TIME-TO-SEE-82
"Okay, Sean, here's what I told you that I'd pay you for helping me," Craig said handing Sean a small stack of paper money.
"Oh, Sir! I really appreciate your hiring me. I'll do it again any time you need me." Sean smiled and flipped through the little stack of fresh bills
"Well, I sure hope you'll be able to do that. But we'll have to wait to see what your dad has to say."
"Okay." Sean replied, and he hurried to his room to put his money in his carry-on bag.
"Now, we'll need to get ready to get on our way to LAX," Craig called out to Sean and Jake in other parts of the house. "Dillon, come here, guy. Daddy needs to take you to the potty. We're going on a long drive to get Nicky and Jilder."
"We going get Nicky, Jiller?" Dillon repeated.
"Yep! Do you remember Nicky and Jilder?" Jake asked.
Dillon stopped to think for a moment. He put his fingers in his mouth and rolled his eyes looking up in thought; then he shook his head up and down saying "Uh huh..."
Then Dillon turned to Sean and said, "Nicky, Jiller come home." shaking his head up and down at the same time.
"You bet, Dillon. They are coming back home, and I'll sure be glad to see them too," Sean said.
In no time at all everyone was in the cars. Craig would be driving Kev's SUV, and Jake was in his car with Dillon and Sean... "Humm? Would you mind riding with Craig to LAX, Sean. That way you could keep him company, 'cause the trip is going to take two hours."
"Yes, Sir... Let me change cars..." and Sean jumped out of Jake's car and ran over to the SUV.
Everybody settled in their vehicles, Craig nodded to Jake that he was ready to go. And off the two drove, Jake leading the way.
Driving into the city on a Sunday was about the easiest time to get into Los Angeles. Both vehicles pealed off from the northbound 405 freeway onto Airport Drive, passing the several tall cylinders, standing like gigantic rolls of paper towels, that mark the entrance to the Airport, and entered the traffic loop. Just as they approached Bradley International Terminal, the vehicles entered one of the parking structures situated right across the street from the terminal.
They plucked parking structure tickets from the dispensing machine and drove around until they found places to park.
"Daddy, where's Nicky, Jiller?" Dillon yelled to Jake.
"They're inside the airport, Baby. We'll go inside with Daddy-Craig and Sean to meet them. Come on, buddy, jump over here," Jake said while he popped the straps on Dillon's car booster seat.
Jake was holding onto Dillon's legs as Dillon bounced around on his shoulders; Craig, and Sean hurried excitedly into the Bradley Terminal with them. The huge floor-to-ceiling display of inbound flights listed the Jet Blue flight from Frankfurt ON TIME and scheduled to touch down in 15 minutes.
"I'm so happy my dads will be here soon. I've really missed them. There was a time when I wondered whether I'd ever see them again..."
Sean thought for a moment and went on, "And I wanna see Spirit. And I want to see Artie and Murph and Nicky and Jilder and their dads too... Ohhh, I can hardly wait," Sean said as he jumped around patting Dillon on the butt just to entertain him.
"EEeeek! Sawn hit my butt!" Dillon said laughing and kicking hard, testing Jakes grip on his ankles...
"Dillon! Cool it! I don't want to drop you."
"Eeeeek... Don't hit my butt..." Dillon yelled at Sean delighted at the attention and eager to keep it all going.
A mellow voice spoke over the terminal loud speakers: "Jet Blue Flight 681 inbound from Frankfurt, Germany, will be deplaning at Gate 24. Passengers will be processing through the main Customs Desk immediately after deplaning..."
"Let's walk over to the Customs Desk exit and wait there," Craig said to Jake.
"Okay, you lead the way. I'll bring up the rear... and Sean, you follow Craig," Jake said.
"Yes, Sir," and the reception committee of four moved across Bradley Terminal and into place at the Exit of the US Customs inspection station.
Passengers kept pouring out of the Custom's check station, but, as yet there was no one that looked like Max and Brandy or Hugo, Kevin and the boys.
"Hon," Jake said, "Do you think this is the right flight? I don't see anybody..."
"This MUST be the correct flight, because there was no other FRANKFURT flight in-bound today on the status board," Craig replied.
Just as they spoke, Craig saw a familiar face inside of the Customs check station waiting in line to exit.
Jilder waved frantically when he caught Craig's eye, and Craig smiled broadly and waved back. Turning to Sean, Craig said, "Look Sean, inside of Customs... Do you see Jilder waving? He must see us."
Sean stood on his tip toes and caught a glimpse of Jilder, and by this time, Nicky was also looking out of the Customs office in their direction. "Nicky, Jilder...We're over here!" Sean yelled waving his hands and jumping up and down."
One by one the adults came into view: first Hugo, then Kevin, followed by two other young men, one pushing a wheelchair, the other holding an IV bag and clearing the way for the other. A second boy, not quite as old as Nicky and Jilder, clutched the arms of the wheelchair looking ill and dazed as the group started to leave Customs.
Sean spoke up: "Oh, Craig, Jake, that's Artie in the wheelchair. My dad-- you know, Max-- is pushing him, and Brandon my other dad is holding some bag with the tube that goes down to Artie. Artie doesn't look very good at all..."
Sean went on explaining what he saw to both Jake and Craig. "And my brother, Murph, is holding on to the wheelchair, and he looks really serious... Uh, oh...."
"Yes, I see," Craig replied. then turning to Jake, "Why don't you introduce yourself to Max and tell him you're a nurse and have some knowledge of the burn clinic in the Valley, if he has any questions. He might have needs that you could help with."
"Sure, Hon..." Jake answered... Before he could say more both Jilder and Nicky rushed out of the Customs Station and ran over to Sean waiting with Dillon and his dads.
Dillon screamed and yelled and kicked both legs, "JILLER!!! NICKY!!! JILLER NICKY!!! COME HOME....
Sean ran over to see his friends grabbing them both at the same time and hugging them. "I missed you. I missed you. I'm so glad you came home!"
Jilder said, "Boy I missed you too, Sean. I was really worried about you."
Nicky said, "Look, Sean. I brought you a new collar for Spirit. He rode on the plane in a wire cage in the baggage place.. Max and Brandy and our dads said we can get him here at the special baggage office." And he handed Sean a white leather collar which was adorned with a silver name tag: the word "SPIRIT" was engraved on it.
"Oh, this is BEAUTIFUL!" Sean exclaimed... "How is Spirit? Has he been okay? Do you think he missed me?"
Nicky replied, "Oh, he's really good. He's probably a little bigger than when you last saw him, and he doesn't sleep much at all in the daytime, and he's started eating things besides his milk... Your dads will explain it to you..."
Hugo and Kevin walked up together, each one with an arm around the other's waist, smiling like they were the cats who ate the canary.
"Well, here are the world travelers, Jake. You think they'll want to talk to us now that they've been across the world?" and Craig reached over to hug them both at the same time, and give them each a big, noisy smacker of a kiss on the cheek.
"PLEASE! I'm sorry. No autographs," Kevin said in a mock, snobbish reply...
"Ugh! No worry about that... I see we've got the same ole' a-holes that we sent off!" Jake replied hugging them both too.... "Oh, you guys! I missed you both so much..."
"JILLER, NICKY!" Dillon yelled not to be ignored any longer...
Both boys heard their names and went over to Jake just as he was putting Dillon down on the floor. Nicky and Jilder both got down on their knees and hugged little Dillon and gave him loud kisses and rubbed his head, fluffing up his hair...
"DADDY-CRAIG! JILLER, NICKY, HOME!" and then Dillon shook all over and screamed loud enough to earn a scowl from a near-by airport security officer.
"Shhhhhhhhhh!" Jake said trying to clamp down on Dillon's exuberance. It was certainly harmless but very, very LOUD!
Craig was monitoring the slow approach of the wheelchair out of the corner of his eye. He stepped around Kevin and Hugo, put out his hand and said with a sympathetic smile, "You must be Max and Brandy, and these are Artie and Murph... Am I right?"
"Indeed you are," Brandy replied. "And this be Artie in the chair, and Max is driving it, and our other son, Murph, is right here too."
But bursting through the gathering of friends, Sean ran over and embraced his dads, first Max, then Brandy. In the joy of once again being united with his fathers, he began to cry as he held them both.
"Max, Brandy, I have been so scared I'd lost you forever. I don't know what I'd do... It took my whole life for two wonderful dads to find me, and I thought I might have lost you both for good when I ran away from the airplane." And Sean simply would not stop clutching his fathers, holding first one and then the other. He cried and wiped his tears all over their coats.
Brandy handed the IV bag to Murph and stepped over next to Max, both of them hugged Sean at the same time... "Oh, son, I'd NEVER let you get lost," Max said. I'd chase you all over the world. You're stuck with us forever, son..." And he leaned over and put his cheek against Seans head of scraggly black hair. Daddy Brandy, I missed you so much. I love you both very, very much..."
"We love you too, son," Brandy replied.
Pulling away from his dads' embraces, Sean said, "DAD--BOTH OF YOU! I have some wonderful news! Craig gave me a job working for him at his florist shop. I got to go with him to get the flowers, and then we took them to a church. It's so much fun AND he pays me... Can I keep working for him? Can I dad? He won't let me work unless you two give your approval..."
"Oh, my, Sean... Maybe this question could wait until we take care of Artie... He's quite ill right now, and he needs to get to the Burn Hospital."
Sean realized that Artie was sitting looking quite sick in his wheelchair, and immediately ran to him giving him a hug and a kiss on the head. "Artie, I know you don't feel good right now, but we'll get you to the hospital quick; so they can help you... Hang on, Artie. I love you, Artie... You'll feel much better after they help you..."
Craig went to the wheelchair and said, "Hello, Artie. Nice to meet you... Just hold on, Buddy, and in no time we'll have you at the Valley Hospital where they can help you."
Craig then looked at Max and Brandy and Murph: "I'm so happy to meet you all. First, though, I think we need to take care of Artie and get him on his way to the Valley Burn Center..."
Max replied, "I'm really happy to see you too. We can speak at length later, but I must confess that I am anxious to get Artie to the Clinic too. You appear to know the place I mean."
Jake said, "Yes. I have some direct knowledge of that Hospital and its operations. I am a critical care nurse at San Diego Municipal Hospital, where we transfer patients to that particular facility quite frequently. Did you make arrangements to transport Artie from here at LAX to the hospital in the Valley?"
"An ambulance it supposed to meet us at the terminal," Max replied.
Jake said, "Good. Let's have Information page the ambulance medics immediately." and he went directly to an Information Kiosk, shortly after which that very announcement could be heard on the terminal loud speakers.
And almost instantaneously two medical technicians rushed in their direction with a gurney. In no time at all Artie was transferred to the waiting gurney, and the technicians whisked him off to the front entrance of the terminal.
Before leaving for the door one technician asked, "Will anyone be accompanying us in the ambulance?"
Sean spoke up, "I'm going." And Max followed with a quick second, "Yes. I'll be going in the ambulance too."
"Good." the technician said.
The other technician was quickly checking Artie for vital signs and other critical conditions. He then looked to Max and asked, "Who gave you the IV?"
Max said, "The Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. The boy was taken to that hospital with a severely high temperature that simply would not respond to alcohol baths... Artie was put on a chilled IV and the Los Angeles Burn Hospital was called, and they asked whether he could be flown in immediately... Fortunately, that was possible, and here we are..."
"I know the doctors here will want to speak with you about the boy; so I'm glad you will be traveling with us."
"Certainly," Max replied. Then, turning to Murph, Max said, "Murph," kissing him on the forehead, "will you go with Brandy and your friends Hugo and Kevin, and this gentleman--uh?" and he stopped for want of a name--
"I'm Jake,"
"Thank you. Jake will follow the ambulance to the hospital..."
"That will be satisfactory, won't it?" Max asked.
"Of course, Max" Jake replied.
With its red lights flashing and sirens blasting, the ambulance sped north up the San Diego freeway, and then veered onto the Ventura Freeway heading east toward Hollywood, . Both Jake in his car and Craig with the others sped a respectable distance behind the ambulance, but clearly as a part of a caravan intent on reaching the San Fernando Valley Burn Center.
Moments later all three vehicles turned into the driveway of the Burn Center Emergency Room. The medics had the gurney unloaded and on its way into the Emergency Room before either Jake or Craig had even parked.
"Is anyone traveling with this boy," an emergency room physician asked of the several people who entered with Artie.
"Yes, Sir." Max replied. "I am."
"What were your instructions from the Heidelberg Hospital attending physician?"
"Dr. Entsminger emphasized that I must keep the IV bottle cool with ice and elevated above Artie at all times, and that its contents, a sedative, would serve to keep Artie comfortable and his severe spikes in body temperature in check until we reached you."
"And that was all?" the physician said.
"Yes, Sir. He seemed confident that we could make the trip without any major risks to Arthur... I hope that we weren't all naieve..."
"Well, let's just say that Artie travels very well," the ER physician replied. Then turning to Artie, "Hi, Artie. Nice to see you again. Remember me? Dr. Glass... How you feelin today?"
And in a tiny voice with not very much energy, Artie answered the doctor. "Yeah. I remember you. Hi.... Uh? I'm not feeling very good. All I wanna do is sleep. I don't have any energy, and I'm feelin hot all the time..."
"Okay, Artie, we're gonna strip you down and get you into one of those hospital gowns that everyone loves; then we're going to take you to the refrigerant center and pack you with some cooling packs. That ought to make you feel much better right away. After that, we'll begin medication that will help your body to adjust to the flight... You need to get some simple sleep while your body does the work... Sound okay with you?"
"Yes, Sir. Is it okay if I talk to my friend, Sean?" Artie said not very loud.
"Of course..." Dr. Glass said. Then turning to a nearby nurse, "Would someone please bring Sean in to visit with Artie for a while, until we're ready to take him into the temperature stabilization center."
Artie was alone in the examination room now. Sean walked in and over to Artie lying on the gurney. He put his head down next to Artie's and whispered in his ear. "I missed you Artie. I love you. Please get better."
When he lifted his head, Sean dripped tears onto Artie's face...
"Sean, you don't have to make me cooler by dripping all over me. I think Dr. Glass is going to do that..." Artie said managing a weak, little smile. He reached up and pulled Sean back down close enough to kiss him on the cheek. I love you too, Sean." And he pulled Sean close and hugged him.
"Thank you for coming with me to the hospital." And then Artie's arm slipped off of Sean, he being fatigued by the little effort required just to reach out to Sean.
Artie could not speak very loudly, but he went on, "Sean. Will you bring Spirit to visit me the next time you come? You will be surprised at how big he's gotten, and he's eating some real dog food now. But he still likes his bottle too..."
"Sure, Artie." Sean said. We've got to go back to the airport to get him this afternoon. He wasn't ready to come with us when we left with you to come to the hospital. But the next time I come back here, I'll bring Spirit."
"Thanks, Sean..." and Artie closed his eyes as the medicine that Dr. Glass gave to him began taking effect. "I feel really tired now. Will you come back after I sleep?" Artie asked.
"You bet, Artie. Sleep good." Sean said and he kissed Artie on the cheek and stood up. Before he even left Artie's side, Arthur was sleeping soundly, slipping away with no distress or fear... Artie simply went to sleep.
By now, everyone had left the vehicles and gathered in the Emergency Room. They were all speaking quietly with one another when Dr. Glass walked in.
He began, "I believe everyone here is a friend of Arthur Donnally, that we all know as Artie? There are no family members here, is that correct?"
Everyone nodded, and "Yes," murmured across the room.
He went on speaking to them all. "I have never encountered a case quite like Artie's. The boy has only 10% of natural, breathing skin that he had before a car accident exposed him to extensive burns, yet his body has managed to carry on normal functions in spite of this severe limitation. It has been remarkable."
"I would expect temperature regulation and other functions mediated by the skin to be impossible with so little functioning skin tissue, but somehow Artie has managed to carry on. What we are witnessing, however, is a demonstration of the limitation that Artie lives with all the time. His body is doing everything that it can to live and persist, but there simply are limits with so little functioning skin, and he has reached a crisis.
"It is not clear, at this moment, that Artie will survive this crisis, Dr. Glass said, looking at each of the boys one by one before going on:
"However, Artie does have the advantage of having reached the Burn Center tonight, where we will be able to stabilize his temperature immediately before irreversible damage is done to his other organs, until his body catches up and resumes that function automatically.... if it has that capacity."
Dr. Glass continued: "But, Artie lives with the knowledge that his ability to survive and thrive is seriously limited. And, as his friends, you need to understand that- at any moment- he may not always be able to prevail. Life is often fragile and sometimes short.
A soft chime sounded outside of the emergency room to interrupt the silence that had descended over it.
"But.....we will be hopeful, though not certain, about Artie's recovery-- thanks largely to the efforts of those of you who brought him in from Europe."
"Just giving Artie your love and showing him that you believe that he will go on living will do more than anything else to support his life. None of us is God, but all of us can pass along to Artie, the love that God gave to us, and that's the only treatment we have at our disposal."
Sean raised his hand to get Dr. Glasses' attention. "Sir, is it alright to bring my dog, Spirit, to visit Artie? Artie just told me he wants me to bring Spirit to see him after he wakes up."
"Yes, absolutely, son." Dr. Glass replied. "The dog IS healthy, isn't he?"
"Oh, yes, Sir. He's just a puppy. He's very healthy," Sean replied.
"I see no problem with that. Now, it is not very likely that Artie will wake up any time soon. It may be very late tonight before he's conscious again. Therefore, I'd suggest that you take care of your own lives and return late tonight, if you wish-- say around 11 p.m. But if that doesn't work for you, there is nothing wrong with coming in tomorrow morning, perhaps around 10 a.m. when everyone at the clinic is here and Artie is fully awake. You may want to eat lunch with him, if you wish. We have a patient-visitor dining room that you may choose to use."
Nicky looked into Jilder's eyes, and without speaking, shared that his heart was breaking with the knowledge that Artie could die at any time, if his body is unable to carry on with so little working skin. Jilder returned Nicky's sad recognition with sadness of his own. The boys both loved their new friend, Artie, and felt helpless in their inability to assist him medically.
Jilder spoke first, "We'll have to tell him that we love him lots of times..."
"Yeah. And include him when we do somethin, if he can do it without hurting himself... like going to the movies, maybe..." Nicky added.
Hugo stood when Dr. Glass left the visitors' room and walked over to Murph. "Murph, you've been very quiet through all this. How are you doin?" he asked.
"I feel so bad. Artie didn't do nothin to make hisself sick, and now he might die any time because of what somebody else did to him driving a car bad. I hate bad drivers!" Murph said.
Hugo said, "Well, you are absolutely right, Murph, but now we can realize that we are lucky that we'll have Artie with us for many, many months-- maybe years--for as long as his body keeps working. All of us can help to make his life happy too. That's going to be OUR job... And we need YOU to do that with us. Artie loves you because you helped him learn that people can love you even if you aren't perfect or don't look perfect. He knows that you have been with him all the time when he got sick in Heidelberg, and he trusts you to talk the truth with you."
"Yeah. Well, I can't do nothin if I go back to New York to live with my mom... I'm goin to ask my dad if I can stay here in California with Artie, until he can go home to Ireland."
"Humm? Murph, don't be disappointed if your mom and dad decide that it's best for you to go back to New York at the end of the summer...."
"IT IS NOT BEST FOR ME TO GO BACK TO NEW YORK!" Murph blurted out emphatically. "I want to stay here with Artie. He's sick, and he needs me!"
Hugo realized that he had accidentally touched a nerve that he never dreamed was there. Hugo immediately looked over at Max who rose and came over to sit with him and Murph.
Looking directly at Murph, Max said, "Mind if I join you?"
Murph looked up and said, "No, Sir." Then he looked down at the floor again.
Hugo spoke quietly, "Murph wants to help Artie by staying with him here in California, while he's in the burn hospital. He doesn't want to go back to New York until Artie can go back to Ireland."
"Oh, I see," Max replied. Then turning to Murph he said, "You know that Dr. Glass has no idea yet how long Artie will need to be in the hospital. Nobody knows that."
"Yes, Sir," Murph replied still looking at the floor.
"And that might mean that your school will start before Artie can leave the hospital..." Max pointed out.
"Yes, Sir. I know."
"Well, what are you going to do? You have to go to school," Max said.
"Yes, Sir, but I can not leave Artie because maybe he might die, and I don't want him to be alone... And that's more important than school."
Max looked at Hugo who raised his eyes, sighed, and leaned back on the sofa.
"So you do know that maybe you couldn't go to school. What do you think mom will say?" Max asked...
Murph paused looking up thinking, "Hum? Mom might not like that."
"You think?" Hugo interjected. "I need to shut up, Murph, this is none of my business, but I can imagine your mom will want what's best for you."
Murph shot back, "Hugo. You know this is more important than school. I'll just have to tell mom about Artie, and then she'll understand, and she won't mind me staying here in Los Angeles."
Max joined in, "You may be right, son. But we'll have to talk with her right away; so she can tell the school what you'll be doing..."
"Yeah! We can call her today. Dad, would you mind callin her first. I will talk to her when you're finished, but she would want to know what you think anyhow," Murph said.
"Okay, Son. I'll call," Max replied looking directly at Hugo.
Speaking to Hugo, Max asked: "How far is San Diego from Los Angeles? What I'm getting at is, Would Shannon-- that is, Murph-- be able to live in your neighborhood and visit here in Los Angeles every day?"
"No. Not practically speaking. I mean, yes, one could drive the two-plus hours to get here each day, and then the two-plus hours returning, but that's really too impractical on an extended basis."
Max made a statement putting it in the form of a question, "Then I would have to let a flat near the hospital, where Murph could live for the weeks that he visits daily with Artie?"
Hugo replied, "Yes. That would be the most practical, and I'm sure least-expensive, way to accommodate Murph's intention to be with Artie here in the burn center everyday."
"Good. Then I'll need some assistance in finding such a place immediately," Max said.
Sean had been listening to his dad's conversation with Hugo and Murph, and he spoke to his dad in front of Murph and Hugo, "Dad, can I stay with Murph in Los Angeles; so I can see Artie everyday too?"
"Well, that would be no problem, Sean, since you boys could share a bedroom. I must make arrangements first; then I'll speak with you boys further.... And I have to call Murph's mom first. There's a lot going on here, Sean... Please give me a little time."
Kevin walked over to Hugo, put his hand on Hugo's shoulder and said, "Can I interest anyone here in a little food?"
Max went into a period of several extended telephone conversations while all of the other travelers went under Kevin's guidance to a local Coco's restaurant that turned out to be within walking distance of the hospital.
At Coco's, the others had all settled at two large tables that were assembled for them. The tables were nicely set with white table clothes and fresh flowers while a single waitress and several helpers rushed about providing menus and beverages. Brandon suggested that they should go ahead and order their food, since he didn't know how long Max may be involved in the telephone conversations.
"I'm sure Max will speak with Mr. and Mrs. Donnally, Artie's mother and father, too, to share all that is known about Artie's present condition. Then he'll have to coordinate everything with his ex-wife in New York... I don't envy him these very difficult conversations," Brandy concluded.
Everyone went ahead and placed their orders, and those orders began arriving. In the middle of all this, Max walked in and went over to Brandy, placing his hand on Brandy's shoulder.
Brandon reached up and placed his hand on top of Max's, patting it. "Here Max, we saved a place for you. Why don't you sit down and order something. You must be hungry..."
"Thanks, Brandy." Max said as he sat next to him.
Kevin spoke, "Well, what is the latest, Max?"
Max looked around at everyone, and they all stopped what they were doing and sat quietly waiting for him to speak...
"First, Mr. and Mrs. Donnally will be on their way to Los Angeles tomorrow morning. They understand that this has been a crisis, but one which is not quite yet resolved sufficiently to say that their son is likely to recover."
Then looking at Brandy, Max went on, "I think we can let a flat near the hospital that both Mr. and Mrs. Donnally and Sean and Murph can use. I also spoke with Murph's mom in New York. I explained the situation, and she too agreed with Murph about what he wants to do. So for the moment, everything will work out."
"Hurray! Dad. You did it." Murph yelled out.
Max smiled a wan smile in Murph's direction and then looked in the direction of the adults.
"I think both Mr. and Mrs. Donnally understand the gravity of Artie's condition. I did my best to help them realize that this incident was not precipitated by any fault of theirs or any abuse accorded to Artie, but that he will face a similar risk as the days pass. I told them that more than anything, he needs our love and ever our vigilance to help him maximize the capacity that remains in his body to live..."
"And THAT was the most difficult conversation I've EVER had!" Max said, dropping his head to both hands and crying openly, feeling no shame, overcome with grief at Artie's condition: his loss of such a major portion of the capacity to host the Life Force.