Risk

Risk 

What will you choose, when life brings death

"The long sleeves are kind of a dead giveaway," Christian whispered, as he leaned conspicuously towards her right ear.

"Excuse me?" Erica replied. Her hushed words were loaded with both fear and disdain. 

Erica tugged gently on the thin blue sweater beneath her lab coat. She folded her arms in protest and shuffled away from the snooty, blue eyes first year and closer towards the patients room door. 

"Christiana" Dr. Jennesen summoned, immediately garnering her attention. Angling towards the pale 23 year old female stretched across the gurney, he continued, "So what are we looking at here?" 

Erica reached into the sleeve of her left arm and fingered the ID bracelet hanging on her wrist. She pushed the bracelet further up on her arm, felt for the thin heart shaped locket and tucked it into one of the knitted grooves within her sleeve. She made her way through the other 7 resident physicians in the room and arrived at the patient's bedside. As she made her way across the room, she  continued to send snarky looks towards old blue eyes. 

Poised to show off, Erica began in her weird newscaster-like voice, "Well, based on the locked-in tag on her wrist, we know she's received the NuGene vaccine." 

Erica  reached for the sealed clipboard at the bottom of the bed and pretended to quickly review the patient's most recent labs and diagnostic image reports. The consummate teacher's pet, she had reviewed all the charts for this morning's rotation earlier. She continued, "based on her labs, the raging fever, and the mitral vegetation seen on her echocardiogram, I think we can conclude that this unfortunate new mother has PIIC." 

He smiled with a glow of approval and Erica smugly accepted. 

"What's PICK?" Shannon, a dolly eyed, red headed bombshell, whispered poorly to another 1st year. Her lab coat was cinched at the waist to display her figure and her scrubs clung snuggly to her full breasts and ample hips. Her squeaky voice and child-like demeanor often left her easily misunderstood.

"Anyone care to inform the 1st year?" Dr. Jennesen asked?

"Is she living under a rock?" Christian joked. The smug raise of his manicured eyebrows, the rolling of his eyes and the slight pucker of his lips somehow managed to make him more attractive to Erica. She knew, he knew it, and she despised that. Christian was very aware of his appeal and while he wasn't completely arrogant, he wasn't far off. 

"Well in 2022," Erica started. Christian immediately interrupted. Is this his wayward idea of flirting, she thought. He continued, smiling slyly at her.

"So. I'm sure you learned about the Nu-sars pandemic of 22, right. Wiped out 6% of the population in like 8 months?" He looked at Shannon for confirmation. She glared blankly at him. He continued, "Well, thanks to the marvel of modern medicine, in no time the NuGene vaccine busted on to the scene. Most of us got vaccinated, 58% to be exact, and Nu-Sars was no more. Circa 10-15 years later new mother's who received the vaccine were dying at alarming rates and in most cases taking the babies with em."

Annoyed and embarrassed, Shannon interrupted,  "I'm not an idiot, I obviously know about Nu-sars and NuGene. I'm not living under a rock. I just asked about PICK?" 

"Well I'm getting there, sunshine?"

"Doctor," Shannon said, sternly correcting Christian. She repeated it once more and he raised his hands in surrender.

"My apologies, Doctor. PIIC stands for Pregnancy Induced Infective Endocarditis. Bunch of big words for pregnant women with infected hearts. It's not entirely new. Pre-Nu, only like .006% of women would get it but they were like IV drug users and stuff. We're not entirely sure why the pregnancies are causing it now, but I'm sure as you know, DOCTOR, that numbers moved up to 80summin percent in NuGeners." He puffed, "if it's a pregnancy generated by two NuGeners both the mom and baby hardly ever make it." 

Shannon looked up at him in awe, "I didn't realize it was an infection, and nobody really explains the pathophysiology of it." 

Dr. Jennesen chimed in, "Well you can't believe everything you read in blogs. Nobody's heart is exploding in their chest. I've heard that one a lot and seen the WeTube videos," he paused. "Its all still a little new and we don't have quite enough information to describe just how and when this occurs. But for now, we have the locked-in programs. Contact tracing enti.." 

"You mean racist programs." A young male resident blurted out, interrupting Jennesen's monologue. 

"Racist?" Dr. Jennesen asked, neglecting his original thought. 

Christian raised his left arm and rolled up the sleeve of his lab coat. A thin rose gold bracelet with a tiny heart-shaped locket dangled on his arm. "I'm locked-in," he said, matter-of-factly. 

His confidence, both surprised and saddened Erica. 

Someone else remarked, "it is racist. It might not have started out that way, but it is. No offense Dr. Jennesen but you're married, you don't know" 

"What does that mean?" He contested. A complete hush filled the room. 

"The three bracelet system sir. The silver, gold and rose. It's all good for Brad Pitt here to show off his rose gold bracelet, his gene conversion is low. How often do we see silvers? She's a silver," He paused, pointing at the near lifeless body resting in the hospital bed between them. "And since the baby didn't make it, I'm guessing the guys a silver too." 

"What are you talking about? People don't wanna date NuGeners, period," Christian contested. "You really think people care about the colors on your wrist? I lost my sister and what would have been my niece to PIIC bro. I'm sure we've all lost or will lose someone because of this. It's not some competition and it sure isn't racist. Babies are dying dude. Babies! More than half born since the beginning of the year are gone. And taking their mother with em! Anyway." Christian purposefully concluded. His speech had begun to hasten and like a switch, he felt himself getting worked up and simply turned it off. 

Erica found herself migrating towards towards Christian. That peek into his wounded interior suddenly made him someone she could understand, someone she perhaps wanted to. 

Dr. Jennesen completed his rounds with a more detailed overview of the young patient and the infant girl she lost just days before. He spewed disparaging scientific data derived from the in utero fetuses, stillbirths and post partum deaths of NuGeners. He took a few more questions and braced for the chaos just beyond their space.

As he made his way through the glass plated doors, the school of medical students ushered immediately behind.The chime of heart monitors, IV pumps and medical devices swirled around everyone's earlobes and slapped a jolt of reality back into their minds. 

The wailing cries that were briefly muted behind the doors of the patient's room, now shuddered through each of them. The hallways of the Coronary Care Unit were filled with patients on gurnies. Patient's with critical heart conditions who had no choice but to be treated where they laid because most of the hospital beds were occupied by NuGener moms. Mom's who thus far, had just a 20% chance of surviving. 

The unit was designed in a complete circle, with patient rooms at the perimeter and a nursing station at it's center. Sandwiched between the patient's room and the station, Erica stood still. Paralyzed by the despair of it all she saw a burly middle aged man charge towards her.

"My wife! My wife," he belowed, grabbing her desperately at the shoulders. Before Christian could display his triggered heroics, the man fell to his knees. "My wife," he cried as his face collapsed into his hands. Christian placed his hand on the man's right shoulder and called out for a nurse. 

"Come on.." he paused searching for recollection, "Erica," he continued, seeming almost pleased with himself, "let's go."

They continued on into the next room.Risk 

What will you choose, when life brings death

"The long sleeves are kind of a dead giveaway," Christian whispered, as he leaned conspicuously towards her right ear.

"Excuse me?" Erica replied. Her hushed words were loaded with both fear and disdain. 

Erica tugged gently on the thin blue sweater beneath her lab coat. She folded her arms in protest and shuffled away from the snooty, blue eyes first year and closer towards the patients room door. 

"Christiana" Dr. Jennesen summoned, immediately garnering her attention. Angling towards the pale 23 year old female stretched across the gurney, he continued, "So what are we looking at here?" 

Erica reached into the sleeve of her left arm and fingered the ID bracelet hanging on her wrist. She pushed the bracelet further up on her arm, felt for the thin heart shaped locket and tucked it into one of the knitted grooves within her sleeve. She made her way through the other 7 resident physicians in the room and arrived at the patient's bedside. As she made her way across the room, she  continued to send snarky looks towards old blue eyes. 

Poised to show off, Erica began in her weird newscaster-like voice, "Well, based on the locked-in tag on her wrist, we know she's received the NuGene vaccine." 

Erica  reached for the sealed clipboard at the bottom of the bed and pretended to quickly review the patient's most recent labs and diagnostic image reports. The consummate teacher's pet, she had reviewed all the charts for this morning's rotation earlier. She continued, "based on her labs, the raging fever, and the mitral vegetation seen on her echocardiogram, I think we can conclude that this unfortunate new mother has PIIC." 

He smiled with a glow of approval and Erica smugly accepted. 

"What's PICK?" Shannon, a dolly eyed, red headed bombshell, whispered poorly to another 1st year. Her lab coat was cinched at the waist to display her figure and her scrubs clung snuggly to her full breasts and ample hips. Her squeaky voice and child-like demeanor often left her easily misunderstood.

"Anyone care to inform the 1st year?" Dr. Jennesen asked?

"Is she living under a rock?" Christian joked. The smug raise of his manicured eyebrows, the rolling of his eyes and the slight pucker of his lips somehow managed to make him more attractive to Erica. She knew, he knew it, and she despised that. Christian was very aware of his appeal and while he wasn't completely arrogant, he wasn't far off. 

"Well in 2022," Erica started. Christian immediately interrupted. Is this his wayward idea of flirting, she thought. He continued, smiling slyly at her.

"So. I'm sure you learned about the Nu-sars pandemic of '22, right. Wiped out 6% of the population in like 8 months?" He looked at Shannon for confirmation. She stared blankly at him. He continued, "Well, thanks to the marvel of modern medicine, in no time the NuGene vaccine burst on to the scene." 

Imitating some 1980s spokesperson-like voice, he chimed, "NuGene! The choice. Is. Yours!" 

He then continued in his natural tone, "most of us got vaccinated, 62% to be exact, and Nu-Sars was no more. Circa 10-15 years later new mother's who received the vaccine were dying at alarming rates and in most cases taking the babies with em."

Annoyed and embarrassed, Shannon interrupted,  "I'm not an idiot, I obviously know about Nu-sars and NuGene. I'm not living under a rock. I just asked about PICK?" 

"Well I'm getting there, sunshine?"

"Doctor," Shannon said, sternly correcting Christian. She repeated it once more and he raised his hands in surrender.

"My apologies, Doctor. PIIC stands for Pregnancy Induced Infective Endocarditis. Bunch of big words for pregnant women with infected hearts. It's not entirely new. Pre-Nu, only like .006% of women would get it but they were like IV drug users and stuff. We're not entirely sure why the pregnancies are causing it now, but I'm sure as you know, DOCTOR, that numbers moved up to 80summin percent in NuGeners." He puffed, "and if it's a pregnancy generated by two NuGeners both the mom and baby hardly ever make it." 

Shannon looked up at him in awe, "I didn't realize it was an infection, and nobody really explains the pathophysiology of it." 

Dr. Jennesen chimed in, "Well you can't believe everything you read in blogs. Nobody's heart is exploding in their chest. I've heard that one a lot and seen the WeTube videos," he paused. "Its all still a little new and we don't have quite enough information to describe just how and when this occurs. But for now, we have the locked-in programs. Contact tracing enti.." 

"You mean racist programs." A young male resident blurted out, interrupting Jennesen's monologue. 

"Racist?" Dr. Jennesen asked, neglecting his original thought. 

Christian raised his left arm and rolled up the sleeve of his lab coat. A thin rose gold bracelet with a tiny heart-shaped locket dangled on his arm. "I'm locked-in," he said, matter-of-factly. 

His confidence, both surprised and saddened Erica. 

Someone else remarked, "it is racist. It might not have started out that way, but it is. No offense Dr. Jennesen but you're married, you don't know" 

"What does that mean?" He contested. A complete hush filled the room. 

"The three bracelet system sir. The silver, gold and rose. It's all good for Brad Pitt here to show off his rose gold bracelet, his gene conversion is low. How often do we see silvers? She's a silver," He paused, pointing at the near lifeless body resting in the hospital bed between them. "And since the baby didn't make it, I'm guessing the guys a silver too." 

"What are you talking about? People don't wanna date NuGeners, period," Christian contested. "You really think people care about the colors on your wrist? I lost my sister and what would have been my niece to PIIC bro. I'm sure we've all lost or will lose someone because of this. It's not some competition and it sure isn't racist. Babies are dying dude. Babies! More than half born since the beginning of the year are gone. And taking their mother with em! Anyway." Christian purposefully concluded. His speech had begun to hasten and like a switch, he felt himself getting worked up and simply turned it off. 

Erica found herself migrating towards towards Christian. That peek into his wounded interior suddenly made him someone she could understand, someone she perhaps wanted to. 

Dr. Jennesen completed his rounds with a more detailed overview of the young patient and the infant girl she lost just days before. He spewed disparaging scientific data derived from the in utero fetuses, stillbirths and post partum deaths of NuGeners. He took a few more questions and braced for the chaos just beyond their space.

As he made his way through the glass plated doors, the school of medical students ushered immediately behind.The chime of heart monitors, IV pumps and medical devices swirled around everyone's earlobes and slapped a jolt of reality back into their minds. 

The wailing cries that were briefly muted behind the doors of the patient's room, now shuddered through each of them. The hallways of the Coronary Care Unit were filled with patients on gurnies. Patient's with critical heart conditions who had no choice but to be treated where they laid because most of the hospital beds were occupied by NuGener moms. Mom's who thus far, had just a 20% chance of surviving. 

The unit was designed in a complete circle, with patient rooms at the perimeter and a nursing station at it's center. Sandwiched between the patient's room and the station, Erica stood still. Paralyzed by the despair of it all she saw a burly middle aged man charge towards her.

"My wife! My wife," he belowed, grabbing her desperately at the shoulders. Before Christian could display his triggered heroics, the man fell to his knees. "My wife," he cried as his face collapsed into his hands. Christian placed his hand on the man's right shoulder and called out for a nurse. 

"Come on.." he paused searching for recollection, "Erica," he continued, seeming almost pleased with himself, "let's go."

They continued on into the next room.