The first twenty-four hours passed, becoming forty-eight and then seventy-two.Inside Blackstone's Medical Wing’s Intensive Care Unit, time lost its meaning. The days were no longer measured by sunrise or sunset. They were measured by blood pressure, oxygen saturated, heart rate as well as laboratory values.One more stable hour.One less medication.One quieter alarm.Every small victory mattered because every setback threatened to erase it.The first week was cruel.On Monday, Althea’s blood pressure had finally stabilized enough for Helena to reduce one vasopressor.By Tuesday afternoon, she came with a fever. It immediately set the ICU into a hive of activity.Blood cultures were done as well as chest X-rays. Antibiotics were added to her IV tube and the ventilator is being adjusted.By Wednesday, her fever broke that made the entire medical wing breathed again.Thursday, her oxygen levels suddenly dropped.A mucus plug.Bronchoscopy.Another tense hour.Friday, Althea tolerated s
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