Sarah's Story

Fever!

He jerks awake with a start. For a second, he is unable to recall where he was, let alone, what woke him. Then Sarah screams again and it all cames back.

"Sarah!" he jumps out of the chair and to her side. "What is wrong? Sarah, wake up. I am here."

"Josiah? I had a horrible nightmare."

"I know my love. You screamed so loud."

"I was so scared. I was lost. Just wondering around and around. I kept running into people but, no one knew me. They looked right through me. I don't think I existed for them. Like I was never born. That is when I started screaming." She finishs with a shudder.

"Oh my love. You do exist and will continue to. With all the stress you are under, I understand why you would have such a nightmare. I am so glad I was here to wake you up."

"Me too. Oh man Josiah. I have never had a nightmare like that. What time is it?"

"Four AM. You should try to get back to sleep. Take my hand. It may help you to relax if you can feel me beside you."

She does and he gasps. "Sarah sweetie. You are burning up." He presses the nurse call button.

"I am so cold." She shivers. He pulls the blankets up around her even as he tells the answering nurse,

"Please send someone back here please. My girlfriend has a high fever."

Sammi comes running in. "Okay. What is happening?" She takes the thermometer out of her pocket. "Sarah, I am going to take your temp. Okay?" She nods as the shivers run through her. Josiah explains.

"Fever dream." She mumbles as she takes out the thermometer. "102°. We need to get her temp down."

"What do we do?" A frantic Josiah asks.

"You chill." She instructs as she flips on the light and adds," Sarah sweetie, can yoy swallow some medicine?"

"Sure. What is causing it?"

"We will find out." She is given Tylenol°.. "Now lets see where that nasty fever is coming from." She starts by drawing some blood. "Josiah, I need you to step out of the room a minute while I exam her surgical site."

"No! Please let him stay." Sarah pleads. Sammi shrugs.

"If you don't mind. I've no time to argue." Josiah steps up and takes her hand.

"You will be okay." He says. Even as he speaks, he feels she is hotter. He goes to tell Sammi and sees she is busy.  She has stripped of Sarah's bandages and is examining her surgical site.

"Ah."

"What do you see?" He asks her.

"Tell him." Sarah whispers.

"She has an infection developing. Can you push the call button for me?" He daoes and she yelks out," I need another nurse in here STAT." She then retakes her temperature. "103.5°. Wrong direction kiddeo."

Another nurse joins them. "Tammy I need you to push a bolus of amoxicillin and IV motrin. After call Dr. Ables and Dr. Saunders. Then Mr. Rose."

"I can call her daddy, if it will help." He feels so udderly helpless.

"Thanks. That would help."

He steps into the hall and calks him. It rings for a long time. He is groggy when he answers. "Hello."

"Mr. Rose. It is Josiah."

"What is it?" He is wide awake now. "What is wrong with Sarah?"

"She has a fever. The nurse said it is an infection." He telks him everything.

"Thank you. I will be right there." After, he sinks onto the floor, places his head on his knees, and starts to pray. That is how Mr. Rose finds him ten minutes later.