woman's voice speak as she enter the room.
"Oh hi sorry I didn't see you there." The nurse spoke as she looked up from her clipboard to make eye contact with me.
"Hi I'm Jailah, I'm his wife." I stood up to shake the nurses hand and she walked closer to me to shake my hand back.
"Nice to meet you. I'm his nurse, Veronica. I'm just going to check his vitals and see if there have been any changes to his brain activity." The nurse spoke, I nodded my head and sat back down allowing her to do her job.
Jaycee was becoming a little antsy so I knew she was probably hungry. I went into her diaper bag to grab the blanket to put over myself while I breastfed her.
"Jailah. How long have you been here?" The nurse spoke as she looked at the monitor and the other computers that were against the wall.
"Maybe about 10 minutes why? Is he okay?" I spoke as I adjusted Jaycee so she was more comfortable while she ate.
"Well within the last ten minutes his brain waves have been active."
"What does that mean? Is that a good thing?"
"Yes it is! It means he's making progress and becoming more aware. The brain is responding to the rest of his body and hopefully soon he will wake up from the coma." She spoke with smile plastered across her face.
My heart thumped fast feeling like It was going to explode out of my chest. I held onto Dante's hand again ready to talk to him some more because it seemed like that's what he was responding to.
"I'm here baby. It's me and Jaycee waiting for you to wake up. You got this." I spoke and me and Veronica watched his body and screen noticing it was lighting up meaning his brain was trying to respond.
Veronica pulled her stethoscope to hear his heart beat more clearly. "His heart is pumping really fast, keep talking to him."
I did what the nurses asked, talking to him and telling all about the kids and how life has been lately.
Me and Veronica looked at the monitor and it went back to the same flow as it did before I came to see him. I looked at Veronica waiting for her to say something as I noticed her face look concerned.
"Hmm, I'll come back in 15 minutes to see if there are any other changes. I'm just happy he made a lot of progress. Keep talking to him okay." Veronica spoke as she picked up her clipboard and walked out of the room.
I nodded my head and continued to hold Dante's hand. I had a feeling that he would be awake sometime soon I just didn't want my intuition to be wrong.
As time passed I knew visiting hours would be over soon but I just couldn't bare myself to leave him like this. I knew if I stayed a little longer he would eventually come too, but ever since the nurse left he hasn't shown any signs of life.
I was drowning in my thoughts of never getting my husband back when that's all I desperately needed and wanted out of life. We made a commitment to always be there for one another so I would never abandon him but I feel like such a failure if I continue to let him suffer like this.
Soft cried and whimpers began to come from Jaycee as I could tell she was getting a bit restless and aggravated from being in the baby wrap again.
Once again I unwrapped it and just decided to hold her in my hands.
It was now going on 8pm and I was growing hungry, knowing I didn't want to eat the hospital food I would leave soon but I just wanted Dante to wake up.
I sighed then sat back in the chair after standing up and rocking Jaycee back and forth. I held onto Dante's hand once more.
"I'll be back tomorrow baby. I love you so so much. Jaycee and the boys love you too. Please come home we miss you." I spoke as I let the tears fall again, I swore I was done crying but I just couldn't help it. I miss my husband so much.
As I squeezed his hand letting him know I was here for him something told me to squeeze his hand shed and I did and after I did that my eyes grew wide.
"Nurse nurse! Come quick!" I shouted out the door then grabbed the remote with my other hand to press the nurse button.
After 30 seconds 3 nurses rushed into the room and looked at Dante hands and feet moving, meaning he was awakening from him coma.
