Chapter Forty One:
“Mr. Buchanan, you have to wait outside, please.”
“What’s going on? What’s happening to her?”
A nurse escorted Bo out into the hallway and assured him that the doctor would be out to speak with him as soon as she could.
Bo looked through the window as they worked on Nora. Soon the alarms stopped and Dr. Conklin came out of the room.
“What happened?”
“Mr. Buchanan, why don’t we sit down?”
“Dr. Conklin, please. Please tell me what happened to my wife and daughter.”
“Apparently Nora went into labor which is fine. She is far enough along that that’s not a problem.”
“Then what’s the problem? Why were the alarms going off? Why did you say you were losing her?”
Placing a hand on his arm, “Bo, Nora’s blood pressure spiked way too high and it caused her to go into cardiac arrest …”
“Is she---did she—“
“No—no, Bo she’s alive, we were able to bring her around almost immediately. We’ve stabilized her and we’ve brought her blood pressure down to a manageable reading.”
“I don’t understand she was fine when I left this morning?
“How has she been feeling since our visit last week?
“Tired, mostly. Um—she’s been complaining about her feet being really swollen the past couple of days and she’s been having headaches.”
“It sounds like Nora had what we call Toxemia. It’s something that can happen in the latter stages of pregnancy.”
”We just thought it was because she was close to her due date. We’ve been trying
to be so careful. Is the baby okay?”
“The baby’s fine but we’re preparing Nora for a C-Section.”
“Why? She wanted to deliver this baby like she’s delivered her other babies.”
“Bo, we can’t wait. Her labor is progressing and there is no way her body can handle a normal delivery.”
“Is she going to be okay? I mean did this cause any damage?”
“I’m confident that she’ll make a full recovery. We’ll run some tests once she’s delivered.”
A nurse walks over to them and informs them that Nora has woken up and that they’re ready to move her to the OR…
“Can I go see her for a minute…before you take her?”
“Sure.”
They walk into the room. Dr. Conklin clears the room; giving Bo a few minutes alone with Nora.
“Hey there, Red.”
“Hi ya, handsome.”
Sitting down beside her and taking her hand, “Well looks like we’re having a baby today.”
“Not exactly the way I imagined it. (pauses for a moment) Wait, where’s Matthew?”
Walking back into the room, “He’s with one of my assistants in the play room down the hallway. He’s fine.”
“Thank you, Dr. Conklin.”
“So are you ready to go have a baby?”
“Yep, let’s blow this pop stand and get this show on the road.”
“Well, it looks like you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Bo, here are some scrubs to change into. We’ll be in OR3. A nurse will come and get you when we’re ready.”
“I’m going to go check on Matthew. I’ll be in the playroom.”
“That’s fine. We’ll come and get you in about 10 minutes or so. I’ll give you just a few more minutes.”
Dr. Conklin goes down to prepare for the surgery and the orderlies wait outside to give them just another moment alone.
“Just think Bo, in a less than an hour our little girl will be here.”
Leans in and kisses her, “I can’t wait. God, I was so afraid that I’d lost you.”
“Lose me? Never. I’m sorry to break it to ya, Commish, but you’re stuck with me.”
“Good, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Bo.”
The orderlies walk in…
“It’s time to go.”
“Lead the way young man. (turns to Bo) Don’t be late, Buchanan.”
“I’m right behind you, Red.”
Bo walked down to the playroom and found Matthew asleep on one of the cots in the corner. He called Asa and Renee and asked them to come and sit with Matthew. A nurse came for him a few minutes later. He followed her down the long hallway that led to the OR’s.
Bo went over and sat down in the chair that the nurse brought over for him. He leaned down and kissed Nora on the forehead and took her hand….
“You’re on time.”
Brushing a few strands of hair off her forehead before kissing it, “I told you I would be.”
The surgery went beautifully and at 5:59 on August 13, 2004, Madison Renee Buchanan came into the world….