The Challenge

By Pat Reddekopp

Two families face circumstances that will change their lives. Roy and Reanna are devastated when they discover Livy had planned to end her life. Lola, a young woman bound to her wheelchair due to an accident, can identify with Livy’s desire to die. But she is also the only one capable of giving Livy the will to live again.

Grady is in possession of his mother, Sophie’s, medical directive, and makes the decision to have life support removed. He is not prepared, however, for his sister-in-law, Dinah’s wrath, when she discovers what he has done. Can Elliott, already upset by Grady’s careless attitude to their mother, find a way to comfort Dinah in this darkest moment?

Holly, a housekeeper with a longing for Dr. Kimball to find happiness, shares her cheerful attitude with all around her. But another doctor on staff is in sharp disagreement with Dr. Kimball about how they care for their patients, and this debate could change the way they approach their medical careers forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Jan 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781486611393

Book preview

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To other writers who spend many hours putting information on the internet and compiling essays. Your words helped keep this fictional story from becoming a fantasy.

Thanks to the team at Word Alive for the time you spent polishing my collection of words.

Every spring, when the dry buds on the trees open up to the warmth of sunshine, I am convinced anew of my heavenly Father’s approval of life and renewal. Whenever I hear of a young family beginning the cycle of life again, bringing a newborn child into the world, a world seemingly shriveling up with evil, I am grateful for the hope our loving Father can open in the hearts of humankind. Each time someone overcomes and starts again, I am thankful our Father is in favor of changed lives. Thank you, heavenly Father, for your adoration of life.

Chapter 1

Dr. Jonah Kimball stood at the fourth floor window across from Room 124, looking over the roof tops around the hospital. So many homes, so many people. Why was it that some would never come to this hospital until it was too late, while others were here almost every year? His one desire when he’d entered medical school had been to help people get well.

Summoning courage for the inevitable, Jonah pictured the empty bed in the room across the hall and sighed. He reached up and raked his fingers through his graying hair, leaving it as disheveled as his mind. Having someone under his care who wouldn’t recover wasn’t supposed to happen. Nor had he ever imagined having to shatter a family’s hopes that their loved one would get well. He had always seen himself as the bearer of good news, telling of how he’d pulled out all the stops and reversed bad outcomes. How idealistic! How arrogant he must have been in his youth to think he could help everyone.

The rattle of a cart coming down the hall interrupted his thoughts. He turned and glanced at the lady pushing it. A big smile came to her face as she approached.

Good to see you, Dr. Kimball. She paused as she reached him. How are you this morning?

I’ve been better, Holly.

I’m sorry to hear that. Holly moved her cart closer to the wall. On such a beautiful day, too.

The sun may be shining out there, but there’s not much in here this morning.

Holly lifted her cleaning cloth from the cart and folded it, wondering if more was coming.

Jonah wanted to say more, but instead he glanced at Holly, turned, and walked away.

Why would I tell this woman how I feel? he asked himself. What is it to her anyway?

Holly watched him disappear around a turn in the hallway. She shook her head as she picked up her rubber gloves and disinfectant, and started towards the newly vacated bed.

The doctor was so troubled, she thought as she wiped the rubber-covered mattress. There had to be something unspoken weighing down his heart, something preventing him from seeing that the sunshine outside was shining through the windows, too.

Lord, she prayed, you put a little sunshine into his soul today, okay?

* * *

The young couple rose and stepped toward Jonah, their eyes registering the same apprehension he saw each time he approached someone whose critically injured loved one had been brought into the hospital. He knew immediately they were hoping for good news, but at the same time fearful of what was to come. They looked like their lives rested on what he would say next. Perhaps they did.

He reached out his hand to shake theirs.

I’m Dr. Kimball, he said. No one else sat in the waiting area, so he asked them to resume their seats. He took a deep breath and began the task he disliked so much. Elliott, your mother had a massive stroke. It caused severe injury to her brain and she will never function on her own again. Even if she lives and comes out of the coma, which I doubt very much, she will be totally bedridden.

Elliott and Dinah looked at him like they hadn’t heard.

Can we see her now? Dinah asked, rising.

Jonah was about to ask why she would want to when his bedside training kicked in. He nodded instead. She’s been moved to the palliative care ward. I’ll show you where her room is, and then I have other patients to see.

Elliott and Dinah followed him to the elevator.

* * *

Is there anything else you can do for her? Elliott asked, stepping closer to the bed.

If we thought there was something that would help, Jonah replied, we would have done it.

Dinah looked at Jonah as he spoke. She had noticed a hint of exasperation in his voice, almost like he was taking it personally that he was unable to make things right.

Jonah reached up and checked the IV. I’ll leave you with her. Pulling the curtain aside to leave, he added, If you notice any change or distress, please press the call button.

Could I say anything more idiotic? he thought as the comment left his lips. After all, there wouldn’t be any change. The only life they saw was provided by the machines. I should have suggested they remove life support. What’s the point of waiting?

* * *

Elliott looked at his mother. So motionless, the tubes and lines snaking around her. Just a few hours ago, she had been romping with her grandchildren at her birthday party. How could she be so pale and unmoving now?

He reached out and touched her hand. It was still warm. Had he expected it would be cold? Like she was as dead as she appeared? Her face was expressionless and white, her eyelids covering the sparkle that always lit up her face when she saw them.

Dinah put her arm around his waist and leaned her cheek against his shoulder.

She wouldn’t want to be like this, Dinah.

"No, she wouldn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her motionless since I met her. Some part of her was always active. If she wasn’t doing something for someone, her mouth was