Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More Read Free Page B

from the waist down.”
    Several students began to ask questions at once.
    “Whoa, slow down. One at a time,” Jordan said.
    “How did it happen?”
    Jordan took a deep breath and related the details of her accident. “I was sixteen. I had taken my horse out for a run on our family farm. It was nearly dark when we started for home. We were running at full gallop when my horse stepped onto an old dried well, covered with a piece of rotting plywood. My horse’s front legs went into the well, and I was thrown several feet. The impact severed my spine. My horse, unfortunately, did not survive the fall.”
    After several long seconds, another student chimed in. “Dr. Lewis, how are you able to stand and walk? Did your spinal column regenerate? I thought that was impossible.”
    Jordan stopped pacing. “I wouldn’t say it was impossible. I would say that we are still learning how the body works, and we’re moving closer every day to understanding how to force regeneration of the spinal cord. Two years ago, I volunteered for trials aimed at restoring mobility. My implant allows me to walk, but it doesn’t repair the injury. The work I’ve been involved in restores mobility by artificially inserting functional connections at the injury site. It’s not a permanent fix, and heaven forbid your power supply should run out while you’re on the dance floor!”
    Jordan waited for the laughter to subside. “I have a surgically-implanted device that emits electrical impulses into the severed region of my spinal column. Fortunately for me, my parents insisted on a regular regime of physical therapy, which I objected to at the time but am now quite thankful for. That kept my muscles in good shape, allowing me to participate in mobility studies.”
    “Did the surgery work right away?”
    “It has taken the better part of those two years for me to relearn basic walking skills.”
    “Dr. Lewis,” said another student, “it seems like a remarkable breakthrough.”
    “We’ve come a very long way, but there is still a significant amount of work ahead of us. We need to perfect the implant. There are still moments when it misbehaves, but we have learned a great deal by carefully monitoring my progress.” Jordan paused. “Okay, we really do need to cover new material today, so I’m going to move on.”

    By the end of class, Jordan was fighting a splitting headache. Kale found her sitting at her desk with her head in her hands. She looked up at him.
    Kale knelt by Jordan’s side and rubbed her back. “Not feeling very well, huh?”
    “My head is killing me. I haven’t had a headache this bad in almost two years.”
    Kale frowned. “Have you taken anything for it yet?”
    She shook her head. “No.”
    “Maybe you should go home. I’ll give you a ride, if you like.”
    Jordan sat back in her chair and massaged her temples. “No, I have way too much work to do. My class is taking up so much of my time. I’m not contributing as much as I’d like to on the new implant. I’ll just take a cranium pressure stabilizer. I’ll be all right in a few minutes.”
    Kale looked skeptical, but he said, “Let me get it for you. Don’t move, okay?”
    Jordan dropped her head back into her hands. “I’ll be right here.”
    Kale ran to the infirmary as fast as he could. When he stepped back into Jordan’s office, he found her lying on the floor. “Jordan!” Kale rushed to her side and carefully checked her pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found it to be strong and regular. 
    Kale activated his communication device and notified security. “Hello? This is Kale Simmons in the lab. I have a medical emergency. Jordan Lewis’s office. Please, hurry. She’s unconscious.”
    Kale heard sirens in the distance. Minutes later, Jordan was strapped to a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. The EMT addressed Kale.
    “Are you riding to the hospital with us? We’ll need someone to talk to Admitting.”
    “Yes, I’ll go.” He