AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where do we start?” he asked, eager to learn.
Her eyebrows pinched together as she studied him. “First, I like to learn what my client’s goals are.”
He appreciated that she hadn’t called him a patient. “I want to be able to walk again. The sooner the better.”
When she tilted her head, some of his enthusiasm deflated. Is she going to tell me the odds are against me? But she hadn’t even examined him yet to determine what he was capable of. Has Dr. Myers told her something? Or is my broken leg going to be a deterrent?
“Yes, that’s what most people focus on, but we need to start smaller. That can be an overall goal you can work toward over the next few months, but—“
There was that word again. Months. Sometimes he wondered if the surgery had even been worth it. While he understood the complications that might have arisen if they hadn’t drained the fluid from his spine, the fact that he was still facing months of recovery left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Besides, it didn’t make sense to him. Once his leg and back healed, he would regain feeling in both legs. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t just pick up and start walking like he had before. Surely his body couldn’t really forget how to walk in such a short amount of time.
As if reading his mind, she sighed. “Relearning to walk as an adult isn’t the same as learning to walk as a baby. The damage to your spine has blocked the neural pathways between the lower half of your body and your brain. So it will take time both for your spine to heal and for your body to reestablish that connection.” She gestured to his cast. “And until this leg is out of the cast, you’re going to be limited in what exercises you can do. I’m here to help you maintain the muscle and dexterity to walk on your good leg.”
“Oh,” he said. It was as if he’d watched a balloon filled with his hope get torpedoed to smithereens. He worried what that would mean for his business. But that wasn’t the only concern that plagued the dark corners of his mind. Try as he might to ignore it, he couldn’t help wondering how that would impact his relationship with Rose.
The fear was unfounded. Aside from her suggestion that they postpone the wedding, she’d shown no signs of having second thoughts about him or their impending marriage. Even when she’d brought up postponing, she’d insisted she was only concerned about his health and stress level. And yet… Ever since his parents had divorced, he’d believed their marriage fell apart because his father failed to pull his weight. While he’d brought in enough money, Dad hadn’t contributed much to the housework until it was too late.
The last thing Steven wanted was to have a similar dynamic with Rose, even temporarily. And she’d already been through so much after helping Lanie with his mother during her final months. The idea of Rose becoming a caregiver again, especially for him, made his stomach turn. That wasn’t at all how he’d envisioned them starting their lives together.
Lacey patted his arm, pulling him from his thoughts. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but we’ve developed exercises to keep your muscles in good working order during recovery. It takes time.”
Time. The one thing he didn’t have a lot of if he had any hope of saving his business—or his relationship, for that matter.
“For now,” she continued when he didn’t respond, “I’m going to show you some exercises you can do to maintain function in your good leg. How does that sound?”
Steven inclined his head in his attempt at a nod, though all of his motivation had turned to dust. At the rate they were going, he would be lucky to be back at work by Christmas, let alone walking by then.
“I have good news for you today, Steven,” Dr. Myers said as he waltzed into the room. “We’re releasing you to the inpatient rehab facility. Your transport will arrive this afternoon.”
Steven forced a smile. “Great!” And it was, sort of. Progress was progress, he supposed, but it felt like he was leaving one prison and heading to another. “When can I go home?”
That was the wrong question. Dr. Myers glared down his nose at Steven. “As I’ve told you several times, there is no way to predict your recovery.” His expression softened. “But I’m happy to report a decrease in the amount of swelling around your spine. You need to be a little more patient.”
I guess that’s the most I’m going to get. Steven nodded and returned his attention to whatever mindless soap opera was playing on television. Ever since he’d woken up after his accident, he’d heard repeatedly how unpredictable spinal cord injuries could be. The nonanswer about what to expect during his recovery was getting old. How hard is it to give a more definitive answer? Is this why they call it “practicing” medicine? Because doctors were always learning.
He wasn’t being fair, especially since most lawyers said they “practiced” law too. There was always some new law to learn, some new case that might provide nuance to a problem a client faced. So he could hardly blame doctors for their inability to predict the future, although that didn’t make it any less frustrating.
But the doctor was right—he had made progress over the last week. They’d moved on from cold compresses to a back brace to keep his spine immobilized while it healed. There was still pain, but he managed it better with pain relievers than he could days ago when he’d first met the physical therapist. And he’d come to enjoy his physical therapy sessions, much to his surprise.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Lacey appeared in the doorway. “Ready for another session?”
He winked. “I’m ready for my daily torture appointment.”
Lacey laughed as she lowered the rail on his bed and helped him sit on the edge of the mattress. “I know it’s painful, but believe me, it’ll be worth it.”
Gritting his teeth, as any movement aggravated the healing incision on his chest, he worked through the motions of the physical therapy. Some of the feeling was returning to his legs, which was more muscle twitches and flutters. Still, it was more than he’d felt directly after the accident.
“I hear you’re leaving us today,” Lacey continued when he didn’t respond. She lifted his right leg and bent it.
“They’re discharging me to rehab.”
She must have heard something in his voice because she looked up. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Think of it as similar to what we do here but with a team that’s dedicated to your recovery, not just getting you stabilized.” After she set down his leg, she held out her hands, and he grabbed them to gently pull himself up onto one leg. “Besides, I hear they have better food.”
A laugh bubbled up in his throat, and she shot him a grin. As much as he hated being cooped up in the hospital, he had to admit he would miss her.
“I bet the PT there isn’t as awesome as you are.”
