The Christmas Quilt: Quilts of Love Series Read Online Free PDF

water.
    Samuel pulled the bottle of baby aspirin from his medical bag. “I want you to chew two of these for me. They’re going to help.”
    Jesse struggled to sit up. Annie hurried around the buggy in order to position herself behind him. As she rushed around the back of the buggy, something told her she might be too late. When she arrived at the other side and saw the expression on Samuel’s face, she understood then what had started as a beautiful winter Saturday was turning into one of tragedy.

4
    A nnie stared at Samuel as Jesse clutched his chest.
    Mattie hadn’t quite reached the buggy, but she would in another few seconds. She would see Jesse was having another heart attack.
    “Annie, run to the barn. Use the phone to call 9-1-1. Go now!” Samuel’s voice was calm, but it received no argument. He’d dropped the unopened bottle of aspirin back into his bag and had already begun loosening Jesse’s collar. When Jesse slumped back against the seat, slumped back lifeless, Samuel began to administer CPR.
    Annie backed out of the buggy, nearly tripping over her dress.
    Mattie saw her and stopped. She dropped the glass of water and the dish towel in the dirt. “Where are you going?”
    “To the barn. Help Samuel!” Annie ran, thanking Gotte as she did that the bishop had allowed the phone installation a year ago. It was a phone much like those in the shacks dotting the countryside throughout the community. Bishop Levi had decided that with Annie and Samuel married, and with them both helping meet the medical needs of their district, it was prudent to allow the exception to their rule of no phones.
    She ran and placed the call even as she heard Mattie’s crying. And as she went through those motions, she prayed—for Gotte’s help. For Samuel’s strength, so he could continue performing CPR until the ambulance arrived. For Mattie, so she would feel a sense of calm. For Jesse, so his heart would beat again. For herself, so she would know how to help.
    For Gotte’s wille .
    The emergency dispatcher informed her it would take ten to twelve minutes for an ambulance to reach their address.
    She hung up the phone and returned to Samuel, but this time she didn’t run. This time she was more mindful of the child she was carrying inside her, though she didn’t think running would hurt her. Many pregnant women were joggers, but she wasn’t used to running—and this was a stressful and emotional situation. So, instead of running, she walked quickly and focused on remembering all of her training on the cardiac ward.
    It had been a mere six weeks’ rotation.
    And it had taken place over three years ago.
    In the hospital, they had an external defibrillator, which she had used one time. She and Samuel weren’t equipped with any such device. There would be no way to administer an electrical shock to Jesse’s heart if it had stopped beating completely. No, they could only do their best to provide what medical care they were able and continue the CPR, which she could see Samuel was still performing.
    “I can do that,” she whispered. “They trained me at Mercy Hospital.”
    “ Nein. I’m gut. ” Sweat was beading on his brow. How long had he been at it? Three minutes? Four?
    Mattie sat on the ground beside the buggy, weeping and praying. The German words flowed out of her, out from her heart and onto the cold ground.
    Annie crawled into the buggy, placed her fingers gently against Jesse’s wrist though she didn’t expect to find anything. “Samuel! He has a pulse. It’s weak, but—”
    Samuel stopped pumping on Jesse’s chest and placed his stethoscope there. “ Ya. His heart is beating. How long until the ambulance arrives?”
    “Five, maybe six, minutes.”
    “Try to get a blood pressure for me.”
    She was already slipping the cuff over his arm.
    Jesse began to stir, though he didn’t speak.
    “Glad to have you back, Jesse.” Samuel knelt beside him in the buggy, next to Annie in the floor area, which