Blind Eye Read Online Free Page B

Jennifer, what can you tell me?” Dr. Baer asked again.
    There were things that were written every day on a patient’s chart, like the medications or nutrients the patient should get, as well as vitals and therapy session records and such. But there were other things that weren’t there.
    â€œThis January will be six years since her accident,” Jennifer told him. “She was pushed out of a moving vehicle one night on the highway, on I-84 in Cheshire. No one saw it happen…or at least no one ever cameforward. She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, the closest level-two trauma center. There were multiple head injuries and a broken arm, as well as a lot of road burn. The trauma team attended her immediately and the acute-care unit at the hospital saw to the minor stuff. She never recovered from the head trauma, though.”
    â€œEveryone calls her JD for Jane Doe,” the physician assumed.
    â€œThere was no ID on her when they took her to the hospital,” Jennifer said, nodding. “From what we were told, the police fingerprinted and photographed her that very first night, but there were no matches. Nothing ever came of any investigation, as far as I know.”
    â€œIs she a ward of the state?”
    Jennifer nodded again. “Title 19 Medicaid patient. The probate court assigned a local lawyer to act as conservator. I can’t remember his name right now. But he has power of attorney.”
    Dr. Baer straightened from the bed, and JD’s eyes focused on her again. Jennifer reached over and took the young woman’s hand. She was certain JD appreciated the touch. Everyone needed kindness and human contact.
    â€œShe’s an absolute sweetheart. She’s never given any of us a lick of trouble in all the time she’s been here. I’m wondering if something wasn’t poking into her. It’s not like her to get worked up like this.”
    â€œHow long has she been here exactly?” the physician asked, taking the chart from Pat.
    Jennifer knew the answer. “She got bounced around to a couple of different facilities during the first few months after the accident. Then she was moved here. It was in August. So it’s been five years and three months.”
    â€œWhat a great memory!” Pat blurted.
    Jennifer shrugged. “I remember because my family and I always go to the Cape at the end of July. And JD was brought in right after I came back from vacation.”
    â€œHas she been in a minimally conscious state since she’s been here?”
    â€œYes. She came in as an MCS patient.”
    â€œAnything done to wean her off the feeding tube?” Baer wanted to know, quickly paging through the chart.
    â€œNo.” Jennifer wished she could say more. But she wouldn’t bad-mouth their former attending physician. Dr. Parker should have retired ten years before he did, as he had no interest in doing anything different. She had made recommendations as far as exercises or little things they could do to work with JD, but he wouldn’t have it. Standard maintenance treatment was all he would allow.
    â€œIs it too late now?” she asked. “If there’s anything extra we have to do, it’d be okay. We’d really like to help her, if there’s a way.” She realized it wasn’t right to talk for everyone else. “I’ll put in some extra hours myself.”
    Jennifer saw JD close her eyes. She wasn’t sleeping, only shutting them out. It was so sad. The young woman did communicate with them. Jen was sure of it.
    â€œDo we have any idea how old she is?” the physician asked.
    â€œThe file said early twenties when she arrived here, so we celebrated her twenty-seventh birthday on Christmas Eve.”
    The physician looked up and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Jennifer thought this was the first time she’d seen him do that.
    â€œDoes this mean she’ll be twenty-eight this coming