Home Hunting

Chapter 4: Butterflies

Evelyn's POV:

I awoke promptly at 5:30 to my alarm sounding in my ears. I began to shut my eyes once more before realizing that today was the day I had been waiting for for the past two weeks: I finally got to work with Dr. Montgomery.

Realizing this, I hopped off the top bunk and threw on a pair of scrubs, ready to start my morning stroll around the hospital, get on with my day, and put the events of last night behind me. I have to say, I'm becoming quite comfortable with this routine: wake up, grab a coffee, walk through the green room, see the new babies, and start the day. And starting the day meant that I finally got to help people. I'm finally making a way for myself, despite the ever-present voice in my head telling me I can't.

I made the decision to forgo the green-room and head straight to the NICU. As I arrived, I looked through the large window to see Dr. Montgomery was already sitting inside. In her arms was a tiny baby girl in a pink beanie, still hooked up to oxygen and various monitors.

I brought my eyes away from the infant and up to Dr. Montgomery's face. While I never usually stare, it was hard to look away from her. She looked down at the baby in her arms with so much compassion, almost as if she were her own.

As I watched her, her eyes flicked up towards mine. A wider smile appeared across her face as she waved to invite me inside. I happily accepted the invitation.

"It's awfully early, Bowers," she greeted me as I entered the room.

"I suppose," I replied. "I like to get a head start. It keeps me awake."

"I don't mind. I try to do the same. Would you like to hold her?" She asked, noticing my attention turn to the newborn.

"I'd love to," I smiled, pulling up a chair next to her.

"She's 30 weeks," she added, placing the baby girl gently into my arms. "Lola, meet Evelyn."

I liked hearing her say my first name. It felt like an honor.

"Hi Lola," I smiled.

"She's a little fighter," Dr. Montgomery said sweetly. "Do you think you might want to go into neonatal? You certainly seem to have an interest."

"I'm not sure," I replied honestly. "I'm drawn to them, though."

"Well, we have an interesting case today. We have a mother who's 20 weeks pregnant with twins. Her babies are otherwise healthy, but she has a rapidly progressing spinal tumor. We'll be operating with Dr. Shepherd, and I'll be monitoring the babies while Dr. Shepherd works to excise the tumor," she explained.

"Wow," I replied, excited, but also a bit nervous to be a part of such a high-profile case.

"You up for it?" She asked.

"Of course," I replied.

"Alright, then how about we get a head start and go review her scans," she suggested.

"Ohh, I'm gonna miss you," I sighed, handing Lola back over to Dr. Montgomery.

"Alright, let's head off then," she laughed, laying Lola down gently in her bassinet.

***

I watched with awe as the scans came to life on the large screens surrounding me.

"Take it all in Bowers," Dr. Montgomery said seriously. "We'll be seeing the inside of this tumor in just a few short hours."

I carefully studied the scans, trying to take in both the wrapping of the spinal cord, as well as the positioning of the fetuses.

"The babies are putting pressure on her lumbar spine," she explained, pointing to an area of protrusion. "This is pushing the tumor farther backwards, infringing on the stability of her spine. While it's not very big, it will certainly cause damage as these babies grow if we don't get in and remove it."