Lucy Montgomery's Story - Part 1 of 2 (medical fetish, terminal illness, euthanasia)
This is part 1 of a two-part story written by u/xWrangler and me. I will link part 2 here once it is posted later today. https://www.reddit.com/r/GuroErotica/comments/1tan7qt/lucy_montgomerys_story_part_2_of_2_postmortem/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Special thanks to NecroBoy for his images which gave us inspiration for our main character. We hope you enjoy reading this story as much as we enjoyed writing it!
Part 1-Lucy's Grim Diagnosis
Lucy felt another twinge of pain in her right breast as her 6-month-old daughter Rose nursed hungrily. Mastitis had been plaguing her for the past few days. Her doctor advised warm compresses and a round of antibiotics to clear things up but it was not helping. Lucy, a 29-year-old mother of two, had been married to her husband Wesley for two years when they welcomed their first child, four year old Henry. He was playing with Wes on the family room floor when Lucy cried out in pain. Wes turned his attention from Henry and looked at his wife with concern.
"We should go back to the doctor. That doesn't seem right. I'll give Rose a bottle and you go lay down and put some heat on that. See if you can make an appointment or I will take you to urgent care." Wes took the baby from Lucy as she gingerly placed her breast back in her nursing bra. He was so tired of seeing his wife suffer and decided he'd go with her to her next appointment to support her. "I want to come with you. I'm sure my parents can watch the kids. Schedule the next one available and I'll make it work."
Four hours later, Lucy sat on the exam table in a thin cloth patient exam gown. Wes stood next to her, holding her hand. She was in a lot of pain, much worse than before. Holding her husband's hand as she was feeling so raw and exposed helped a little, but her worries were beginning to mount.
Dr. Carroll, Lucy's primary physician, walked into the exam room a short time later. His face was grim as he looked at the printout of Lucy's stats on the clipboard he had brought in with him. He had seen these symptoms before, and knew that what he was about to tell Lucy and her husband would be devastating.
He sat next to Lucy and Wes and cleared his throat, then looked at them, trying not to look too disheartened. Their anxious eyes met his, and they both felt a sense of dread. "Lucy," he started hesitantly, "Initially, I thought you had an acute case of mastitis, but there's been no improvement with the treatment I prescribed. In fact, it seems that your symptoms have gotten much worse. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but based on your chart numbers and the pain you've described, I think you might have breast cancer."
Lucy sat stunned, her eyes locked in a distant stare. Wes clutched his wife's hand tighter. "Wh...what does that mean?" he stammered. "Is she gonna be okay? I mean, it seems like it was caught early, so you can cure it, right?"
"It's not that simple," Dr. Carroll replied. "We still need to take a biopsy and X-rays to be sure. Depending on how aggressive the cancer is, it may have already spread. I'll make a referral to an oncologist immediately, and they'll be able to give you a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis based on the lab results." He put his hand gently on Lucy's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Lucy," he said in a soft voice, "I know this must be difficult, but please keep your hopes up. Breast cancer treatments have gotten a lot more effective in recent years. I'll go call in the lab orders and referral, and the nurses will keep you updated."
The doctor stood up slowly and walked out of the exam room, leaving the couple shocked and dismayed. Neither of them knew what to do or say next. All they could do was hold each other and wait.
"Cancer." The word echoed in Lucy's mind the entire drive home as she held Wes's hand. Her thoughts raced. What would treatment be like? What if it has horrible side effects? She was likely going to lose her breasts at a minimum. What about chemo and radiation? Would her hair be ruined? She felt so vain thinking about it, but Lucy knew she was fixating on that detail so her thoughts didn't land on worse outcomes, like no treatment. A terminal diagnosis at age 29 is usually unheard of, but the instances of fatal cancer have been rising in young adults.
"We don't know anything for sure yet." Wes tried to reassure her, as if reading her mind. "Whatever happens, you'll get through it. We'll get through it." He repeated, as he squeezed her hand tighter to reassure her that he would be by her side the whole time.
They picked up the kids from Wes's parents house, without giving any details about the appointments to Rita and Tom. There was no sense in worrying them until there was more information to give. Lucy had explained she had a routine appointment and she and Wes were going to take the opportunity to have a lunch date away from the kids for a bit
The next four days waiting for the oncology appointment felt like torture. Not only was it causing an enormous amounts of anxiety, she also had to abruptly wean Rose off of nursing and onto bottles only. Rose was handling it pretty well, but Lucy was immensely sad that the time of nursing her children may be permanently over. It also added to the pain in her breast.
When Lucy woke up the morning of the oncology appointment, she felt almost a bit relieved that it was finally happening. Although the pain was beginning to get better, Lucy knew that didn't mean her worries were over.
They again dropped the kids off with Rita and Tom and headed into the city, to the large University hospital buried deep within the busy metropolis.
They got checked in for the appointment and sat down to wait in the large reception area in the oncology department. Lucy pulled out her cell phone and began to nervously scroll while she waited for them to call her name. Wes kept a vigilant eye on her, as well as watching the door for signs of a nurse. Finally, after about 15 minutes of waiting, a young woman in gray scrubs opened the door and said "Lucy" as she looked around the room for her patient.
Lucy's heart skipped a beat and she looked up and said "yes" as she slipped her phone in her purse. She and Wes stood up and walked towards the woman, who asked Lucy to confirm her last name and date of birth once the lobby door closed behind them. They followed her to the exam room where the nurse introduced herself and began with the appointment intake questions. She made sure Lucy's scans had come through from her primary doctor, went over her current medication list, and finally checked her vitals.
"Everything looks great" the nurse said a bit too cheerfully, then put her equipment away. "Doctor Fisher will be in to see you shortly to go over all the test results.”
Lucy and Wes looked at each other after the nurse left the room. Wes reached over and picked up Lucy’s hand, giving her a gentle squeeze to remind her he was right there with her. They embraced each other, both of them knowing that things were going to be so different from now on.
There was a knock on the door a few minutes later. Lucy and Wes turned toward the door, but neither of them moved. They both wished they could be anywhere but in that room. The door cracked open. "Lucy?" a strong, yet pleasant voice called out. "It's Doctor Fisher. I'm coming in." The door opened, and the doctor stepped in.
He looked to be in his mid-30s, with loosely combed light brown hair and stubble covering his cheeks and chin. He was tall, with a handsome, diamond-shaped face and bright green eyes. He wore a neatly-pressed shirt, a bright red tie, and blue slacks. At first glance, he seemed more like a stereotypical medical drama character than an expert oncologist.
"Good morning, Lucy," Dr. Fisher said with a warm smile, extending his hand and wrapping his fingers around Lucy's with a gentle squeeze. "And you must be her husband," he added, looking at Wes and delivering a firm, but friendly, handshake.
"Do you mind if I sit down?" Dr. Fisher asked. Lucy looked up at him, shook her head, and managed a slight grin. Dr. Fisher rolled a chair from the side of the room and sat down in front of the nervous couple.
"So, Lucy," he started with a soft sigh, "we got all your lab results back, and to be completely honest with you, your situation is very critical." He flipped through a folder he had brought in with him, and pulled out a page. "These are the results of the biopsy and bloodwork that were done." He pointed to a list of letters and numbers that looked to Lucy like an unintelligible code. "These are indicators for different proteins, antigens, and cells in your body. Normal levels would be displayed in green, elevated levels in yellow or orange, and you'll notice that all of yours are red."
"So does that mean I have c...cancer?" Lucy asked anxiously, even though she already knew the answer. "I want to start treatment immediately, if that's the case!" she said, trying to put on a brave face. Wes smiled at her and nodded.
Dr. Fisher sighed and pulled out several X-ray scans. "Lucy," he said in a soft voice. "These are the X-rays that were taken to see the extent of any tumors in your body. Unfortunately, the type of breast cancer you have doesn't form the kind of tumors that you'd be able to self-identify, which means you've had it for much longer than anyone realized." He pointed at the pages of scans. "These are tumors that are located on your liver and lungs...and these..." he flipped to another page and paused for a moment. "These are small tumors beginning to form in your brain."
Lucy stared at the page. The possibility of such a hopeless situation hadn't even crossed her mind. Now, she began having dark thoughts. She imagined the pain getting worse and worse. What if she died? What would Wes do? How would Rose and Henry grow up without their mother? Suddenly, a new resolve grew in her mind to fight as long as she could.
"Is there anything that can possibly be done, doctor?" she asked desperately. "Please...I don't...I don't want to leave my family."
Dr. Fisher shuffled the papers back into the folder and closed it. "I think Dr. Carroll sent you to me because he knew that I was the right doctor for your case." He stood up and walked over to the cabinets on the wall. He pulled out another file and sat back down. "There are always new developments happening in the field of cancer treatment. One of the most recent trials actually had some success in treating the same type of cancer you have." He passed a printout of a medical journal page to Lucy and Wes. "It's still in the very early phases, but this is probably your best chance. I do want to stress the word *chance*, as there's still only a 20% survival rate with this treatment. If you want to try it, I can probably get you into the next round of trials."
He looked at Lucy and Wes as they considered everything they had just heard. Lucy was overcome with a sense of worry and dread. An 80% chance of death didn't sound hopeful at all. Wes looked at his wife's desperate face, and clasped her hands in his. "We can do this, honey. We *have* to do this."
Dr. Fisher spent the next ten minutes explaining the next steps that would need to be taken. Lucy tried as hard as she could to pay attention but her world was collapsing around her and her thoughts were already spiraling. Wes listened intently, clinging to the 20% hope that his wife would survive this.
Finally, as Dr Fisher collected the various scans, lab reports, biopsy results, and various medical literature, he explained to Wes and Lucy that he would be submitting the prior authorization to their insurance. It would take a few days to hear back.
"Regardless, if there is any chance of this treatment working, we need to get started right away. So we will get you scheduled for the first round of surgery next week, and I will let you know when I hear back from the insurance company with the approval." Dr. Fisher continued, as he stood up and solemnly left the exam room. I’ll send you home with information about the treatment and the plan I have put together, as well as some other resources that can be helpful in this kind of situation.” He said as he handed a large folder stuffed with paperwork to Wes.
Lucy heard the doctor say something as he got up and left the room, but she didn't pay any attention to what it was. Her mind was consumed with the information she just learned. She had convinced herself that nothing was really wrong. Or maybe it was just naive wishful thinking. Either way, her world was now crashing down all around here and she felt helpless and small.
She continued to cry as Wes helped her stand up and walk out of the building and to the car. They were supposed to pick up the children, but that was not going to happen now. Wes would arrange for his parents to keep them indefinitely. As much as their children brought them joy, the fact was they were far too young and needy right now and he needed to focus on Lucy.
Three days later, Wes sat on the couch in their living room, lost in thought as one of Lucy's favorite movies played silently on the TV. He stared blankly at the screen, barely registering the moving images. His mind was consumed with anxious anticipation as they waited to hear back from Dr. Fisher. The uncertainty of Lucy's chances was becoming unbearable. In the meantime, Lucy had made an appointment with someone to help her get her affairs in order in case her treatment was unsuccessful. It was one of the resources Dr. Fisher offered when he met with them. Wes wanted to be with her for the appointment but she was insistent that she could do it alone. Wes always admired his wife’s bravery and hoped she would be just as brave for the tough road she had ahead.
The ring of his cell phone startled Wes from his daze. Wes pulled the phone out of his pocket, hoping to see his wife's name on the screen. Instead, it was Dr. Fisher's office. His heart began to race. Had Lucy been approved? "Hello, Dr. Fisher?" he answered eagerly, his voice heightened with excitement.
"I'm sorry, Wes," the doctor said, his tone grave. "I tried to call Lucy, but she didn't answer. I've got a response from her insurance company. They've denied the treatment. They said it's too experimental, and not proven to be effective. I'm truly sorry. I know this is the worst possible outcome."
Wes's grip tightened on the phone. His eyes locked forward in a distant stare. He felt a wave of nausea sweep over him. "What...what do we do now?" he managed to stutter.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Dr. Fisher finally replied, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Wes, there is one other option I can offer you. It's not something I'd normally suggest so soon, but given Lucy's condition and the lack of other viable treatments..."
"What is it, Doctor?" Wes interrupted desperately. "Please. I need to know there's something we can do. Anything!"
"Well," Dr. Fisher continued, "there are certain procedures that can be used to...relieve a patient's suffering when there's no hope for recovery. It's...usually a last resort. But before Lucy's suffering becomes too much for her to bear, we could use a special set of anesthetics that would peacefully...end everything. She wouldn't feel a thing. It would be quick and painless."
Wes' heart skipped a beat. Euthanasia. Ending Lucy's life before the cancer could take her. The thought was both horrifying and tempting in its finality.
"I...I don't know," Wes stammered, his mind reeling. "I need to talk to Lucy about this. I can't make this decision alone."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Dr. Fisher replied. "It could create a lot of unnecessary stress for her. As her husband, you can approve the procedure, and we can bring her in as if we're conducting part of her treatment. She'll never have to know. Also, since I know this has been such a burden on you both, I'm willing to administer the procedure for free. We can set up the appointment right now, or you can take some time to think it over. And again, Wes...I'm so sorry. I know this is an impossible choice."
Wes picked up Lucy's wedding portrait from the coffee table. She looked so happy, yet fragile and vulnerable. Was it fair for him to make the decision to end her life, no matter how much suffering it might spare her? He hated the idea, but he also knew he couldn't let her go on like this, with no hope and no end in sight. If this was the only way to free her from the pain and fear, could he really deny her that comfort?
"Wes?" Dr. Fisher startled him from his thoughts. "You don't have to decide now...we can..."
"Let's do it, Doctor." He cut in suddenly. "Set up the appointment, and I'll help Lucy get her affairs in order. Just please, promise me it won't make her suffer."
"I assure you," Dr. Fisher replied, "it's completely painless and takes no more than 10 minutes. She'll be unconscious for everything except the first injection of sedatives. I'll schedule the appointment and call Lucy later to inform her of the date. I'll tell her that it's for a routine procedure. If there's anything else I can do for you both, please let me know."
"Thanks, Doctor." Wes hung up the phone and sighed. He had never lied to Lucy, and now he was going to have to give her false hope as he took her to a literal appointment with death. He put Lucy's portrait back on the coffee table and stared at the TV in silence.
Once Lucy returned home from the initial appointment with Dr. Fisher and looked around at their house, seeing their children’s toys and books laying around helped bring her back into focus. She was facing an impossibly difficult time ahead, yet she had to remember she was now a wife and mother. There were three people depending on her. If she didn’t survive this, she needed to make sure they were going to be ok.
One of the pieces of information Dr. Fisher included in the enormous folder of resources was a pamphlet for an End of Life Planning Coordinator. A woman named Luna Thomas, head mortician for Thomas Family Mortuary, offered her services to people in Lucy’s situation. Lucy contacted her and she was able to meet right away. They went over the various options on what to do with her remains if and when the inevitable happened. She also helped Lucy connect with an attorney who made sure all her financial affairs were in order. The help she received from these two made things much easier to handle. She never thought she’d have to be doing this so soon. Sure, she and Wes had wills made when each child was born, but that was really just a formality. Now it was real. She had to face the fact that she may not survive this. In fact, she probably wasn’t going to.
Lucy chose a lovely dark walnut casket. She and Wes discussed it at length, and they decided that if Lucy were to pass away very quickly, it would likely be a shock to family and friends, and seeing her body would help to process the trauma and aid acceptance of the loss. She would not be embalmed, however. Luna assured Lucy that her body would be fine for a while without embalming, and that she would look best and more natural without it. As a final wish, Lucy wanted to be buried in her wedding dress. The happiest moment of her life was when she married Wes, and she wanted that to be how he remembered her.
The surgery had been scheduled for a week from the initial appointment, just as Dr. Fisher predicted. He had explained to her that the first surgery was going to be exploratory, to see the extent of the cancer in her system. She was warned about possible complications. The biggest worry in her case would be the anesthesia. There was a chance that her body would react poorly to it. Given her weakened state, she was warned that this could be anything from delayed return to consciousness to possibly never waking up again. She would need to sign several release forms and have an advanced directive on file. She was also asked to consider a DNR order. She and Wes discussed it and decided that if reasonable measures could be taken to save her then they would want the doctors to try whatever they could. However, Lucy did not wish to be in any kind of prolonged coma or similar, so she made her wishes known with the advanced directive.
On the morning of the surgery, Lucy woke up several hours before her alarm and lay in bed worrying about the day. She had never been so nervous in her life. She hoped with every fiber of her being that during the surgery they would find out it was all a mistake and that she wasn’t really sick. But she knew that couldn’t be true. She saw the scans. She had never gone under anesthesia before. The births of her two children were mostly natural, and a beautiful experience she was grateful for. So she was truly scared for her life at the thought of getting up and going in today.
She was to arrive at the surgery department at 8am, having not had anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before. Lucy was still sore from weaning Rose, and she was very cranky that she couldn’t at least have a coffee this morning. Focusing on that made it a bit more tolerable as Wes drove the two of them to the hospital.
Once Lucy was checked into the general surgery department, she was fitted with a patient wrist band and shown the way back to the pre-op area by a friendly faced nurse in blue scrubs. She showed Lucy to the small gurney in a curtained area. A blue patient gown lay on the bed, and the blanket was pulled back, ready for Lucy. Her heart was racing in her chest. Wes held her at the small of her back and helped guide her to a sitting position on the gurney.
The nurse continued the intake process, endless questions, verifications, and other formalities. Finally she instructed Lucy to undress completely and put on the patient gown with the opening it back. “It will be easier to take off during your procedure, but we’ll make sure you are sleeping before that happens.” The nurse continued in explanation. “I’ll give you a few minutes to change and then I’ll be back to get you when the OR is ready for us. It should only be a few minutes.” She pulled the curtain closed behind her. Lucy looked at Wes and took a deep breath. She undressed and put the gown on as instructed, then lay in the bed covering up with the blanket. Wes sat by her side and held her hand while using his other hand to gently rub her upper back. Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Shortly after Lucy got settled in the bed, the nurse’s rapid footsteps could be heard walking towards them and sure enough, the curtain was soon pulled back. The nurse, now masked, said cheerfully “Ok, they are all ready for us now. Are you ready to go, Lucy?” She asked. Lucy looked at Wes and her eyes welled up with tears. “as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” She said and nodded.
The nurse looked at Wes. “There is a family waiting area next to the OR suites. You can walk with us and I will show you where it is.” The nurse then sprung into action, unlocking the wheels and making sure the side rails were up before carefully maneuvering the transport gurney out of the OR prep area. As she said, the waiting room was close by and as they came to it, the gurney slowed to a stop by the doorway.
“I’ll give you a moment while I double check the room,” the nurse said and stepped away.
Wes looked at his wife as tears fell. “We’re going to get through this. It’s going to be ok, sweetheart. I promise.” He picked up her hand and kissed it before leaning in to give her a kiss on the lips before burying his face in her shoulder as he hugged her tightly to him. Lucy closed her eyes and soaked in his touch, in case it was the last time. “I love you” she whispered, as they pulled away from the hug.
“I’ll see you afterwards,” Wes said to her as he stepped into the waiting room area. The nurse was already back to move Lucy to the OR. “The doctor will update you when he is able to” the nurse said to Wes as they rolled Lucy away. Lucy waved to her husband and took some deep breaths as the OR doors parted and she saw the operating table.
There were several people in the room, all wearing surgical gowns and masks. The nurses wasted no time getting Lucy laid on the operating table on her back, pulling the gown out from under her so her naked backside was now on the table. The nurses also positioned her arms out to her sides and used soft straps to hold them in place, as well as one across her hips. “It’s for safety so you don’t fall off” the nurse said in explanation.
The anesthesiologist introduced himself and explained to Lucy that he would need to start an IV in each arm. She closed her eyes as he did it, and when she opened them again, she was staring up at the bright OR light above her so that she couldn’t see what was going on. The nurses were also hooking her up to monitoring equipment. They untied her patient gown at the shoulders and pulled it down slightly to access her chest for the heart monitor pads. They also clamped a pulse oximeter to her finger.
The anesthesiologist monitored her vitals for several minutes. “Try to relax Lucy,” he said in a soothing voice. He looked at her elevated heart rate and hoped Dr. Fisher would be in soon. He hated seeing patients in such distress. “We’ll be getting started soon and I’ll get some anxiety meds on board for you then. Then you’ll be feeling much more comfortable.” At least her oxygen saturation was good at 99%. That meant he didn’t need to use the anesthesia mask to give her supplemental oxygen. The meds work better with well-oxygenated blood. He hated making the euthanasia patients have an anesthesia mask on for their final moments. I caused so much unnecessary stress.
Lucy felt like it was impossible to relax. She hated that all she could do was lay there and wait, and hope with every ounce of her being that she would wake up from this and be home with her family soon. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes again and closed them in hopes to stymie the emotions that were so close to the surface. She breathed steadily with her eyes closed and waited.
Dr. Fisher walked into the waiting area, where Wes was pacing back and forth. "Wes," he said gently, "I know this is an incredibly difficult time. If you'd like to be with Lucy, I can bring you to the room with her.”
Wes looked up at the doctor, his eyes wide with shock. "I...I can be with her?" he asked, trying to keep his composure.
Dr. Fisher nodded. "I'm certain Lucy would want you by her side. If you're ready, I can take you to her now."
Wes felt his legs begin to shake. His heart pounded in his chest. He followed the doctor down the empty hallway, his mind racing with random thoughts. When they reached the operating room, Dr. Fisher paused at the door.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked in a hushed tone. "It's not going to be easy to watch."
Wes took a deep breath, readying himself for what was to come. "I need to be with her," he said firmly. "Please, let me in."
Dr. Fisher nodded and opened the door. Inside, Lucy lay on the gurney, an IV catheter secured to each of her strapped down arms. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing steadily. The soft beep of the ECG monitor and the rustling of surgical scrubs as the nurses moved about were the only noises in the room. The anesthesiologist was preparing the deadly cocktail of drugs that would soon be injected into Lucy's IV line. He was careful to work in a spot where Lucy couldn't see him. He glanced at Wes, then continued his work. Wes walked to Lucy's side and took her hand in his own.
"Lucy," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Lucy's eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head towards the sound of his voice. When she saw him, a small smile played at the corners of her mouth.
"Wes," she breathed. "But...the surgery..." she looked around, wondering when the procedure would start. She had no idea that there would be no surgery, and in a few minutes, she'd be dead.
"Dr. Fisher said I could stay until you are asleep," he said, bending down to her hand and planting a soft kiss. "I'll be by your side, always."
Dr. Fisher cleared his throat, and Wes turned to look at him. The doctor was holding a syringe, filled with a clear liquid that glistened under the harsh overhead lights. "It's time to start," Dr. Fisher said quietly. "Lucy, this is Midazolam," he explained. I'm going to inject this directly into your IV line, and you'll lose consciousness within a few minutes. Once you're fully sedated, then we'll begin the operation. Are you both ready?"
Lucy smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Fisher," she said softly. Wes looked at Lucy, seeing the peace and acceptance in her eyes. He nodded slowly.
Dr. Fisher moved to the IV unit at Lucy's side. With a smooth, practiced motion, he slid the needle into the port on the IV line and slowly began to push the plunger down. Wes held his breath, as he watched the clear liquid flow into Lucy's veins. After 30 seconds, Dr. Fisher pulled the needle away and stood over Lucy.
At first, nothing seemed to change. Lucy's breathing remained even, and her eyes stayed open. But then, gradually, her eyelids began to flutter. Her breathing slowed, growing shallow and uneven. She turned to her husband. "Wes, honey...I...I think I'm gonna sleep now."
Wes leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "Shh," he whispered, stroking her hair. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm here. You can go to sleep."
A few seconds later, Lucy's lips parted, and she exhaled softly, her breath warm against his cheek. Then, with a barely perceptible sigh, she closed her eyes and fell silent.
The room was silent, except for the steady beeping of Lucy's monitors. Dr. Fisher and the anesthesiologist moved around her bed, double checking the IV lines and settings. Wes held his wife's hand, feeling the warmth of the life that was about to be ripped away from her. *"Did I do the right thing?"* he thought. *"What if she was going to survive?"*
Once he was satisfied that everything was set, Dr. Fisher put his hand on Wes' shoulder. “This next drug is going to slow her breathing down. It'll help weaken her heart, so that she passes quickly once we administer the final injection to induce cardiac arrest. We use two simultaneous injections to ensure an effective dose, in case there's an issue with one of the blood vessels.” Wes nodded, but his eyes stayed glued to Lucy's face. She looked so serene to him. "Ready to push the Remifentanil?" Dr. Fisher asked, looking to the anesthesiologist. The younger man nodded, hands poised above Lucy's IV port on his side, a syringe ready to inject.
"Ok, on my count," Dr. Fisher slipped the needle into the port on his side. "3...2...1...slow push." The plungers of the syringes crept downward as the two doctors meticulously measured the speed of the injection. Too fast, and they would induce seizures and respiratory failure. Too slow, and they ran the risk of a prolonged death. Wes squeezed Lucy's hand tighter as the drug began to take effect. He felt her hand twitch slightly.
"Dr. Fisher," Wes looked up, concerned. "I think I felt her hand move."
"That's okay, Wes," the anesthesiologist replied. "Minor spasms are sometimes caused by the brain sensing a decrease in blood oxygen levels. That means the drug is taking effect."
Lucy's face was still tranquil, which put Wes at ease. The anesthesiologist watched her closely, ready to act if she showed any signs of distress. As the doctors finished delivering the minute-long injections, Lucy's breathing grew shallow, each one taking more effort than the last. Her chest began to heave, her lungs struggling to draw air. Wes leaned closer to her, shushing and whispering, trying to tell her it was okay, though he doubted she could hear him.
After another 2 minutes, Lucy began to groan. Wes wondered if she was dreaming, as Lucy would often groan and mumble in her sleep. She didn't seem to be breathing. Suddenly, she gasped sharply, as if she had been underwater and came up for air. Her toes flexed, and her fingers curled into fists. The heart monitor began to beep in a lower tone and her oximeter beeped rapidly, signalling a dangerously low O2 concentration.
"Dr. Fisher?" Wes' voice wavered.
"This is expected, Wes." Dr. Fisher answered calmly. "She's completely unconscious, but her body is still fighting to keep her alive. It's almost over."
Lucy labored to exhale, but only a deep rattling sound escaped her throat, followed by a hissing choke. The anesthesiologist moved closer to her, watching her closely. She seemed to slowly go limp, then started gasping silently like a fish out of water. Her heart rate had slowed drastically to 40 bpm.
Dr. Fisher looked at the anesthesiologist. "Agonal breathing," he noted quietly. The younger doctor nodded.
"What does that mean?" Wes asked. "She's in agony?!"
"No," Dr. Fisher replied softly. "It's a medical term. It means her body is still trying to breathe, but her respiratory system is too suppressed to function properly. She isn't feeling any pain or distress at all. It's a sign that it's time for the final drug."
Both doctors picked up a syringe of potassium chloride, double checking the dose. At Dr. Fisher's signal, they injected it into the IV. The effect was almost immediate. Lucy's body stiffened for a few seconds, then slowly relaxed. Her pulse plummeted, her heart beat erratically a few more times, then stopped. The flatline tone of the ECG monitor droned through the room.
Wes squeezed his eyes shut, tears streaming down his face. "Is she...?"
Dr. Fisher placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry she's gone, Wes. It was quick, just as we planned."
The anesthesiologist confirmed Lucy's death, noting the time on the medical chart. He switched off the monitors, and the steady tone was replaced by an eerie silence.
Wes caressed Lucy's face with his hand. "I'm so sorry, honey!" he sobbed. "I wish none of this had to happen!"
Dr. Fisher gave Wes a moment alone with his wife, stepping back respectfully. When he returned, his expression was solemn but gentle. "We'll take care of everything from here," he assured Wes. He looked at Lucy's body lying lifeless on the gurney. "She's at peace now. It was a painless end, and I'm sure she'd be thankful for that."
Wes nodded numbly, his eyes locked on Lucy's face. The anesthesiologist quietly left the room. The nurses stood by, waiting patiently. As he left, Dr. Fisher paused at the door. "Take a few moments to be with her," he said softly. "When you're ready, come find me in my office and we'll discuss your next steps."
With that, the doctor was gone, leaving Wes sitting by Lucy's side, still holding her hand in his own. He gazed at her face, committing every curve and detail to memory. "I love you," he muttered, his voice trembling with grief. "I love you so much.”