I watched as they loaded Heather into the Ambulance. I watched her in horror. One of the attendants called out to me, "Get in the front" he said as I stood there in the blizzard. I hopped in the passenger side and closed the door.
The Paramedic who was in the drivers seat said "We're gonna make a run for the airport. They are clearing the runway as we speak". He put the Ambulance in "drive" and we slowly made our way onto Main St.
Of course my mind was racing. Millions of thoughts at once. Little mini nervous breakdown one after the other. Somehow I managed to find myself in the "eye" of one of these thought frenzies. I was calm or was I paralyzed? My mind went blank for a few seconds. I was able to think of calling Shaun.
I called Shaun on the runway at the Dauphin Airport. I told him what had happened. He was blown away. Shaun told me to keep it together and that he would take care of everything at my house. Shaun said that as soon as he had a day off he would be coming to see me in Winnipeg. The Paramedics were knocking on the Ambulance window, it was time for me to go.
I boarded the tiny aircraft. There was next to no room. Heather was on a stretcher along side the wing. I sat on a tiny chair in the back. On board was a Doctor from Winnipeg and her staff. The plane took off immediately. I looked out the window as we took off. It was black. I could see the stars and then I could see the full moon. I looked up at the altitude meter. It read 1453 feet. I thought to myself...Autumn was born on a full moon, Sammy was born on a full moon and a blue moon, Heather is dying and I see a full moon.
I looked over at Heather. No movement. I watched the displays of the machines she was hooked up to. I watched the numbers go up and down, weird digital graphs I didn't understand. I looked back at Heather. Did I just see her foot move? No...did I? I watched her foot intently for another minute but it didn't move. I looked back out the window into the black night. "What the hell happened to Heather", I though to myself. I wondered if this is it. Is this where Heather dies? "She can't die" "Little Autumn and little Samson"
We arrived on the runway of Winnipeg Airport at around 5:00 am. I exited the plane to a waiting Ambulance. The Paramedics loaded Heather from the plane to the Ambulance. The Ambulance departed the Airport without sirens or lights. As we drove on I began asking questions. "Buddy are you gonna light this thing up and drive or what?" the Paramedic turned and said "We can't drive too fast with a patient like this...we don't want to risk and bumps".
We snaked through the city bound for Health Sciences Center. I had no wallet, no bank card, no cash...basically the clothes on my back. I was for all intents and purposes...pretty much fucked. I thought about the kids. They were sleeping at home. They had no idea what has happened. They will wake up to Auntie and Grandma. Mommy and Daddy will be gone. The gravity of the situation was crushing.
The Ambulance pulled into a loading bay at HSC. There were nurses and Paramedics everywhere. I got out of the Ambulance and saw Medical staff unloading Heather with urgency. The staff got the stretcher out of the Ambulance and whisked Heather down a hallway. I followed close behind. At the end of the hallway a Nurse asked me to wait on the other side of the door, she motioned to a door the opposite way they were taking Heather. I said "No thanks, I'm going with Heather". The Nurse backed up and put her hand out. "No... you must wait on the other side of the door in the waiting room. We will be having Heather assessed. Someone will be out to talk to you shortly." I walked towards the door. I looked back but Heather and her entourage were gone. I opened the door and walked through. Once the door closed I decided that I wanted to go back and be with Heather. I tried the door but it was locked. I tried again. Locked. I began knocking on the door...then pounding! A voice from an intercom said "Please don't bang on the door we can see you on camera". I looked up to see the intercom, camera and sign. The sign read "SICU Press Button PACU Press Button" Defeated, I turned and walked over to the waiting room. I sat down and began to freak out. Heather. Fuck. I cant sit here. I got up and walked out of the room back to the SICU/PACU door. I began to pace. Whats happening to Heather? No smokes. Damn it!. No money. Whats happening to Heather? Fuck. I'm alone...
-more to follow-
