No Ordinary Heroes:. Demaree Inglese
black inmate. The young prisoner swayed as though he was about to fall.
“Bring him in, Deputy,” I said, “and come keep an eye on Mr. Williams.”
“Is he going to be all right?” the deputy asked as we switched places.
“He’ll live.” I wasn’t so sure about the new patient. It took a minute for me to find his chart in the dark. The eighteen-year-old kid had been arrested and screened just yesterday, and he had denied having any medical problems. But the youth now had a high fever and body rash, and his overall wasted appearance strongly suggested HIV.
“He should be in the infirmary,” Jan said as I finished the examination and wrote orders for both patients.
“If the flood gets much higher, the infirmary will be under water,” I said. “He’s better off here for now, with or without an IV. Keep giving him Gatorade—and Tylenol for the fever. At least we can make him more comfortable.”
“We’ll do what we can,” Jan replied.
Anxious to get back to the Correctional Center, I gave Jan a final instruction. “If there’s a change in either patient’s condition, call me.”
“Call you?” Jan raised an eyebrow. “Our phones aren’t working. Most of the time there’s no dial tone, and if we do get a connection, it doesn’t last. I haven’t heard from my husband and son since last night. I can’t call you.”
“Then find an officer with a radio and have them call.” Everyone at the jail was dealing with the same failing systems. I caught Jan’s eye. “You’ve got this under control, right?”
“We’re good,” she said with an uncertain smile. “If the water rises, we’ll probably have to evacuate to a higher floor, though. We have a lot of packing to do. No sense leaving anything behind we might need later.”
The clinic was in good hands with Jan, but the broader implications of the Old Prison situation were more troubling. Katrina had barely passed over, and Jan already had two patients. God only knew what was happening at the other ten clinics, I thought as I walked out.
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