How To Raise Native Children....(On Reserve) #wattys2017

8. Healing

Jim wheeled me into a shared room. I could see there were eight beds and only one was empty. I was brought to the empty stall and pushed close to the bed. The nurses were standing nearby to help me out.

I looked up and seen all the Boys in Blue and noticed two more nurses come in behind them.

"Wow." A nurse giggled. "You have a lot of attention, Sam. Must've been some miracle in that operating room with you." She smiled at me.

I sat in my wheelchair feeling silly. I didn't know what I was allowed to do. I wanted to go straight home.

Two nurses came up to me and grabbed my arms to help me out of the chair and into the bed.

"We're going to help lift you and sit you in the bed, okay?" One nurse said.

"Actually, I need to go to the bathroom." I said.

One of the nurses laughed. "Well, at least we know that's working. That's good news. You're already on the road to healing."

I heard some of the Boys and nurses chuckle.

The two nurses that held my arms backed away. I could see that everyone was thinking about how to help me. I, surely, didn't know what my limitations were.

"Okay. How about someone help me up and into the bathroom? Help me with a hospital underwear. From that I should know what my limitations are. I should be able to take over from there." I directed.

The two nurses came over again and grabbed my arms. I pushed myself out of my chair while they guided me. Ionce I got to my feet, I reached back with my right hand and checked to see if my rear was exposed.

"You're fine. You're covered." One nurse laughed.

The nurse on my right let go and the nurse on my left guided me to the bathroom. She closed the door behind me and sat me on the toilet. She turned the faucet on and stood, uncomfortably, by the sink.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"Sometimes the sound of water helps people pee. Stimulates the bladder and urethra." She looked into the sink the down toward the floor.

I looked away. I realized that she was uncomfortable and the water wasn't helping me.

A few minutes later, I walked out of the bathroom. I looked around and noticed there was Jim and two other Boys left and one nurse.

"Everyone else left because they felt you were fine." The nurse by my bed explained.

I smiled. "Yeah. I seem to be good."

I walked slowly and carefully to my bed. I waved the nurses away, politely. When I reached my bed I climbed on easily.

Jim chuckled. "Well, you make it seem easy."

I glanced over to him and smiled shyly.

"I'm happy to see that you're okay, Samantha." He smiled broadly at me. He turned around and gestured to the other two Boys and walked out. The nurse who helped me in the bathroom left.

"Are you good?" The last nurse asked.

"Can I get extra blankets, please?"

"Of course. I'll grab you a couple." She smiled and rushed out of the room.

I looked around, bored. I wanted a smoke. I made faces, picked at the blanket. Tapped my fingers. Scratched the blanket. Looked in all directions. Made more faces. Now I'm thirsty, dammit. I didn't want to ask the nurse to grab me something else when she just left.