Tomorrow's Dream Read Online Free PDF Page A

carrying an official metal clipboard before her like a shield. Their family doctor followed behind, his gold-rimmed spectacles riding low on a long, pinched nose, his hair the usual disarray of sparse gray curls.
    The man who walked at his side was in direct contrast to their comforting family doctor. He was young and intensely focused. In his stark white hospital coat and sharply creased trousers, he looked both important and foreboding. His presence in her room made Kyle feel even more uncomfortable.
    â€œI asked Dr. Saunders to join us,” Dr. Pearce said in his kindly, tired voice. “He is a pediatric surgeon.”
    Surgeon? Why? Kyle wanted to ask what he was doing here but could not form the words.
    In spite of hospital protocol, Dr. Pearce seated himself on the edge of Kyle’s bed. He nodded to Kenneth and said, “Son, why don’t you grab yourself a chair.”
    Kenneth glanced to where the chair stood on the far wall and settled his arm on Kyle’s shoulder. “Thanks, but I’m fine where I am.”
    The doctor nodded his understanding. He took a deep breath, as if seeking to draw strength from outside himself. “Kyle,” he began slowly, “we’re having a little problem with your baby.”
    Kyle felt her whole body freeze. The entire world seemed to seize up tight. Oh, dear God was her inner whisper, just a short heart-wrenching prayer for what she did not understand.
    â€œI was called back in by the staff a short time after his delivery. He wasn’t getting his color the way they liked. I returned and had a look.” He hesitated again.
    The moments crawled like hours as Kyle waited, lying there helpless, holding her breath.
    â€œI am not sure yet exactly why, but his heart does not seem to be functioning as it should.”
    Kyle groped blindly for Kenneth’s hand and clutched at it with all her might.
    â€œI called in Dr. Saunders. He’s, well . . .” Again the hesitation, the searching breath. “The tests are all preliminary at this stage, you understand. But he, too, believes the boy might have some kind of heart condition.”
    The young doctor stepped forward. Kyle tore her eyes away from Dr. Pearce’s face to look at him. He did not seem quite as distant and official as he had at first. Kyle read compassion in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was soft, yet there was a strength and certainty to his tone that made his words pierce her very soul.
    â€œWe often have great success with corrective surgery,” he began.
    Kyle heard the consoling tone but could not understand. Her grip on Kenneth’s hand tightened until her arm trembled with the strain. Surgery? Surgery for her baby boy? That was unthinkable. What were they talking about? She had seen him. He was fine. Why . . . ?
    They were talking on. Kenneth was the only one who seemed able to listen. Kyle looked up and saw him nod, a strained and fearful expression on his face.
    â€œOf course we will need more tests to determine the extent of damage,” she heard the young doctor say through her haze of disbelief.
    Was this some bad dream? Was she still under the influence of the anesthetic? Oh, if she could only force herself to wake up and make it all go away!
    She heard Kenneth ask, “When?”
    â€œI’d like to get a number of the tests done as quickly as possible.” Dr. Saunders addressed his matter-of-fact words directly to Kenneth now, as though aware that only he was able to comprehend what was being said. “Time is of the utmost importance in such cases. We’ll need you to sign the releases before we can proceed. That’s why we called you in this morning.”
    â€œReleases for the surgery?” Kyle noted that Kenneth’s voice was so hoarse and strained it did not even sound like her husband.
    â€œNo. No, we won’t be able to do surgery at this point. The baby is not strong enough