Contents
Chapter 12
Overview
Charlotte awakens from a vivid shooting nightmare and misreads an occupational therapist’s badge as “rapist,” triggering a panic that underscores her left neglect. Later, urgent toileting pushes Charlotte to attempt an unsafe transfer; she falls and is incontinent. Dr. Greenberg responds by increasing supervision, parking her in the hallway.
Summary
Two and a half months after the shooting, Charlotte dreams of returning to her apartment, hearing a gunshot, and someone whispering, “You deserve this.” She wakes terrified in the hospital.
A man in scrubs stands in her room. Reading only the right side of his badge because of left neglect, Charlotte sees “rapist” instead of “occupational therapist,” panics, and screams. Nurse Nicole arrives, and after confusion, they realize Charlotte misread the badge. The misunderstanding is explained, though Charlotte remains shaken and distrustful.
Later, while watching TV, Charlotte suddenly needs the bathroom. Unable to find the call button on her left and struggling to maneuver her wheelchair with one arm, she unbuckles and tries to stand. The alarm triggers, she loses balance, falls, and cannot make it in time, resulting in incontinence.
Nurses respond, clean her up, and return her to bed. Dr. Greenberg checks for injuries, then decides increased supervision is necessary and orders Charlotte’s wheelchair to be parked in the hallway to prevent further unsafe transfers and to ensure timely help.
Who Appears
- Dr. Charlotte (Charly) McKennaPatient with left neglect; has a traumatic dream, panics over a misread badge, falls during urgent toileting.
- ChrisOccupational therapist mistakenly perceived as a rapist due to Charlotte’s left-sided visual neglect.
- NicoleNurse who responds to Charlotte’s screams, clarifies the badge misunderstanding, and assists after the fall.
- Dr. GreenbergPhysician who evaluates Charlotte post-fall and increases supervision by parking her in the hallway.