Chapter 2 - The Paperwork of Accountability
By 8:00 AM the following morning, the pediatric orthopedic wing at St. Jude’s Regional Hospital was quiet except for the hum of fluorscopy machines. Dr. Reed Holloway personally led Maddie through an emergency panel of X-rays and MRI scans. Walter held his daughter’s hand while the machines hummed, his jaw tight, his nerves frayed after a sleepless night watching her flinch every time she shifted in bed.
Alice arrived forty minutes later, pale and visibly shaken. The reality of what had occurred at her father-in-law's gathering had finally broken through her initial shock.
"How is she?" Alice whispered, her eyes red. "Walter, I’m so sorry. I froze. I didn't know Kendra was going to—"
"Save it, Alice," Walter said quietly, keeping his voice low so Maddie wouldn't hear. "She’s inside getting imaged. The surgeon said the forced twisting when the brace was ripped off might have torn the newly set cartilage."
Dr. Holloway stepped out of the imaging suite holding a blue folder and a set of preliminary digital scans. His expression was stern, devoid of the mild manner he usually displayed during routine checkups.
"The good news," Dr. Holloway began, looking at both parents, "is that the internal pins inside her tibia remained intact. The bad news is that the soft tissue, ligament strain, and micro-fractures along the growth plate mean her recovery timeline has been set back at least four to six months. She will require a specialized rigid cast, pain management, and intensive physical therapy."
Alice closed her eyes, tears spilling over. "Oh God..."
"And there is one more matter," Dr. Holloway said calmly, drawing a standard official document from his coat pocket. "As a licensed medical provider, I witnessed an intentional, physical act of violence resulting in acute injury to a pediatric patient under my care. In this state, I am a mandatory reporter."
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He laid the paper on the clipboard. Across the top line, in neat, dark ink, was written: STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES — MANDATORY INCIDENT REPORT. Under the section titled Alleged Perpetrator of Physical Abuse/Harm, one name stood out in bold block letters: KENDRA SUE VANCE.
"This report has already been transmitted to child protective services and the local county sheriff's office," Dr. Holloway stated clearly. "Maddie's medical record now officially documents this as an assault resulting in physical trauma. What you choose to do civilly is up to you, Walter. But medically and legally, the paper trail has begun."
