most bone damage. We debrided it and—”
“What’s that?” Cassie asked. “In English, please.”
Dr. Pendales smiled. “In this case, debridement involved removing damaged tissue to improve the healing of the healthy tissue that remained. We also repaired some slight nerve damage. Knees can be tricky. A person’s knee joint is the most important weight-bearing joint in the entire body. It’s composed of bone, soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. Needless to say, getting shot in the knee is incredibly painful. Mr. Corrigan will be on painkillers to numb the pain for the next twenty-four hours. Rehab will also be tough.”
“Chance of infection immediately after surgery is high,” Dr. Grady continued, “though we were able to remove the bullet intact. That puts us ahead of the game. No lead intoxication will occur. Still, we’ll flood his body with antibiotics and drain the knee several times. By early tomorrow, he’ll begin rehabilitation to improve function outcomes.”
“You’re saying you’ll get him up and moving in order for him to regain normal movement of the joint?” Scarlett asked.
“That’s right,” Dr. Grady said. “Mr. Corrigan will be involved in rehab that includes physiotherapy and occupational therapy. We’ll get into his post-op treatment in greater detail tomorrow. I know what happened today, coupled with what we’re telling you, is already a lot to take in. The physical therapist assigned to his case will make sure both you and the patient understands exactly what’s going on and why each exercise is done.” She smiled. “Right now, I know you’re eager to see your husband,” she told Cassie. “I would be, too. I know you have a lot of support gathered here but we need to limit the number of people that visit him in the next twelve hours because of exposure to infection.”
Dash spoke up. “What about Rhett’s head wound? You haven’t mentioned it at all. He was bleeding like crazy before the paramedics arrived.”
Dr. Pendales chuckled. “A bullet grazing a head is notoriously messy. Lots of blood. Some pain but very manageable. I put eight stitches into the side of Mr. Corrigan’s scalp. His head wound is the least of his worries, though he may experience a headache from it for a few days.”
Cassie’s fingers tightened around Scarlett’s. Instinct told her Cassie hadn’t known about the head wound. That Dash had kept it from her until the doctors could give her an accurate picture of Rhett’s condition.
A nurse came in and spoke briefly to the two doctors. When she left, Dr. Grady looked to Cassie. “Your husband is out of recovery and settled in his room, Mrs. Corrigan. Let’s take you to see him.”
“Could his sisters go with me?”
“How many?” the doctor asked.
“Two,” Cassie replied and both Scarlett and Carreen stood.
“That’s it. For now,” Dr. Grady said. “The rest of you can see him tomorrow, though I’d like you to scatter those visits throughout the day so you don’t overwhelm him or tire him out. Follow me.”
She led the three to the elevator. Dr. Pendales said his goodbyes and told them he’d check on Rhett later during his evening rounds. After riding the elevator up a few floors, Dr. Grady handed them off to a nurse, who instructed them to wash their hands thoroughly and don a paper hospital gown over their clothes. She reminded them to place their masks over their faces when they went in, just as a precaution. By tomorrow, they could see Rhett without taking such measures.
They walked down the hall and Scarlett stopped Cassie before she entered Rhett’s room.
“He’s your husband,” Scarlett said. “Take a few moments for just the two of you. Carreen and I will wait outside. We can see him in a few minutes.”
Cassie flashed her a grateful look before raising her mask and pushing open the door.
“That was smart,” Carreen told Scarlett. “We may be his sisters but a man wants his woman when he’s down. Rhett worships the ground Cassie walks on. Giving them private time was the best gift they could have now.”
She grinned. “I may be the youngest but I have learned a few things, being around siblings who love their spouses.”
“Speaking of.” Careen hesitated. “I have something to tell you. I actually told Rhett last night.”
“What?” Scarlett tamped down the panic that seized her, thinking that Carreen’s cancer had reoccurred after so many years of being cancer-free.
Her face must have reflected her thoughts because Carreen shook her head. “No, it’s not the Big C again, thank God.” She paused. “Bob has a terrific opportunity