I hung up the phone not really getting the seriousness of the situaion yet. I sat there for a moment, concerned but not overly concerned. After all, there was no way my wife was going to die today, impossible. After a few minutes I instinctly called my wife's cell phone again. No answer, of course. I called my mother who lives about 30 miles south of the hospital. While talking to my mother, that's when it hit me. The gravity of the situation hit me hard and I couldn't hardly talk. I told my mother I didn't know of her condition, but Rhonda was admitted to the hospital and I asked her to please go there and find out what was going on.

I packed up my stuff and hauled ass to the Airport to try and get an earlier flight and switch the arrival to Austin instead of San Antonio. During the drive I had to contact my step-son, Paul, in Okinawa, via the Red Cross, and let him now what was going on. By the time I got to the ticket counter, the full force of the situation hit me after I got off the phone with her brother who just informed me he is headed to Austin from Beaumont. Because of my obvious emotional state and the fact that I purchased a one way ticket at the counter, the ticket lady selected me for "special security." So I had to go through this forever security screening before finally reaching my gate. I still had 2 hours before my plane leaves.

I sat at my gate waiting for the ER doctor to call me, who still hadn't. Finally, he called. He told me her chances were not good and that she had suffered severe head trauma. He said the neurologist was with her now and trying to see if he can save her but was not optimistic. He said he was sorry he didn't have anymore information for me but the neurologist would call me back. Great, more waiting. I began calling everyone I knew to let them know what was going on. This was also to try and keep my sanity. Then, the phone call came in. It was the neurologist. This was the conversation, as best as I can remember: (he did most of the talking and I did all of the crying, I couldn't hardly talk at all)

"Mr. Locke. I'm sorry but your wife has suffered severe head trauma and unfortunately there is no way to repair the damage. She has swelling on the brain and the part of her brain that regulates breathing, heartbeat, etc., has been damaged. I need your permission to continue recessitation."
After a few seconds of silence I asked, "Are you asking me to give you permission to discontinue saving her life?"
"Sir, yes, I'm afraid I am."
"Oh my god. I can't believe this is happening. My wife is going to die, no matter what?"
"Yes, sir. There is no way. Even if she survives this, she would be a complete vegetable. She has been unconcious since the fall; she hasn't felt a thing."
"Well, we actually talked about this before and there is no way either of us would want this. But is there anyway you can keep her alive until I get there in 7 hours?"
"Sir, you don't understand. I have four people standing over her now keeping her alive. She is only alive because we have these people pushing on her chest. I have given her blood pressure pills and her heart keeps stopping. I may be able to keep her stablilized until you get here, but I can't promise that."
"Ok, please do what you can until I get there. Thank you."