Out to Change the World (excerpt, part 1) | Teen Ink

Out to Change the World (excerpt, part 1)

February 2, 2014
By Myvoice4change SILVER, Other, Other
Myvoice4change SILVER, Other, Other
9 articles 3 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."


Please let me know if it's any good and what improvements I can make.
Ring, ring. The phone loudly interrupted the peaceful silence of the night. Jessica groaned, pushed back the covers and reached for the phone.
“Hello?”
“This is Seattle Memorial Hospital, we need you on duty at the emergency room as soon as possible.”
“But I haven’t begun working at the clinic yet?”
“That’s alright, please come anyway. We need whatever help we can get.”
Jessica Johnson was a recent graduate of Harvard University, with a degree in psychology. A clinical physcologist new to the field, this would be her first emergency case, and her first ever chance to practice her profession.
“We have a patient who is showing some symptoms of possible physciatric diagnosis,” a nurse told her when she arrived,” Currently they are undiagnosed. We called in the hopes that you could be of some help.”
“Who is the patient? What are the symptoms? She asked, concerned.
“Patient is a 13 year old female by the name of Morgan Liawk, with symptoms of severe chest pain and hyperventaliation. Procedures were done to rule out cardiac problems, but she is still in significant distress to the point where we are unable to send her home.” The nurse informed her as they walked quickly towards the patient’s room.
A frail, skinny girl lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by several frightened adults. “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” she panicked, sobbing. “I’m going to die,” “Help me, someone help me!” Tears streamed down her face. Jessica stepped towards the bed and put a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“Morgan, I’m Jessica. I work with the staff here at the hospital. I’m going to try and help.”
Suddenly, the girl stared far off into space. Then she screamed. “No! Please! Don’t hit us!” Her face showed horror.
“Morgan, honey, can you tell me what’s going on?” The young phsycologist asked, trying to remain calm.
“It’s going to hit me! Stop the car! Hurry!”
Jessica rubbed the girl’s back. “Morgan, can you hear me? You’re here. You’re safe. You’re in the hospital. Nothing can hurt you.”
“You don’t understand. It’s happening again!” The girl protested frantically.” “Help me I’m going crazy”
“Dr. Johnson, may we speak with you a minute?” a nurse interjected, a tone of impatience in her voice.
Jessica stepped outside the room with the nurse. “I think we should put her in a padded room. There’s something seriously wrong with that girl.”
“A padded room?” Jessica reacted, disgusted. “Listen, Morgan does not need to be put in a padded room. Based on her symptoms I think she may have post traumatic stress disorder, and is experiencing a series of flashbacks. Locking her in a padded room will only convince her all the more that she is crazy.”
The nurse eyed the physcologist over the top of her glasses. “Since when did you come to know everything Ms.?”
“I don’t know everything,” she replied as patiently as possible. “But I studied post traumatic stress disorder. Anyone can pin-point that these symptoms are all ptsd related.”
The nurse sighed. “Alright, then. Now hustle and get a diagnosis so we can get her out of here and get onto the next patient.”
Jessica ignored the comment and hurried to report to Morgan’s doctor. She found him leaning against a counter, writing down records. “Dr. James, the patient in Room 8C-I believe she is having a panic attack. I tried to calm her down and used all the techniques I could think of, but I’m running out of ideas. May we give her a tranquilizer? I hate to see her in so much hysteria.”
Dr. James eyed her, “Give her a paper back and get her out of here. Probably just another teenage attention-seeker.” “But she has the symptoms of hyperventilation, shortness of breath, as well as what may be flashbacks.”
“No “but’s” Miss, tell her to pull it together.”
“Dr. James, I-“
“Listen, I don’t have time for this. We have real emergencies here. Would you like to continue arguing or keep your job? The choice is yours?” He said, raising his voice slightly.
Jessica sighed and headed back to the room. As she did so, she bumped into a nurse outside the door, “What kind of doctor doesn’t even acknowledge the legit symptoms of a panic attack?” She vented. The nurse shrugged, “Most don’t these days.” She said, not seeming to care about the matter at all.
Jessica, about in tears, took a deep breath and walked back into the room. “I’m sorry, we couldn’t get medicine for her,” she apologized to the family. “I know it’s not much, but here’s a paper bag she can breathe into. Have her take some deep breaths, and I’ll run and get some peppermint tea for her. I’m going to talk to her using some techniques I learned in therapy, and use some imagery, if you’re okay with that.”
The mother breathed a sigh of relief, “I’m okay with it, thank you so much,” she said gratefully.
“No problem,” Jessica answered.
“Has your daughter been through a traumatic event, such as abuse, the sudden death of a loved one, or a car accident?
(read part 2, could not include the whole chapter in one thread)


The author's comments:
Jessica is a new physcologist, fresh out of college. Her father suffered from PTSD, and she experienced a depression in her teens. Young and energetic, she is determined to make a difference, and help people who are in the pain her and her family have known all too well. However, she finds her new boss to be a challenge, especially when he tells her to hypnotize a patient, something she is uncomfortable with. Jessica also meets a young man, and they seem to share a mutual interest in each other. Will they fall in love? Will Jessica's boss fire her for standing up for her beliefs and values? One thing is for sure, through it all, Jessica will put her faith in God, and hold on for a thrilling ride.

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This article has 2 comments.


on Jul. 12 2014 at 10:12 am
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

This was great! You used increedible imagery, vivid descriptions, and very realistic dialogue. Keep up the great work!

on Feb. 10 2014 at 5:27 pm
Icithra PLATINUM, Arlington, Massachusetts
26 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
The wastebasket is a writer's best friend. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer

First of all, I love hospital stories, and your's was as good as anything I've read. Great job, and I can't wait to read the next installation. There was one point, just one line, where it was hard to tell who was speaking, the part "Jessica stepped outside the room with the nurse" makes me think Jessica is speaking. Otherwise, really superbly incredible writing.