The Sunflower: A Novel Read Online Free Page A

said.
    “Shock him with another three hundred joules.”
    Kelly looked at him. “Three hundred?”
    “I mean forty.” They exchanged glances. “Forty. Clear.”
    The body jumped.
    The monitor stopped beeping. “We’ve got rhythm,” Ken said.
    Paul grabbed the boy’s wrist. “We’ve got a pulse. Kell, call Primary Children’s, we’re going to need a pediatric ICU, let’s see if they can get a helicopter through this storm.”
    “Saturation up to ninety-five percent,” Kelly said.
    The color was slowly returning to the boy’s face. Paul exhaled in relief. “Good job, guys, good job. Stay with him, I’m going back to D.”
    Paul ran back to the other room. The team was still working on the man but visibly distressed. Marci looked up: “We can’t get his heart beating, and we still can’t get him intubated.”
    Paul took the tube and successfully maneuvered it into place.
    “Good job, Doctor,” Marci said.
    “That’s why you make the big bucks,” one of the paramedics said.
    “Let’s shock him,” Paul said. He grabbed the paddles. “Marci, three hundred and sixty joules. Clear.”
    The body heaved.
    “Anything?”
    The paramedic shook his head.
    “Atropine?”
    “We’ve maxed out.”
    “CPR, now. Marci, more epinephrine, two-tenths milligram.”
    She injected the steroid into the IV.
    “He’s not responding,” Paul said. “I’m shocking again. Three hundred sixty joules. Clear.”
    The body heaved again but as quickly settled.
    It’s like trying to jump start a sofa, Paul thought. “He’s not responding to anything.”
    The monitor flatlined.
    “He’s asystole!” Marci said.
    “I’m shocking again. Three hundred sixty joules. Clear!”
    Nothing. Paul looked around the room. “Have you seen any pulse at all?” he asked.
    “Nothing,” replied a paramedic.
    “No, Doctor,” said Marci.
    “How long has he been arrested?” Paul asked.
    “We picked him up forty-three minutes ago,” the paramedic said. “The call came in fifty-six minutes ago.”
    Just then the sound of a helicopter landing shook the windows. Paul looked at the man. He was dead and had been for half an hour. Paul exhaled in frustration. “Let’s call code.”
    Marci glanced at her watch. “Time of death sixteen twenty-seven.”
    The Life Flight crew passed outside the room. Just then Kelly stepped in. “Doctor, the boy’s heart rate is down to forty, we need you.”
    Paul turned to Marci. “I’ll see the family when I’m done.” He hurried back to the boy. Halfway down the hall the red-faced man from room G stepped in front of him. “Hey, we’ve waited long enough. What about my wife’s X-rays?”
    Paul’s temper flared as he walked around him. “Get back in that room. I’m trying to save a life.”
    The man timidly walked back to his wife. The helicopter crew stood outside the boy’s room, waiting. “Trip’s delayed, boys,” Paul said. He glanced up at the monitor as he entered. The boy’s heart rate had dropped four more points. He called out, “Atropine, two-tenths milligram IV.”
    V-fib again appeared on the monitor. “What’s going on here?” he mumbled to himself. “Kell, charge to twenty joules. Clear.” The body jumped.
    “We’ve got a beat,” Ken said.
    “For a moment,” Paul answered as the rate began sliding. “We’re keeping him alive with epinephrine. How’s saturation?”
    “He’s fine, doctor. Ninety-five percent.”
    Dr. Garrity looked in. “I’m back, do you need help?”
    “I can’t hold a heart beat. We’re maxed out on atropine and we’re up to three milligrams of epinephrine. Any ideas?”
    He shook his head. “You’re doing all you can. We’ve got a car accident coming in, with level-two multiple injuries.”
    The heart monitor started beeping again.
    “V-fib, doctor.”
    Paul began giving the boy CPR. “Come on. Come on, hang in there. Kelly, let’s try one more time. Epinephrine, two-tenths milligram IV.”
    “Done.”
    “Charge to forty