CHAPTER 1
Several days later...
Benjamin had decided to visit the family doctor in town again. His knee was doing Better than last summer, but ever so often, it would swell and be painful. Dr. Stafford examined it. The bandage and medication had helped some. Still, the knee would bother Benjamin on occasion.
"You've got a severe tear in your ligament. That is what is causing you pain and becoming inflamed. Maybe stay off your feet as much as possible," the doctor advised.
"How can I do that, doctor?" Benjamin asked. "I have to do farm work sometime.
Besides, within another month, I will be field plowing."
"I'm afraid you won't be doing that this year. Standing on that leg just aggravates it more. Either use a crutch while walking or sit down," the doctor stated.
"The crutch just holds me back and I do sit when I can, especially milking the cows, Benjamin said.
"Have you thought about having surgery on it?" the doctor asked.
"What does that involve?" asked Benjamin.
"Going into the knee itself and repairing the tear – the only way to relieve the pain and stop the swelling," the doctor said.
"You can do that? Why didn't you tell me this before?" Benjamin asked.
"Because of one thing," the doctor said.
"What thing?" Benjamin asked.
"There is no anesthesia for surgery. There is no ether available. Medical supplies have been cut significantly after the war," the doctor stated.
"No anesthesia!" Benjamin exclaimed.
"It very painful besides," the doctor said.
"Tell me the details," Benjamin said.
"You would need to stay off your feet completely to give time for the knee to heal," the doctor said.
"How long?" Benjamin asked.
"At least six to eight weeks and follow instructions. Otherwise, the surgery is a waste of time and effort," the doctor stated.
"What instructions? How would I get around?" asked Benjamin.
"You will be in a wheelchair at first. Then, you can revert to crutches in a couple of weeks, keeping that leg elevated while sitting. It should be better within a few months as long as you follow my instructions," the doctor stated.
"I don't know, doctor. Any guarantee it will help?" asked Benjamin.
"I can't guarantee 100%, but it may help relieve some pain and stop the tear from tearing more. I will basically sew it back together," the doctor advised.
"Can I think about it?" Benjamin asked.
"Sure, but I wouldn't wait too long. You have already had this injury over a year," the doctor said.
"What does that matter?" Benjamin asked.
"After so long, the leg may become less useful," the doctor advised. "You will continue to have trouble walking on it, maybe even more so."
"I will, doctor," Benjamin stated. He quickly left the doctor's office that afternoon.
He wanted to discuss this with Sarah first. After all, this would take time to heal after surgery and time was precious. That night, he sat down to dinner. Sarah had prepared beans and cornbread with a thin slice of ham. Benjamin ate silently. Sarah looked up, noticing that Benjamin was quiet.
"Penny for your thoughts," Sarah uttered.
"What?" Benjamin asked, looking up at Sarah.
"Penny for your thoughts. You are in deep thought, Benjamin," Sarah said. "Why so quiet tonight?"
"Oh, I visited the doctor again today. He thought I might want to consider surgery on my leg," Benjamin said.
"Why is that? Isn't it better than before?" asked Sarah.
"Yes, it is, but on occasion it hurts and swells," Benjamin said.
"Can't the doctor give you medicine for that?" asked Sarah.
"Yes, but he also wants me to stay off the leg at times. I have too much work to do around here," Benjamin stated.
"I didn't know it was that serious, Benjamin. I thought you had healed from your knee injury," Sarah said.
"I did too. It is a constant reminder that I was in the war. A stupid fall - I blame myself," Benjamin said.
"Don't blame yourself. It happened and there is nothing you can do about it. I prayed that you would come back alive and in one piece. God has been good to us," Sarah said.
"What did you tell the doctor today?"
"That I would think about it. There is no anesthesia for it. It would be very painful," said Benjamin.
"You mean you have to have surgery while awake?" asked Sarah.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. No ether is available for surgery. Medical supplies were cut when the war ended," Benjamin said.
Sarah bit her upper lip. This bloody war was still winning. It would take weeks, if not months, to get over surgery. She needed Benjamin for the farm, if not for herself and the children.
Benjamin did continue to think about it. As long as he got the plowing done by springtime, he would be okay, he thought. Would he want to go for the rest of his life in pain or did he need to repair it now as the doctor advised? He decided to have the surgery done next Monday morning. Sarah's mother would care for the children, while Sarah went with Benjamin to the doctor's office.
It was an early morning in late February. Benjamin and Sarah had to be at the doctor's office by 7:00 a.m. Julie came over early that morning. Benjamin couldn't eat or drink anything before surgery so Sarah ate in private. She fed the children and got them dressed before her mother arrived. The doctor had advised that the surgery might take up to three hours. Sarah was prepared. She would drive Benjamin home after surgery. Julie cleaned the cabin and also changed the sheets in the master bedroom.
Sarah wondered what life would be like without her parents. They provided so much help to her and Benjamin. Frank would come over periodically and pitch in where he could help on the farm. Julie always contributed to the housework and caring for the children. She loved her grandchildren and so did Frank.
The children played that morning. Gina would play on the floor with her toys, but Matt would walk out the door, if not carefully watched. He was so much like Benjamin at that age: active, spontaneous and mischievous. He liked to run away if he could. He ran fast and without interruption.
Sarah and Benjamin arrived at Dr. Stafford's office. The doctor was an old country doctor that saw everyone in the local area. He had been in the area for twenty or more years. He was a general surgeon too and did everything from delivering babies to more serious injuries, like Benjamin's. Once inside the office, the doctor explained the surgical procedure. His assistant would be helping with the surgery. Benjamin would be monitored during the day and allowed to go home in the afternoon if all went well. Sarah sat outside in the waiting room and prayed.
As Benjamin went inside the doctor's office, there was an adjoining room to the side.
That was where the surgery would take place. A long table was in the middle of the room. The assistant told Benjamin to disrobe. There would be a clean sheet placed over him during surgery. The doctor came in with a clean doctor's robe on. He wore a white robe that tied in back. This made Benjamin nervous when he saw the doctor dressed for surgery. The assistant was also prepared for surgery in a white robe.
"Nothing to be nervous about, Benjamin. You are wise to get this over with now," the doctor stated.
"How long will I be in surgery, doctor?" Benjamin asked.
"As long as it takes. Hopefully not too long. Maybe a few hours at most. I will know more when I get in there and see what I'm working with," the doctor stated.
"Is there anything for pain during the surgery?" Benjamin asked, more nervous than ever.
"Yes, it is right here in this bottle!" the doctor exclaimed. "After you drink this, you won't care what I'm doing to you."
The doctor handed Benjamin a bottle of whisky. It was 100% proof. Benjamin wasn't a drinker so wasn't used to drinking, especially something 100% pure whisky.
"You mean I have to drink alcohol beforehand?" Benjamin asked.
"Only thing I got to knock you out with," the doctor said. "I will rub your knee with rubbing alcohol. It's cool so don't be alarmed. Keeps the infection down." The doctor then handed Benjamin a clean glass. He poured a glassful of whisky. "Start drinking now."
While Benjamin sat sipping the whisky down, the assistant got the rubbing alcohol out to rub Benjamin's knee. It was a disinfectant. It stopped bacteria from entering the body during surgery.
After Benjamin drank a full glass of whisky, he was getting sort of tipsy, but not completely out. The doctor ordered him to drink more of the whisky. The assistant finished rubbing the whole knee with rubbing alcohol. Benjamin started to slur his words some. The doctor knew he was close to passing out, but not quite yet. Benjamin drank another full glass whisky. By then, he was intoxicated. The doctor poured him another glass of whisky. Benjamin had barely finished his third glass of whisky when he dropped the glass on the table. The assistant quickly positioned him on the operating table. Benjamin was out of it. He wouldn't wake up for hours.
"I knew it would knock this boy out. It always does me on the first glass," the doctor chuckled.
The doctor started the operation. He took a scalpel and cut down Benjamin's knee to expose the kneecap. Down at the bottom was a fairly big tear. It had torn some since his original injury. There was no infection visible, which Benjamin was fortunate not to have. The doctor delicately repaired the tear in the ligament, sewing in delicate stitches. There were no clamps or metals in those days to hold the tear together. He cleansed the ligament to prevent infection or scar tissue settling inside his kneecap. He carefully sewed his knee up in wide stitches so the knee could drain afterwards. It would start swelling soon after surgery. The surgery was over in two hours. Sarah had been waiting patiently outside, but wondered what was taking so long.
Dr. Stafford came outside to the waiting room. "Your husband is doing fine. His surgery went well and he is stable. He needs to rest awhile before travelling back home," the doctor said.
"Thank God!" Sarah exclaimed. "What did you find?"
"He had a rather big tear at the bottom of his kneecap. I stitched that ligament up. He was fortunate. There was no infection seen," the doctor stated.
"What would have happened if there were?" asked Sarah.
"I would have given him medication to stop the infection, but if it were serious enough, he might have lost his leg. Being in the knee, it would most likely be above the knee," the doctor stated.
Sarah didn't want to think about Benjamin losing his leg, not this early in life.
Maybe it was a good thing that he did have the surgery now. "Oh, no! I was worried about that. So glad that it was not infected," Sarah said.
"Your husband needs to thank his lucky stars," the doctor replied.
"No, doctor. He needs to thank God," Sarah said.
"He will be monitored until this afternoon. Once he wakes up, he can go home," the doctor said.
"Is he going to be all right?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, but he will have one hell of a hangover afterwards," the doctor chuckled. "He won't be in any condition to walk for awhile. He needs to stay in bed this week, using only the wheelchair, if he needs to get up. In two weeks he can use crutches, but needs to keep the knee elevated at all times." The doctor then walked away to check on Benjamin again.
Sarah wondered what the doctor meant by a hangover. She knew beforehand that there wasn't any anesthesia. Had he been given alcohol to drink instead? That meant he was intoxicated during surgery. The morning passed quickly. Sarah would not move from her seat. After a few hours, the assistant came out and told Sarah that Benjamin was stirring. He was not yet fully conscious, but she could go inside and see him.
There was an even smaller room beside the operating room. It contained a bed where Benjamin was resting. Sarah looked at him. He was out of it. He had no conscience of time. He was covered with clean bed linens. His left knee was bandaged. Sarah tried to talk with him. Benjamin lay motionless, but somehow Sarah felt he knew of her presence in the tiny room. There was one chair in the room also. Sarah sat down beside the bed.
"Benjamin, Benjamin, the surgery is over with, honey. The doctor said you did fine and all went well in surgery. How are you feeling?" Sarah asked.
"Ahhh ...," uttered Benjamin. He was trying to wake up. His leg had already begun to swell some as the doctor said it would.
Sarah faced Benjamin. He looked in agony. Was he in pain? She had no way of knowing right now until he came to. After several more minutes, Benjamin opened his eyes. He stared up at the ceiling and then at Sarah's direction.
Sarah, bending her head down to pray, suddenly heard, "Is it still there?"
"What did you say, Benjamin?" Sarah asked. She stood up from the chair and came closer to Benjamin.
"Is my leg still there, Sarah?" Benjamin asked.
"Why, yes, of course it is. There was no infection, Benjamin. There was a big tear.
The doctor said it had torn more since your injury. He said he repaired the tear. It shouldn't bother you much anymore," Sarah said.
"That is good. I have a bad headache. My head is splitting. Can I get something for it?" Benjamin asked.
"The doctor said you would have a hangover when you awoke. Were you drinking?"
Sarah asked.
"Whisky, 100% proof. Only thing the doctor could give me to anesthetize the surgery," Benjamin replied.
"Every time you drink, you get sick. I don't condone you drinking for surgery, but if that alleviated the pain, so much the better," Sarah replied.
The doctor then came in to check on Benjamin. He gave him something for the headache. "Are you hungry, Benjamin? You need to eat something," the doctor said.
"Not too terribly hungry," Benjamin replied.
"If you eat something, I will allow you to go home. I want to see some food in your stomach before you go. You need to build up your strength," the doctor stated.
The assistant brought Benjamin a warm meal. Benjamin ate a little of the creamed potatoes and peas, but couldn't take another bite. Around 3:00 p.m., the doctor allowed him to go home with strict instructions: he was to use the wheelchair provided, no walking on the left leg at all, stay in bed for the rest of the week and elevate the knee all the time during the next two weeks. After that, he could use crutches, but should elevate the knee as much as possible. The bandage was to stay on his leg for the next six to eight weeks.
Sarah helped Benjamin dress before going home. She buttoned his shirt for him. He had trouble putting on his trousers, but Sarah did it slowly so as not to hurt his leg. She put socks and shoes on him. She also covered him in a blanket for warmth.
The doctor and his assistant helped Benjamin to the wheelchair. He was rolled to the wagon. They carefully lifted Benjamin onto the back of the wagon, where Sarah had placed more blankets down. Benjamin was to lay down going home. Sarah placed a pillow under his left knee. The wheelchair was placed in the back of the wagon as well.
Sarah drove the wagon home. She was getting hungry herself. She had not eaten since breakfast. She brought an apple to eat in the waiting room, but couldn't eat. Maybe her mother would have dinner prepared early for them.
Sarah drove slowly home so as not to rock Benjamin. The doctor had given Benjamin's medication to Sarah. She would need to administer it every 4-6 hours for pain. Benjamin would be in pain for awhile. The second day would be worse than today.
As she entered the drive to the cabin, her parents' wagon was waiting outside. James had also arrived with his wagon with Ellie from school. He had come to help his father get Benjamin inside the house. Julie opened the front door as soon as she heard the wagon coming down the drive. Frank was fast behind her. Julie was holding Gina and Frank was holding Matt. He put Matt down as Julie took Matt's hand. He was too easy to get away from her.
Sarah stopped the wagon in front of the cabin.
"I was afraid you weren't coming until late. I sent James to pick up Ellie from school. I was afraid Matt would slip away from me," her mother said.
"I'm sorry, Mama. We had to stay until Benjamin ate a little something. I promised the doctor I would get food into him by this evening," Sarah said.
"I have some chicken frying in the skillet. I prepared some creamed corn and greens.
There are freshly baked dinner rolls on the stove. The children have already been fed.
They wanted to eat early," Julie replied.
