HWA Message Board: Mi Hija! (Part 1)

Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – 6:26 a.m. (ET) - The Morning After Road to Ruin

HWA’s Department of Talent Relations had arranged hotel accommodations for Erica’s mother and brother, transportation, and a stipend to cover additional expenses such as food, and extra clothes they might need for their prolonged stay. They didn’t know how long they would be in Charolotte, but the company was committed to looking after them.

Erica’s mother had slept in the waiting room outside the ICU. The nurses were kind enough to bring her a better chair than the standard ones, and some extra blankets. It reclined but was no bed. She rested, but didn’t really sleep. She sent Juan to the hotel so he could get some rest. He protested, but she insisted, and he didn’t argue further. Visiting hours were over and he couldn’t see his sister anyway. Her mother, however, refused to leave.

By morning she felt like an old ironing board, her back and limbs were stiff and creaky. It was so cold in the hospital, a Champurrado would be lovely, she thought. It would be 8:00 a.m. soon and visiting hours would start, Juan would be there around 9:00 a.m. She’d been told about limited visiting hours, and the one person at a time rule. Doctors had kept her updated throughout the night on Erica’s condition. She was stable, but not out of the woods. She couldn’t remember ever praying so hard in her life. These prayers rose above all others, this was her only daughter…two of three sons and her husband having all gone before her, she’d couldn’t suffer another loss.

She couldn’t tell the hospital what happened, although judging by the looks of some they were wrestling fans and knew. Luckily, HWA officials were on hand and took care of Erica’s admittance through the emergency room, so she didn’t have to explain anything, or worse, lie. Erica had been possessed. That demon taking over her mind and her body. She didn’t know what the actual hospital admittance paperwork said. Once she was stabilized and treated, doctors explained that Erica’s most severe injuries included a punctured liver, and a laceration on her hearts right ventricular.

They suspected a concussion and would proceed as such, but as she remained unconscious, they were unable to verify. Other than that, her wounds were consistent with any other violent wrestling match, bruises, swelling, superficial cuts, etc. She was losing blood and required emergency surgery. Doctors were dumbfounded by discovering the appearance of cauterization on parts of her wounds, unable to explain it. She knew. It was that spear Maniac had stabbed her with. It glowed, it absorbed the evil, burning it away as it vanquished that demon, that’s what happened.

She rose from the chair and stretched. One of the nurses told her that the cafeteria was open and she could get something to eat. She just wanted to see Erica, food would have to wait. Aching all over, she walked to ICU and entered Erica’s room. All the beeps and compression noises of the machines sounded off as she sat down in the chair beside the bed and took her daughter’s hand in hers, wrapping her rosary around Erica’s wrist, and bowed her in silent prayer. Moments later the doctor walked in.

(Doctor): Ah, Mrs. Martinez, good morning. She’s a tough one, this one here.

He gestures a nod at Erica.

(Doctor): We’re going to bring her out of sedation and see how she does. Her body is going to be in a great deal of pain, the medications will take care of most of it, but there will be moderate discomfort. We’ll run more scans and check the status of any residual bleeding, some mobility and cognitive tests as well and if everything looks good, I’d say she’ll be fit for travel in 2 maybe 3 days. Her recovery of course…she’s looking at about 8 weeks of proper bed rest, but given her physical condition, perhaps a little less before she’s back on her feet.

(Erica’s Mom): Gracias!....Thank Ju!

She squeezed Erica’s hand as the nurse came in and removed the bag of sedative from the IV drip. Erica would awaken on her own in the next few hours, but she was concerned about what frame of mind she would be in. She wondered how much of what happened she would remember. Little Juan arrived just after 9:00 a.m. and pleaded with her to go to the hotel, get a shower, maybe a nap. She nodded resignedly. Erica was going to be ok, some weight had been lifted and she felt more free to step away momentarily. She’d shower, get something to eat, but she’d be right back. There was no time for napping.

By the time she had returned Erica had just started to wake. The doctors had requested Juan leave the room so they could assess her as she came out of sedation and relayed to him that they would soon be taking her for scans and tests. She hurried her return, needlessly as it was still a few hours more once she did get back that they were allowed back in. She clutched the rosary in her hand as she walked in, her thumb rubbing the beads between it and her index finger. They had removed some of the equipment from her, and a groggy Erica turned her head as her mother walked into the room. She rushed in grabbing her daughter’s hand and cried her eyes out.

To be continued…