Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:15:35 -0400 From: James Heady Subject: The Wounds Within My Heart--Book 4--Chapter 7 The Wounds Within My Heart By James Disclaimer If you're offended by sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged boys, then back out of this story now. If you're not of the legal age in your location to read this type of story then exit immediately. If you're disturbed by situations dealing with Racism, Anti-LGBT Bigotry, Ableism, Rape, child abuse and/or suicide, then don't read any further. Please remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations that keep this and other stories free to the public. I wanted to take a moment to thank my editor K. without who's help and edits this story wouldn't be what it is. You do a really good job with making changes when needed, and I always appreciate them. Thank you. Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, the next time my E-mail address jamesheady1985@gmail.com needs to get sleeping pills, offer to get them for them. When you get them, secretly replace them with energy pills instead. The Wounds Within My Heart Chapter Seven Nohea In the days after Pietro and my Valentine's Day celebration, I was the happiest I had been ever. Pietro told me he felt the same when we talked about it the weekend we were at his house. At that moment during our conversation, I could feel more love between us than ever before. I had no way of knowing though, that things were about to take a dark turn for the two of us. This would be an event which seemed to test our strength and ability to stick by each other. Neither of us saw it coming though, and we continued on that weekend in total happiness as we spent time talking, cuddling and making love several times. Things also went going well that following week. Pietro and I would visit at each other's houses, help one another with homework and spend time enjoying each other's company. Monday of that week was when Pietro began attending classes at my school. We were both really glad to see each other, and best of all, we shared all of our classes together! 0000 The malformed veins sat deep within the brain tissue. They went undetected all this time throughout the life of the boy. Had they been found, the malformation could have been burned off with radiation sooner. Because of the malformation being undetected all this time, this was especially dangerous, since there were no symptoms of which to speak. There were no headaches, numbness in any parts of the face or body, nor were there any seizures. There was also no confusion. In short, the malformation was a ticking timebomb in the boy's brain, and it was ready to go off at any moment. Technically it could have blown at any moment throughout the boy's life, but the cell walls were growing weaker and weaker as the boy entered his teen years. It was now at a critical point, but at this time, no one knew it. The walls of the arteries connecting to the veins continued to pump blood through the increasingly weakened structures. The walls of the veins were stretched almost to the max, and were at the weakest they had ever been. Finally, by the end of February, the final blow sent things crashing down. 0000 Pietro Monday came upon us bright and sunny. I had been on my way to school, and as I got out of the car, I looked around. Nohea wasn't anywhere to be found, though I figured he would be here soon. Pulling out my phone, I texted him, then entered the school. Things continued to go well, then at the end of the day I got dressed for PE Class. Nohea was running laps as I entered the gym, and I got to work on lifting weights. That was going well, and I was surprised, and glad to see, that my weight-lifting was paying off. My muscles were getting bigger, and Nohea had said a couple of times how much he liked the feel of them. Once I finished the last lift, I sat the weight bar back down in the frame where it rested. I went over and got some water, then went to practice with one of my team mates. As I got ready to make the first move, I began to feel strange. I could feel a tingling in the left side of my face, and there was a weakness in my left arm. I struggled to lift it, and it took a lot of effort. I didn't understand what was happening, and I then felt confused. Looking around, I felt even more weird. Nothing looked familiar, and I had to struggle to remember where I was. "Pietro, you plan on making a move or just standing there?" my team mate Jacob asked. I moved to put up my index finger to indicate that I would, then felt myself falling back. 0000 Several kids gasped, then ran to Pietro. Nohea was one of them, and Coach Larson immediately called 911. It didn't take long before the paramedics were running into the gym. Pietro was lifted on to a gurney and secured in place. His vitals were recorded, and he was wheeled out of the gym, then placed into the ambulance. While this was happening, Coach Larson called Pietro's family, and Nohea was on the phone to David. It didn't take long, and both families were at the school in record time. 0000 Nohea I walked on legs that felt like rubber. Jacob, Pietro's team mate, helped me as we went over to a chair. I practically fell, and Jacob helped me sit. Moments later, I heard Coach Larson greeting my dad, as well as Pietro's family. I felt my heart pounding, and I was so afraid for my best friend and lover. My dad was at my side now, and we hugged for a long moment. I then greeted Bryan, Amy and Lexy. At this point, it was almost time for class to end for the day. It wouldn't have mattered though, Coach was telling us that everyone was dismissed for the rest of the class. With that out of the way, I got in the car with my dad, and we followed Pietro's family to the hospital. 0000 "The stereotactic Frame is in place," Dr. Barns, the head Neurosurgeon announced. Pietro had been at the hospital for almost half-an-hour as the medical team rushed him into the MRI room. Taking several images, they found the problem immediately. Within the left side of Pietro's brain was an Arteriovenous Malformation. This collection of veins sat there close to bursting. They were now leaking slowly into Pietro's brain, and once found, the medical team got him into the OR. Now secured in place, Dr. Barns began the surgery. He made an incision in the area of Pietro's head. Once the flap of skin was held back, he drilled a hole, exposing the brain. A nurse provided suction, and Dr. Barns looked through his surgical microscope. "There it is," he announced. "Suction." Once the blood was cleared away, Dr. Barns looked closer. He then moved the laser gun in place, and checked the readings. "Okay, I'll begin burning off the bleeders now," he said. "We're fortunate that this boy is not only young, but that we caught the AVM in time. Had he been brought in possibly a half-an-hour later, or even a few minutes, then he might not be here with us now." "Heart rate is steady," Dr. Hal,l the Anesthesiologist, called out. "BP is 90 over 60." "Good," Dr. Barns replied. Aiming the laser, Dr. Barns began working to burn off the AVM. In doing this, this would ensure that the brain wouldn't suffer any further bleeding. It would also ensure that the AVM wouldn't bleed again. As Dr. Barns worked, Pietro's vitals continued to hold, and the anesthesia was maintained. He lay on the operating table, head fixed in place by the stereotactic frame, and an endotracheal tube placed down his throat and into his trachea. This tube pumped into his lungs a mixture of oxygen and a gas anesthetic called Isoflurane. This anesthetic would ensure that Pietro stayed asleep throughout the surgery. Propofol had been administered through his IV once he was wheeled into the OR, and Succinylcholine had been given a few moments later. This made intubation of the ET tube easier. After he was intubated, Pietro was given a dose of Fentanyl through his IV which would make sure that he felt no pain that could cause him to awaken during the procedure. "Do you think he had this AVM for a long time?" one of the nurses asked. "It's possible," Dr. Barns responded. "When I looked through his medical history, it wasn't mentioned at all. He probably could have been born with it." Soon Dr. Barns was finishing with the laser. He checked his work, and then began closing up the operative site. Once finished, he checked over everything a final time. "How are we doing Dr. Hall?" Dr. Barns asked. "Vitals are holding," Hall replied. "BP is 99 over 66. I've decreased the Isoflurane, so his blood pressure will continue increasing back to normal levels soon." "Perfect," Barns answered. "You can continue with easing up the anesthesia." "Yes Dr.," Hall replied as he worked at doing just that. 0000 Nohea It felt like an eternity as we all sat there waiting. Once we arrived at the hospital, Dr. Barns the neurosurgeon told us quickly about what had happened. I could hardly follow what he was saying, but I definitely understood when he mentioned the words "Bleeding", "Dangerous" and "Possible Death". When he left after letting us know that Pietro would be rushed to surgery, I sat with my dad holding me. I sobbed for several minutes, unable to speak. I couldn't believe this was happening! It seemed like we had it all, now Pietro was possibly close to death. It didn't seem possible! I could hardly believe that, earlier that weekend we were talking, eating together and cuddling. It seemed like a nightmare, and as I thought about it, it was a nightmare! Finally, my crying was under control, and I dried my eyes. I then asked my dad to explain what had happened, and he did. I was a little calmer now, and could take in the information a lot easier. It seemed that Pietro might have been born with this AVM, but no one knew it. It didn't help that little was known about his biological family. Whatever the origin, Pietro was in the hands of the surgical team. I just hoped that they caught it in time. The doctors did update us a half-an-hour into the surgery. It was Dr. Barns, and he let us know that everything was progressing well. He then returned to the OR, and it was almost another hour of waiting. By this time, Triston, Aiden and Alex were there. Dad had gone to call Aunt Beth shortly after they took Pietro back, and she let Gina know to bring Triston to the hospital. I had texted Aiden and Alex who arrived quickly. Eventually I felt hungry enough to eat something, and Alex and Aiden took me to the cafeteria. I asked if anyone else wanted anything, to which they all said they were alright. Seated at one of the tables now, I began eating some of the burger I got. "I still can't believe this," I said after putting down my sandwich. "I didn't know he had anything like this," Aiden said. "I hadn't ever heard of something like that," Alex added. "Neither have I," I answered. "It does sound promising though since Dr. Barns thinks he caught it in time," Alex went on. "Maybe with there being little bleeding, Pietro will be able to pull through," Aiden said. "I hope so," I answered. Finishing my burger and fries was difficult, and as I walked to the trash can, I realized just how lost I felt without Pietro there with me. It brought back the memory of when we had been torn apart all those months ago. I couldn't face something like that again, not after we found each other once more! Throwing away my trash, I returned to where my friends sat. I waited for them to finish their food, and once done they threw away their trash. As we left the cafeteria, I told them that I wanted to go to the chapel to say a prayer for my friend. Alex and Aiden agreed, and they guided me to where it was located. Once seated, I sat there as my two friends walked out of the room to wait for me in the hall. I let them know they could stay, but they said that this was time I needed for me at the moment. Clearing my mind, I began speaking. "God, you've been watching me all my life, and I believe that you helped with bringing Pietro and I together," I began. "I also believe that you helped with reconnecting us. Please let him be alright. I really need him with me. He's truly my best friend, and I love him so much! I love him more than anything! I feel so completed when I'm with him, and his love makes me feel so safe and like nothing bad will ever happen! He's been there with me through good times, and through the bad times as well. Also, please don't let him suffer or be in any pain! Amen." I wiped my eyes, and as I stood and began walking towards the doors of the room, I heard my dad's voice. He was asking Alex and Aiden if I was in there. "I'm here Dad," I said stepping out of the chapel. "I'm glad I found you," he said as we headed back to the waiting room. "I have news about Pietro, and Dr. Barns wants to talk to all of us." I hoped that this meant good news, and I walked along-side my dad holding on to his elbow as we entered the waiting room. Dr. Barns greeted us, and from the direction of his voice I could tell he wasn't looking at anyone. His voice sounded serious, more than it had been earlier! I felt my heart pounding again, and I did my best to prepare myself for whatever Dr. Barns had to tell us! Author's Notes I can imagine none of you saw this coming. I got the idea a while back, and so decided to write about it here. You'll all get to see what happens to Pietro in the next chapter, and if he pulls through or not. All that being said, I hope you're all doing well, and having a good evening. I'll see everyone in Chapter Eight.