"Only one person can be back here at a time," said the nurse to Ruby as she watched her wheel Berilac back to surgery with Bella close behind. The double doors slapped shut and Ruby stood there for a while. She said a prayer "Dear God, protect my dad during his surgery and grant a successful outcome."
After approximately an hour, Bella came through the double doors. "He's ready and waiting," she said. "The anesthesiologist wants some type of lab work results first." Bella and Ruby found cups of coffee and two comfortable chairs and settled back for a nearly 3-hour wait. Myrtle, who was working in the same building stopped by to check in on them occasionally.
Finally the surgeon came out. "The surgery went well," he said. "He is in the recovery area now and will be up in his room in about an hour."
Ruby and Bella met Myrtle for lunch in the cafeteria during this time. Ruby was amazed at how the hospital had changed from when she worked there six years ago. "I can't even imagine where I am in relation to how things were" she said. At lunch she ran into a couple of her old co-workers and exchanged conversation with them for a while.
Ruby and Bella then found the elevator and rode it up to Berliac's floor. There he was in bed, wide awake, and covered up. There were cords all over. One to control his bed, one to call the nurse, an IV pole draining a clear liquid. Another IV attached to a button he held in his hand. "That is your pain medication" said the nurse, "Don't be afraid to use it."
"They took my clothes and kept me in the refrigerator!" complained Berliac. Ruby and Bella silently chuckled.
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