PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 50: Brain Surgery Part 2

The other firefighters nodded in agreement, realizing how insensitive their grumbling was. They all moved to take seats, their faces somber as they waited for news about their colleague and friend.
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Carina looked up as the rest of Station 19 arrived. Despite her own worry, she felt a pang of guilt for disturbing their rest.

She tried to force a smile, but it wavered with the emotion she was holding back. "Thanks for being here, guys. I'm sorry for waking you all up."

Vic shook her head, her expression a mixture of worry and understanding. "Don't apologize, Carina. We're glad to be here for you and Maya. We're family, remember?"

Travis nodded, managing a tired smile. "Yeah, no matter what time it is, we've got your back."

Ben looked at Carina with a paternal concern, his voice quiet. "How are you holding up, Carina? Has there been any news about the surgery?"

Carina's shoulders slumped slightly, her exhaustion and worry apparent. "No news yet. They're still operating. It's taking longer than expected."

As Andrew walked into the waiting area, he noticed Carina sitting in a corner, looking tired and worn out.

He approached her, his voice filled with gentle concern. "Carina, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting some rest?"

Carina looked up at the sound of her brother's voice, managing a small smile despite her tiredness. "Hey, Andrew. I couldn't rest, not with Maya in surgery. I need to be here when it's over."

Andrew said "So this is the third surgery Maya has had in less than one week."

Carina nodded, a sigh escaping her lips. "Yes. It's been...it's been a lot. Her recovery has been slow, and this third surgery was unexpected. I just want it to be over, and for her to be alright."

Andrew said "The last two were for her throat."

Carina's expression darkened at the memory of the first two surgeries. "Yeah. The first one was for the trauma to her trachea. The second one was because of a complication. This third one...this one is for a swelling in her brain."

Andrew's eyes widened at Carina's revelation, his worry for Maya increasing. "Brain swelling? That's serious, Carina. How long has she been in surgery now?"

Carina checked the clock on the wall, her heart clenching with concern. "They've been in there for over two hours. The wait is unbearable."

Andrew placed a reassuring hand on Carina's shoulder. "Try to stay positive. Maya's a fighter, and the team operating on her are the best. They're going to do everything they can to help her."

Meanwhile in the OR, Amelia was carefully working on Maya's brain, her attention fully focused on the task at hand.

She looked up at the anesthesiologist, her tone calm but firm. "How much longer will we need to keep her under?"

The anesthesiologist, a petite woman named Helen, checked the monitor displaying Maya's vital signs. "We're looking at another two hours minimum. Her intracranial pressure is still elevated, and we need to be sure the swelling has completely reduced before we can wake her up."

Amelia nodded, her eyes scanning over Maya's brain. "Alright. Keep the pressure under control, and let me know if there are any changes in her vitals."

Helen replied, her voice steady. "Will do, Doctor Shepherd. Everything is stable for now, but I'll keep a close eye on her."

Amelia continued her work meticulously, her hands moving with practiced ease. The sound of the heart monitor and the hum of medical machinery filled the room, creating a tense backdrop to the surgical procedure.