The Bush Telegraph, page 21
‘It’s Tim. He’s sick and we don’t know why.’ He helped a young boy from the front seat, the kid barely able to stand. Maddy sucked in a breath and turned her head. ‘Bring me the wheelchair, Bee, please.’ Then she moved down the ramp to help.
The child looked about eight. Skinny. Red hair like his dad, but his face was a sickly, unhealthy grey and Maddy’s belly dropped. Crikey.
Bridget arrived with the wheelchair and Maddy and his dad swung the boy in, and he lay limp as she turned the chair and pushed it swiftly up the ramp to the verandah. His sweet, sugary breath drifted back at her.
‘Is your son a diabetic?’
‘No,’ Bruce replied quickly then paused in shock. ‘Not that we know of,’ he said more uncertainly.
‘Let’s get him inside.’ The child was breathing rapidly, sweating, and his cheeks were flushed. But it was the acetone smell of his breath that made Maddy’s heart rate accelerate.
‘He’s been sick for a few days,’ Bruce said. ‘Can’t seem to get enough to drink. Peeing all the time.’
‘Tired?’
‘Exhausted, more like. We thought he had some sort of stomach bug because he’s been throwing up, but he’s getting worse not better, and my wife had to wait till I got home from work to get him in here.’
‘I’m glad you brought him in. He’s sick, Bruce.’
Bruce’s face paled further. ‘She woulda brought him sooner, but we had to sell the family car with the drought.’
They’d pushed past Bridget holding the door by this stage and Maddy took them straight into the emergency room. ‘Bridget. Can you ask Alf to come over and just sit in the office for me, please? Then go to Mrs Cook’s. I’ll come by after if it’s not too late.’ Alf would be pleased. He’d get four hours’ pay for the call-out.
Bridget nodded and put the keys on the front desk.
Young Tim almost collapsed onto the bed when Maddy and his dad stood him up. ‘Can you tell me your name?’ She wanted to ascertain just how conscious he was.
‘Tim.’ He was faint but responsive from where he lay pale against the white sheets.
‘Good boy. Okay, Tim. I need to prick your finger with this machine pretty urgently. It’s only a small sting, but the ouch goes away quickly. I need to test a drop of your blood.’ She looked at Bruce. ‘You right if I go ahead?’
‘Do what you have to. He’s no sook.’ Quickly, Maddy pricked the child’s finger. Tim didn’t even wince as he closed his eyes and Maddy’s heart rate ramped up.
The machine beeped as soon as the result was ready and, as she suspected, his blood sugar level read HI. Not even a number. Too raised for the machine to make a guess. She did a quick temperature, pulse and blood pressure check, and left him connected to the vital-sign monitors.
Alf appeared at the door. He’d thrown on a clean white T-shirt and a clean pair of jeans as Maddy had suggested he do when called in. ‘Hold the fort out the front, Alf. Thanks.’ Then she turned to the patient’s dad. ‘Bruce. Tim is exhibiting all the symptoms of ketoacidosis, a diabetic crisis that’s a medical emergency I need help for. I’ll call the flying doctor and as soon as they can they’ll pick him up. I’m thinking they’ll fly him to a large hospital for treatment by a specialist as soon as possible.’
Bruce’s big Adam’s apple jumped as he swallowed. ‘Will he be okay?’
Maddy lifted her head from the notes she was scribbling. ‘When we get him sorted. While we’re waiting for them to arrive, I’ll put a drip in and give him some fluids and medication, but I’ll talk to the doctor first.’
Bruce’s pale face turned even paler. He looked at his son and nodded jerkily that he understood.
Maddy fired up the telehealth screen and picked up the phone. When the call went through, she heard the voice of the same doctor she’d spoken to when Mick had arrested.
‘It’s Madison Locke here, nurse practitioner from Spinifex Health Centre.’
‘Madison. Dr Bligh. What’s happening down there? What can I do for you?’
The screen came on and she saw the young doctor’s face. She waved to let him know the video connection was on at her end. ‘I have a dad here who brought his eight-year-old son, Tim Dalton, history of weakness, gastro symptoms, thirst, looking very grey and pale. Finger-prick blood-sugar-level reading is high. Obvious acetone breath noted and semiconscious. No previous medical history.’
‘You’re thinking ketoacidosis?’
‘Yes. And I’m concerned he’s heading for a coma.’
‘I’ll get the retrieval team organised. Can you get a line in?’
‘I’ve mentioned that to them, and Tim and his dad have agreed if you’ll give me some fluid orders, and for the insulin drip after he’s rehydrated.’
‘Good. Let’s get some fluids going. Ten mils an hour per kilo for the first hour.’
Maddy glanced at Tim, then asked Bruce, ‘Is he about twenty-five kilos?’
Bruce nodded. ‘Twenty-six last week when we were weighing lambs.’
He would have lost some weight since then. Maddy felt the stab in her chest; that had been when they were a normal family before diabetes had come in and turned their life upside down. She breathed away the emotion and made notes about the fluids needed on the chart.
The doctor recited the insulin-infusion orders and Maddy wrote them down, and then repeated them so he could confirm them. Once they’d done that, the doctor asked to speak to Bruce. While that was happening, Maddy began to prepare for the intravenous line and slid the tourniquet over Tim’s sweaty arm. In the background, she could hear the conversation between the two men.
‘Mr Dalton?’
‘Bruce.’
‘Bruce. Tim’s showing serious symptoms of ketoacidosis, which can develop over days and is a sign of insufficient insulin production by his body. There are blood tests and investigations we need to do, but at this moment it’s important we get him stabilised.’
‘Maddy said that.’
‘You’ve got a good nurse with you there.’
‘Too right.’
Maddy heard the words and felt her cheeks begin to burn, but it was Bruce’s heartfelt agreement that made her eyes sting. She just hoped they could get Tim back under control before damage was done to any of his organs.
Dr Bligh went on. ‘Someone else is initiating the retrieval team as we speak and a doctor and nurse will be there as soon as we can get them there. They’ll decide which hospital Tim will go to for treatment by a specialist after they arrive. Hopefully, by the time the retrieval team arrives he’ll be feeling a bit better, but be prepared for him to leave. Once he’s assessed by the flight staff, there’s a chance we’ll take him straight to Brisbane if he’s as sick as Madison is worried he is.’
Maddy succeeded with the intravenous cannula and taped it into place. It seemed a good time to make things happen, while Bruce was distracted and Tim too unwell to care as long as she told him what she was doing. As she connected the line, she spoke up. ‘Line is in. And can we confirm dad will go with him?’
‘At this stage, there is room on the aircraft.’ The doctor peered beyond Maddy’s shoulder. ‘Good job on the line.’ He peered harder. ‘You seem to be on your own except for Bruce and your patient?’
‘Correct. The nurses are attending the paediatric emergency course up your way and left this afternoon.’
‘Anyone you can call in?’
‘Relief fell through. I’ve got an unskilled ambulance driver here, but no other medical staff.’
‘We’ll be sending a doctor and nurse, so we’ll make sure Tim is stable before they leave.’
Which he was. Once the insulin infusion started and Tim’s dehydration improved, the boy looked more alert.
After he flew out with his dad beside him, and Alf drove the flight crew in and out from the airstrip, Maddy cleaned up the clinic and restocked, had tea with Bridget, and took her back to Mrs Cook’s.
She gave the destination hospital a couple of hours, and then phoned to see how Tim’s condition sat at the moment.
They’d transferred him to the level-six hospital in Brisbane, where he’d been admitted to intensive care under the supervision of the senior specialist. The ward sister said he was stable and on close observations. Maddy thanked her and hung up. Then she rang Tim’s mum, Wendy, and updated her.
Maddy had arranged for Alf to take her car and leave it with Wendy for the weekend. Mick had gone after him to drive them back. Maddy wouldn’t be going anywhere without the ambulance anyway, and she didn’t like the idea of Wendy being on the station on her own without a vehicle. By Bruce’s own admission, the ute didn’t fit the family, and the other four kids could have any disaster fall on them.
She promised Wendy she’d ring the hospital again in the morning, but not until after ten am, when the specialists would have done their ward rounds. Then she could have a chat to the ward sister about Tim’s condition and treatment, and she could talk to his mother on the phone and compare notes to keep her in the loop after that.
Maddy couldn’t imagine how hard it would be alone on a farm with little children, while your eldest son was fighting for his life nearly two thousand kilometres away. There’d been no history of diabetes in Bruce’s or Wendy’s families that they knew about, so there was a big learning curve ahead for the Daltons when Tim came home.
Maddy had her diabetes certificate, but she’d contact one of her friends whose main line of work was diabetic education. Her friend would send some resources so they’d be ready for when Tim returned.
Jeepers. What an afternoon.
As Maddy showered and settled down into her bed that night, the house felt lonely without Bridget and echoingly empty. It was strange being in the house on her own. Even more so because she’d become used to Phyllis and Rita being tucked away somewhere or coming home soon, and four bodies took up way more physical space than one lonely soul.
But she wasn’t feeling as lonely as Tim’s mum was at the moment, probably.
She’d have to talk to Bridget in the morning. And maybe the other kids in the class. She could see that her daughter had been shocked after seeing how ill Tim had become. And Tim was someone she’d played with, usually a boisterous kid. Even Maddy had noticed him in the playground as a normally happy kid, bright-red hair aflame as he raced around everywhere. All his schoolmates would be worried on Monday in such a small school.
Maybe she should talk to the teacher about explaining diabetes. She should certainly do so before Tim went back to school. Whenever that would be.
She’d ask her friend to send some children’s books on diabetes for the teacher to read to them as well.
Maddy yawned as her lids grew heavy.
Chapter Thirty-six
Maddy
Saturday dawned hot and bright and Maddy woke with a tiny flutter of excitement in her belly that she couldn’t identify. Or could she? It possibly had something to do with the chance that Connor would come to town today. She’d missed him last week. Then she screwed up her face and planted her feet solidly on the floor to ground herself.
For goodness sake. Stop mooning. Did she expect Connor to follow his son into town when she’d issued the invitation to Jayden?
When said child turned up at nine o’clock, Maddy was dressed, breakfasted and making pancakes to put in the middle of the table. Bridget had just taken a plate over to Mrs Cook for her morning tea and to thank her for having her overnight.
The older woman and Bridget had been firm friends by the end of the evening, and Maddy realised what a gift their wonderful Alma had given her daughter in allowing her to appreciate the wisdom of an older generation. It was no effort for Bridget to feel comfortable and spend time in an elder’s company.
She opened her door to the boy. ‘Good morning, Jayden. How was your ride into town?’
Jayden shrugged. ‘Fine.’ His favourite answer. But he added, ‘I saw some emus and a black snake.’
He didn’t look bitten and she was pretty sure he would have told her if he had been. ‘A little snake, I hope. Are you thirsty? Want some pancakes?’
‘You don’t fuss.’ Jayden smiled at Maddy. ‘Thanks. Dad’s gone again this morning, so I haven’t had breakfast.’
Maddy fought against the question but gave up. ‘What’s your dad doing this morning?’
‘Gone over to Kyle’s to help them stand up the front fence. Kyle’s getting cattle.’ Well, that certainly needed doing.
‘Wouldn’t they have appreciated your help?’
He shrugged again. ‘Dad was okay when I said I had to come into town. He’ll be in at lunchtime to pick me up. I still haven’t got all the money to pay Kyle back, so I don’t really want to go over there much.’
Maddy could understand that. ‘Mrs Cook’s got some jobs on the list for you.’ He straightened and the excitement in his face matched the sudden restlessness in his feet. ‘And you’ve started something. I’ve never heard so many mowers and chainsaws as I’ve heard this morning. Everyone has the tidy bug after our efforts at Mrs Cook’s last time.’
He kept looking over his shoulder at the door and Maddy laughed.
‘If you dash across now, Bridget’s over there dropping off the pancakes. You could pick up the details and then come back.’
‘That’s great.’ He edged backwards.
Maddy laughed. ‘Go. And I can think about what I’ll make for lunch when your father gets here.’
When Connor arrived, Maddy had just come back to the house and begun organising all the ingredients she’d need for making wraps. Jayden and Bridget were over at the caravan park next to the pub, picking up rocks from the lawn.
Alf must’ve also caught the tidy bug at his caravan park because he’d been gardening all morning now that the rubbish had been sorted and stored as sticks, stones and disposables.
‘Hello.’ Connor’s cheery greeting eased Maddy’s concerns that she’d been too unfriendly last week.
Maddy waited at the door as he came up the steps to the house. ‘Hello. I’ve only just started making lunch, and I’ve included you, does that work?’
‘Sounds good, thanks. I’ll have to bring food with me the next time I visit. I thought I’d better check to see that my son’s not being a nuisance.’
‘Jayden’s never a nuisance.’ A challenge maybe, but not a nuisance. ‘Come in.’ She held the door open.
He paused when they stood not quite nose to nose, but she could just detect the scent of a man who’d been working hard: a tang of sweat and the drift of some male cologne that hung in a whimsical layer under that. None of the aromas made her want to step away – quite the opposite, in fact, and for the first time she wondered if it was normal that she hadn’t had sex for almost twelve years. She blinked the thought away and averted her face. Good grief, she hoped he couldn’t read that in her expression. ‘Would you like a cold drink?’ she said a bit too hurriedly.
He waited for her to go first and then followed, sitting at the breakfast bar. She scooted around to the kitchen and washed her hands. The cool water over her wrists made her calmer. ‘Juice or diet cola?’
‘The cola would be great, thanks. I must get some in our fridge. You remind me about all the things we used to drink in the city before I came back here.’
‘Like coffee and carbonated drinks that are bad for you?’ She raised her brows. ‘I can give you water if you wish?’
He shook his head. ‘No, thanks.’
She smiled and handed him a cold can of fizz from the fridge and he cracked it open. She put a glass beside him, but he shook his head again. After taking a long swallow, he put the can down with a heartfelt sigh. He cocked one brow when he saw her watching him. ‘Haven’t you seen that iconic ad on TV where the muscled hero drinks lemon fizz from the can, it runs down his chest and all the women swoon?’
She spluttered as she caught on. ‘I don’t watch commercial TV.’
He laughed. ‘I can dream.’
‘Obviously.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t drip your manly drink on my counter. Jayden said you were fixing Kyle’s front fence?’
‘It actually wasn’t as hard as we thought it would be. We used the tractor. Some goose ran over it with a road train about a year ago. I’m not sure why Kyle didn’t get it fixed.’
Maddy had her suspicions. ‘How’s Belle?’
‘She’s the happiest I’ve seen her for ages.’
‘That’s really good to hear. Kyle’s not drinking, then?’
When Connor looked at her, all trace of humour was gone from his face. Maddy was just beginning to wonder if she’d overstepped the boundaries when he said, ‘He hasn’t had a drink since Belle hurt her arm.’
Maddy damped down thoughts that surged, though she didn’t say anything. ‘I’m so glad. Especially as Longreach is only two weeks away for her. Is Kyle going with her?’
‘Yes. I think so. She asked Jayden to feed her dogs.’
‘I hope they don’t have too long to wait for the baby.’ Maddy took a sip of her own drink, one she’d poured into a glass.
‘Yeah.’ Connor nodded glumly. ‘I remember when we were waiting for Jayden to be born. My wife was phoning the obstetrician’s office every second day, asking him to bring on the labour.’
‘I’m surprised they didn’t. Most obstetricians listen to mums’ complaints when they’re postdates.’
‘He wasn’t overdue. She was asking from thirty-six weeks.’
Maddy winced. ‘You can get some unpleasant surprises if you force the baby out too early.’
‘She was told. He came on his due day.’
‘Thank goodness.’ The midwife in her couldn’t help asking, ‘And was it an uncomplicated birth?’
‘It took six hours, and even though she had an epidural as soon as we arrived, it was very difficult for her. And I don’t think she ever forgave me for putting her through that traumatic experience. She said she’d never have another child.’
‘And what did you think of the experience?’
‘Apart from feeling helpless for Kaye-Linda, it blew me away.’
‘Midwifery’s like that,’ Maddy said. ‘Jayden mentioned a couple of times that he was hoping his mum would ring.’ Not all women were maternal, which was fine, but it was tough on the child if a mother had a baby and still didn’t want to be a parent.
