Page 5 of Just Like That

The woman is well dressed and confident-looking with kind eyes, which gives me an unjustified sense of reassurance.

‘I’m Dr Rashi. Would you mind coming with me?’

‘Of course.’ I get up and follow her to a quiet seating area just beyond the reception area, where she sits down beside me.

‘Ms McKenzie—’

‘Oh, please call me Jess,’ I jump in quickly.

‘As you wish.’ Dr Rashi politely nods acknowledgement of this. ‘Jess, I head up the resuscitation area here in A&E and I have been overseeing your brother’s care today.’

‘That’s good,’ I say, without really knowing why. I just feel the need to say something.

‘Seth was admitted at around nine a.m. this morning after taking unwell on a bus. He had not disembarked when the bus reached the end of its route and the driver became concerned. He checked on your brother and realised there was something wrong, so he called an ambulance.’

‘Right…’ While I’m keen to know how this all came about, I’m now willing Dr Rashi to get to the point.

‘There is no easy way to say this, Jess. Your brother has had a stroke, the cause of which is unclear right now, but we should be able to get further information with an MRI scan, which we will do later.’

‘It really is a stroke?’ My mouth falls open as the false sense of security I’d been lulled into during my call with my parents disintegrates instantly. ‘He’s really had a stroke? But how is that possible? He’s young, fit – fitter that most people I know. He drinks a bit, sure… he likes a night out, but would it really cause that?’

‘As I say, we do not yet know the cause,’ says Dr Rashi. ‘Strokes are rare in young, generally healthy people, but they do happen.’

‘Is… he going to die?’ I feel my eyes well up as I ask this question, the swell of raw emotion almost taking over me.

‘He is very poorly, but I believe that we got him here in time, and provided there are no secondary complications, he should make a meaningful recovery over time.’

‘Oh, thank goodness. Wait… you said a “meaningful” recovery? What does that mean?’

Dr Rashi pauses briefly before answering my question. ‘It means that we don’t yet know the extent of the damage. We have stabilised his condition, but until we see more detailed images of his brain, we won’t know if his neurological impairment is temporary or permanent. As soon as there is a bed available – which I am told will not be long – he will be moved to the intensive care unit where he will receive the very best care.’

I gulp as I take all this in. ‘I’ve not had any personal experience with strokes… but I’ve seen things on TV. By “neurological impairment”, do you mean walking, talking, being able to use his arms?’

‘These are areas that can be affected, yes. But I would prefer that we do not speculate at this time. For now, all I can say for sure is that we know Seth’s speech and mobility were initially affected, which is why he was unable to get off the bus or seek help. I will take you to see him now, but I must warn you, what you see will be unpleasant, and we currently have him in an induced coma to ensure he remains stable.’

‘OK…’ I swallow down the fear that’s brimming; my sincere hope is that I can hold it together for my brother.

‘Shall we?’

I get up from my seat. ‘Yes. No matter what he looks like, I need to see him.’

Chapter 3

Dr Rashi leads me through to the resuscitation area and the first thing I become aware of is the sound of machines beeping and a flurry of activity as staff attend to another sick person on the other side of the room.

On reaching the trolley Seth is lying on, I gasp with shock as I take in all the wires and monitors, as well as how vulnerable he looks. It’s as if my strong, lively big brother has been replaced by a paler, weaker doppelganger.

‘Oh, Seth.’ I rush forward, then stop, unsure what to do or if I might hurt him.

‘Go ahead, please,’ says Dr Rashi. ‘He can’t interact with you or hear you in the obvious sense, but there is research suggesting that coma patients fare better when their loved ones communicate with them.’

‘OK…’

I take a faltering breath, then reach across and slip my hand into Seth’s. It’s limp and floppy, which gives me a bit of a fright at first, but it’s also warm. I clasp it tightly. Leaning over him, I kiss his forehead and start to speak to him.

‘Hey, big bro. What’s all this then? I know you’re not keen on your job, but this is taking things a bit far.’ I let out an involuntary snorty sob at my ridiculous and inappropriate joke. ‘I’m here for you, whatever you need. You’ve always looked after me, so now it’s my turn to step up. I’ve let Mum and Dad know that you’re poorly as well, so I expect they’ll soon be on their way here to see you.’

I pause and look up at Dr Rashi, as if seeking her approval. She seems to sense this and nods.

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