10:12 A.M.

           Whenmyambulancegetstothenearesthospital—nottheoneinmyhometownbutasmalllocalplacethatlooksmorelikeanold-agehomethanamedicalcenter—themedicsrushmeinside."Ithinkwe’vegotacollapsedlung.Getachesttubeinherandmoveherout!"thenicered-hairedmedicscreamsasshepassesmeofftoateamofnursesanddoctors.

           "Where’stherest?"asksabeardedguyinscrubs.

           "Otherdriversufferingmildconcussions,beingtreatedatthescene.ParentsDOA.Boy,approximatelysevenyearsold,justbehindus."

           Iletoutahugeexhale,asthoughI’vebeenholdingmybreathforthelasttwentyminutes.Afterseeingmyselfinthatditch,IhadnotbeenabletolookforTeddy.IfhewerelikeMomandDad,likeme,I...Ididn’twanttoeventhinkaboutit.Butheisn’t.Heisalive.

           Theytakemeintoasmallroomwithbrightlights.Adoctordabssomeorangestuffontothesideofmychestandthenramsasmallplastictubeinme.Anotherdoctorshinesaflashlightintomyeye."Nonresponsive,"hetellsthenurse."Thechopper’shere.GethertoTrauma.Now!"

           TheyrushmeoutoftheERandintotheelevator.Ihavetojogtokeepup.Rightbeforethedoorsclose,InoticethatWillowishere.Whichisodd.WeweremeanttobevisitingherandHenryandthebabyathome.Didshegetcalledinbecauseofthesnow?Becauseofus?Sherushesaroundthehospitalhall,herfaceamaskofconcentration.Idon’tthinksheevenknowsitisusyet.