Chapter 6 - The Ultimate Decision
Dr. Harrison arrived in the ICU within three minutes, sprinting down the hallway with his surgical coat half-buttoned. One look at the rapidly expanding purple discoloration on Brooke’s thigh was enough to confirm their worst fears.
“The bacteria have formed a biofilm,” Harrison said, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. “Standard debridement didn’t reach the deep muscular compartments of the pelvic girdle. If this hits her peritoneal cavity, she won't survive the night.”
Daniel burst through the doors, ignoring the security guard who tried to block his path. “What’s happening? I heard the alarm! Why are you wheeling her back into surgery?”
“Mr. Dalton, the infection has mutated and is tracking into her hip joint and lower abdominal wall,” Harrison explained rapidly as the bed began to move. “We have to perform a radical hip disarticulation and wide excision of the abdominal wall fascia to stop it. It’s her only chance.”
Daniel recoiled as if he had been struck. “Amputation? From the hip? But… she’ll lose her entire leg! She’ll never walk again!”
“Mr. Dalton, if we don't take the leg from the hip right now, she won't have a life to live,” Kendra said, her voice filled with deep, compassionate firmness. “Dr. Keene’s negligence has left us with no conservative options left. Every second we hesitate, the toxins spread further into her core.”
Daniel looked at his daughter. Brooke was conscious now, her eyes filled with a terrifying lucidity as she looked up at her father. She couldn’t speak through the oxygen mask, but she gave a microscopic nod of her head. Do it.
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With tears streaming down his weathered cheeks, Daniel stepped aside and gripped the metal railing of the gurney. “Save my little girl. Please.”
The double doors swung shut, sealing them inside the sterile chaos of the operating theater.
