Chapter 3 – Questions That Needed Answers
Chapter 3 – Questions That Needed Answers
The surgery was successful.
Doctors drained the abscess, treated the infection, and removed the severely damaged tooth that had started the problem.
The pediatric infectious disease team later explained that infections like Toby's can become dangerous if treatment is delayed, which is why prompt medical care is so important.
The next morning, Toby looked brighter.
His fever had begun to fall.
As I checked his IV, he whispered,
"I told Mom it hurt."
"For a long time."
His words stayed with me.
Later, the hospital's social worker met privately with the family to better understand what had happened and whether Toby had been receiving the care and support he needed.
The goal wasn't to assign blame in that moment.
It was to make sure Toby would be safe, recover fully, and have access to appropriate follow-up care.
His mother sat quietly during the meeting.
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For the first time since arriving, she wasn't looking at her phone.
She looked at her son.
