Losing his legs/replacement and recovery Pt 1.

Posted on Sat Jul 17th, 2021 @ 2:33am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Steve O'Carroll & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Robert Hendon & Lieutenant JG Samantha Blake, Ph.D

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: 239506.22

[ON]

Most of the captives only had to have there neural implants removed. Steve O'Carroll took the brunt of the damage. The young lieutenants legs were all but crushed and he was bleeding out when he was beamed directly to sickbay. It was Nurse Peeters who who stopped the loss of blood at least enough to keep him alive. That's what happened when 4 tons of rocks come crashing down on you.

Steve kept coming in and out of consciousness and was clearly in a state of shock. He had indeed lots a lot of blood. One minute he was pinned under rubble the next he was on a sickbay bio bed where they were applying a sterile field, then he passed out again.

When Robert heard of the emergency he vaulted across sickbay to O'Carroll's side. Looking up at his bio readings Hendon was surprised Steve was still alive considering how much blood he had lost. Running a probe over what was left of his legs Robert gave a slight shake of his head to nurse Peeters.

Kimberly just walked into sickbay. She was tired and it felt like the rescue mission drained all the energy out of her. Being beamed back on the ship, she preferred going to her sleeping quarter and take a long nap but knowing Dr Hendon was busy dealing with the aftermath of the mission, she had to go help him. Considering the images she saw, she probably couldn't sleep anyway.

"Best prep him for surgery." Hendon said darkly.

"Yes, doc!", she answered. It took her longer to prepare and change outfits than preparing LT O'Carrol for the surgery. She still felt like her hands were dirty although she scrubbed them five times. Kimberly longed for a shower.

It was a weird thought that popped into her mind. Seeing the legs of the LT brought her back to reality. She started the surgery procedure on the biobed and took a step back, signaling Dr Hendon:"the patient is ready doc! I'm ready when you are!"

In all his time since graduating as a Doctor. Robert had been involved in many operations. Some good some bad. This was classed as bad. O'Carroll's legs were too badly crushed to be repaired. Even by their modern medical sciences. The only way to save his life was to remove them both. Hendon made a clean job of the surgery. So it would be easy to fit new legs to O'Carroll. Physically he would not know the difference. But psychologically time would tell.

After the op Hendon cleaned up. Then checked on Steve.

" Let him regain consciousness on his own. Keep an eye on him." He advised Peeters.

"Will do doc!", kimberly said. That shower had to wait, she thought.

From outside of sickbay, Jamie walked in, off-duty, her thick red curls bouncing in time to her steps. She had some jeans and a bright blue v-neck t-shirt on for the sake of comfort. "I heard Steve was in surgery," she said as she saw the doctor as he left surgery and had cleaned up. "How's he doing? Will he be alright?" She didn't know him personally, but he was a crewmate, so it was important he pull through to her.

Robert gestured for them to move out of earshot of Steve.

"I am afraid we had to remove his legs. Otherwise he would have bled to death. He should make a full recovery physically. We can replace his legs with new ones. But its the physiological effect on him I am concerned about. Perhaps if you could visit him once he is awake? That is if he wishes to see you." Hendon asked.

"I'll stop by when he's out, I don't want to stress him out right after surgery," Jamie said in a concerned tone.

It was several hours after the surgery before Steve woke up. His vision was blurred at first but he woke up in sick bay. His feet seemed to be itching, but he looked down and realized he had no feet or legs for that matter. The pain was minimal. The last thing he remembered was the roof falling on him. His head was bandaged and so was his right hand.

"Hello"? He said.

Robert saw that Steve was awake. He moved over to his bio bed.

" Hello Steve how are you feeling?" He asked him.

"I feel alive, but I cant feel my legs. What happened? All I remember was the cave we were in collapsing, then I saw Nurse Peeters and I was beamed here. I assume I lost my legs because I cant feel them except for an off itch where my toes used to be. What are my options now?" Steve said.

Hendon was glad to hear Steve felt an itch from toes he no longer had. That meant his nerve ends were still working. Even though his legs were no longer attached. This meant it would be easy to fit him new ones.

" I'm afraid you are correct. The damage was too severe I am afraid. You were very close to bleeding out. But we managed to stablize you. That itch you have is a very good sign. It means you have a choice of new legs. We can match your DNA and construct you a pair of bio legs. Just like the ones you lost. You will even bleed like real ones. Plus there be stronger then normal ones. So if this does happen again the damage would be a lot milder. Then you could go for a pair of fully bio mechanical legs instead. They can be coated in artificial skin to match your own coloring. You can run faster , jump higher and kick a hole through the side of the Leto. Well download some leg options so you can chose. Once they are fitted and you can walk again. You will be able to return to duty. If that is what you wish." Robert explained.

"Will there be any loss of mobility doctor? I think I would like you to grow biological ones for me, I'd rather be a whole man than a cyborg." Steve stated.

Hendon ran his hands over a padd.

"Absolutely none. Once you get used to them. You won't even know their replacements. They will even tan. Do you wish to still be the same height? " Robert asked

"I would please, you can keep me the same size. I had a pretty good body image. I am just over 6' ft tall anyway. How much time do I need to heal before we can get started? I would really like to resume my duties. Hi there Mr Blake! Glad to see you made it out alive. How about the ladies? Did they make it out? Jamie, Samantha and Angelina?" Steve inquired.

Hendon reached over opened Steve's mouth and took a swab.

" It will take a few days to build your new legs. The swelling should subside soon enough. So long as things stay the same. In two to three days you should be ready for them. Once you are able to stand and move without falling over. You should be cleared for light duty. Probably have to walk with a cane. Just for a little while but this time next month. You won't even know your legs are not the ones you were born with." Robert said

Steve saw Jamie come in.

"I'm alive, Steve," Jamie said with a smile, putting her hand on his arm. "I'm too stubborn to die. It's the red hair...or the Scottish and Southern heritage. I've got too big a...personality...to quit." Her eyes flicked down for a moment and she chose her words carefully to avoid a little embarrassment.

"Jamie I am so glad to see you, and glad you made it out." Steve said.

Around that time Captain Sterling came in to check up on you.

"How are you Steve, do you need anything? I have something for you" Maia said.

She then took out a purple heart and a bronze star and pinned them to his pillow.

"Doctor make sure he gets first rate care you have someone very special here!" Maia said.

Sheena came into sickbay and saw Maia. "Well I see someone got their medals already. How you doing Steve?" Sheena asked.

Steve's eyes were tearing up. Thank you Captain. Hi Sheena apparently I will have new legs grown, I'm about as happy as a make a wish kid on Wrigley's pleasure planet!

Hendon moved away to a separate section of sickbay. He placed the swab into a large oblong box with a glass front. He then entered a series of codes into a control panel in the side of the machine. On the monitor a picture of Stevens DNA appeared. Robert checked it was the same as the one they had on file. Then he pressed a few controls. The glass went opaque and the words left and wright leg construction starting.Time to completion 24hours and counting. Came up on the monitor. The doctor nodded and walked away.

But still there was Steve's morale to deal with. They needed to keep his spirits up. He gestured to the Captain as Sheena spoke with Steve.

" Captain I am a little concerned about Steve. This type of injury can lead to depression. Which could effect his recover and acceptance of his new legs. We need to keep his spirits up." Hendon said.

"When will his new legs be attached and how much physical therapy will he need ? What I'm asking is how long is the road to recovery. I have hesitated sending down the counsellor until I know more. But I intend to give him everything he could possibly need." Maia replied.

Hendon checked a padd. in his hand before replying.

" Once the legs are ready. Which should be ready tomorrow. Well need to get him fitted as soon as possible. Once we are sure his body wont reject them. Don't worry that rarely happens. We can have him up and about by next week with a cane. But it is imperative we watch his mental state. He has lost two legs that can effect anyone one. No matter how strong willed they are. I would feel much better if he saw a counsellor. Once he has gotten used to his new legs. He should be okay without the cane." Hendon told the Captain.

"Alright Doctor, I will make sure he has an appointment with the Counsellor as soon as time permits." Maia assured him.

Robert nodded his thanks.

“ By the way how are you doing? Anymore headaches?” He asked.

"A few but not bad ones. Residual effects I guess from the nightmares he still has but they are tolerable," Sheena said.

"I haven't had any since I stopped drinking coffee." Maia replied.

Robert smiled.

“ That’s great Captain.” He said

Then he walked up to Steven.

“ How are we doing?” He asked.

"We are doing fine Doc, just looking forward to starting the procedure. I m cautiously optimistic." Steve replied.

Robert ran a scanner over Steve he checked the readings. Then adjusted a setting on the bio bed. He once again ran a scanner over O'Carrol. Looking at the readings Robert gave a nod.

" Well once your new legs are ready. We can fit them and you can start your therapy. In the meantime try and eat some more citrus fruits. Your vitamin C level is slightly low." Robert said

"Its hard to balance without legs. But I will eat what ya give me..." Steve said.

[End] Part One/Part two in new mission timeline.

____________________________________

A Post by

Captain Maia A. Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lt JG Steve O'Carroll
Asst Ops Chief
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

LCmdr Sheena Toran
Executive Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

LCmdr Ryan Blake
2XO/ Chief Strategic Operations Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Dr. Samantha Blake
Asst Chief Science Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

LCmder Robert Hendon
Chief Medical Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lt Angelina Brannon
Chief Security Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lt Jamie Doherty
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lieutenant JG Kimberly Peeters
Asst Chief Medical Officer/Head Nurse
USS Leto NCC-80916