seated position. Uncle Jack looked down into his lap and moaned.
It was Dr. Pullaski who steamed in moments later. Uncle Jack drew back as she scrutinized his face. Gently she picked up his wrist and took his pulse.
âWe should have sedated him beforehand, but we had no idea he was so volatile,â she said.
âMr. OâNeill hasnât been volatile,â Emily said. âNot until just now.â
Dr. Pullaski barely acknowledged that Emily had spoken. Sheâd taken out a hypodermic syringe. Efficiently she pushed up the arm of Uncle Jackâs gown, swabbed the flesh, and jabbed. Slowly she depressed the plunger. In moments, Uncle Jackâs shoulders and face had relaxed as any residual agitation smoothed over.
Dr. Pullaski put a stethoscope to Uncle Jackâs chest and listened. She sent Emily off for oxygen.
Philbrick crossed to the sink and ran water into a basin. He snapped on some latex gloves. Gently, he washed Uncle Jackâs legs and in between with a sponge, then took a towel and dried. He helped Uncle Jack into a fresh hospital gown. While he was wiping the table Emily returned pushing a handcart holding a cylinder of oxygen.
âThis will help you breathe,â Philbrick said, showing Uncle Jack the face mask. Uncle Jack recoiled. Philbrick held the mask an inch from his own mouth and breathed, showing Uncle Jack how it worked. Then gently, he held the mask over Uncle Jackâs mouth.
âJust breathe and try to relax,â he said. âThatâs right, deep breaths.â Philbrick strapped the mask around Uncle Jackâs head.
Dr. Pullaski and Philbrick talked quietly. They both looked toward the window at Annie and me. Then they left Emily with Uncle Jack and came through into the control room.
âDr. Zak, isnât this your patient?â Dr. Pullaski asked. âYou should have warned us. Iâm sure I donât have to tell you how much better it is when we can anticipate these things.â
It had been a judgment call. Kwan and I had discussed it, and we both felt sedation unnecessary. Plus, a sedative might have made Uncle Jack less responsive to the test protocol. Though I didnât like to admit it, Annieâs aversion to Uncle Jack being sedated had weighed in. With twenty-twenty hindsight, it was clear that Iâd made an error.
âWeâre ready to try again,â Philbrick said.
âYouâre kidding,â Annie said, looking incredulous.
âWith the sedation your uncle will be fine,â Dr. Pullaski said.
âAre you nuts?â Annie said.
Uncle Jackâs head jerked around. Philbrick put his hand over the microphone.
I knew it was standard operating procedure not to let family observe these kinds of procedures for this very reason. It hadnât gone smoothly, and now Annieâs concern for her uncle was swamping her judgment about what was best for him.
Philbrick gave me a look that said, This was your idea. Now fix it . âAnnie, think about why youâre here,â I said. âThis machine is the only one that can do this kind of testing. We may get a diagnosis. Maybe even a treatment.â
âAnd what if he has a heart attack or a stroke in there?â
âWeâll be monitoring him. If he becomes upset again, weâll stop,â Philbrick said.
âItâll be over before you know it,â I added.
âButââ Annie started, tears building behind her wall of anger.
âMiss Squires,â Dr. Pullaski said gently, âDr. Shands and I have been doing this work for more than a decade. We test patients like your uncle every day of the week. This is very routine. Your uncle is going to be fine. Just let us do our jobs.â
We had her surroundedâthree against one. It wasnât fair, but it was the right thing to do. Finally she agreed.
Philbrick went back into the scan room and listened to Uncle Jackâs chest. He removed the oxygen mask and Emily
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