***
“Kam!” My mother rushes to my side. “Baby, we were so worried.” She kisses me all over my face.
“What happened?” I ask for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Baby, you had an accident of sorts. During the game, you were sacked after your last pass. It was a cheap shot by the other team. Something happened in your brain when you got hit. The doctor can explain it better. But you didn’t get up.” Tears pool in her distressed hazel eyes. “I thought we lost you.”
“My brain?” I repeat. My voice is getting a little stronger.
“Yeah, baby. You had surgery. You’ve been in a coma for two weeks.”
“Two weeks!?”
She nods, the tears falling down her cheeks. A moment later, an older man with a white coat and glasses enters the room holding a tablet.
“Mr. Ellis.” He attempts a smile, which doesn’t really work for him. “Welcome back.”
“Where the hell did I go?”
“First, I’m Dr. Saltzman.” He puts his hand out. I lift my arm with some difficulty and we shake. He seems to be assessing my every move. “I performed your surgery and have been monitoring your progress.” He pulls a chair up to the side of my bed and takes a seat. Make yourself at home why don’t you. “Mr. Ellis, you had a brain aneurysm, or cerebral hemorrhage, during the game. I suspect it was always there, but when you were hit, it ruptured, causing a bleed in your brain.”
All I can do is blink as I process the words aneurysm, cerebral, and hemorrhage.
“We repaired what needed to be fixed, but you didn’t come out of the coma right away. This is sometimes normal.”
“Am I okay?”
“Yes, as far as I can see. We’ll have to do some more scans now that you’re awake, and you’ll have to stay in the hospital for observation for a few weeks, but I think you are going to recover just fine.”
“So I can still play football?”
“As long as there are no stemming neurological effects.”
“Neurological effects?”
“We don’t know the extent of the damage the hemorrhage caused, if any. We’ll know more as you recuperate. You’ll need physical therapy to reverse the muscle weakness from the coma.”
“Is that why I can barely lift my arm, Doc?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“How long what, Mr. Ellis?”
“How long will it take me to recover?”
“Well, that depends on you, and how your body responds to the therapy. In my opinion, you are in exceptional shape—young, athletic. You should have no issues bouncing back as long as you are committed to therapy.”
I glance at my mom. She’s been silent the whole time but looks like she’s ready to fall apart.
“When can I start?” I ask Dr. Saltzman.
He tries to smile again. His thin lips look like a squiggly line. A happy face really doesn’t work for this man.
“We’ll get you up and walking in a little while. You’ll start physical therapy here in the hospital while under observation. I’m going to recommend you stay at home for a month or so, so you can solely concentrate on rehab. I think a stress-free environment will aid in the recovery process.”
“I’m good with that.”