For this post, I am sharing one of many short stories I hope to showcase here on Odyssey. I am so happy we get to do this on here. I hope you enjoy this story.
My name is Anna Grant, and I am a nurse at Brownstone Memorial Hospital in the city of Grand Rapids Michigan.
My shift has always been hectic and there is always constant chaos on the floor I work. It is common since I work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As hard as my days have been and sadly to say there are more bad than good, I will never forget Mr. George Rawlings.
I can still recall the day he was brought in. They called his injuries unbearable and that it was very unlikely that he would survive. I remember watching as his immediate family came into the waiting room and there was so much emotion and anger at what had happened to him.
As his nurse, I worked alongside several of the doctors due to the extent of his injuries. One of the things that have made Mr. Rawlings unique is the fact that he was one of the few survivors of the horrific explosion that took part of his crew. These were hard working coal miners and Mr. Rawlings was the one who placed himself ahead of them. Due to that fact, this was not going to be an easy case. Mr. Rawlings had severe second and third-degree burns that were all over his arms and part of his legs. All of us at the ICU facility were slowly taken aback about how he fought to stay alive.
The five surviving miners came to visit him and stood vigil with his family.
“We are here because of him,” cried one of the men.
The others echoed the same sentiment and offered prayers to the five of them who did not make it. During his stay, all the whispers in the hospital spoke volumes of Mr. Rawlings and how he had tried to save his crew. On the outside, the news coverage about the explosion retold the horror of everything that went wrong.
My job as his nurse was to make sure I was not consumed by the media circus outside. I worked hard to keep it together and do all that was needed to help with his care.
Each time I came in to tend to his injuries it became apparent that his prognosis was becoming dire by the hour. I was able to sense his spirit. In one corner of it lay a bible and rosary and many pictures of family and friends. His room also had many flowers and cards.
I could also hear his wife and daughter speaking to him to get him to react. As I heard their cries and pleas, I could not help but wonder how in a moment things can change and how life is precious.
After many months of care one cold October morning, Mr. Rawlings passed away while in his coma. As I heard the screams from his family and friends, I also gathered with the rest of our staff to offer our condolences to them.
On the day he passed I overheard his wife whisper to him, " I will always love you George, and I know we will see each other one day."
His daughter who was about 10 years old came closer and could not stop crying.
"I will always love you Daddy!"
They both embraced one another and my heart ached for them.
The days after he passed, the mood in the ICU was somber. It was hard to go into the now empty room where he lay. But one thing I noticed was a small picture on one of the corners of the table. It was George surrounded by his crew. He was smiling.
All of a sudden I felt something touch my face. Maybe I imagined it. I am not sure. But all I know is I am forever changed by the courage of a man named George Rawlings.
