Betti - Coma

Federico Betti

Coma

A bout Luigi Mazza

Translated by Eva Melisa Mastroianni

Copyright 2019 - Federico Betti

To All the Luigi Mazza and Giovanni Armerini out there

I

Silence and solitude ruled in that hospital room of Bolognas Ospedale Maggiore. The only noises that could be heard were the ones made by the bystander machines, that the doctors went to check at regular intervals during the day.

For five days the body of Luigi Mazza was lying motionless in a condition of medically induced coma, inducted by the team of expert anaesthetists after the serious car accident that caused him a concussion treatable, according to the doctors, only in that way.

When he arrived at the emergency room in an ambulance, rushed there with blazing sirens from the orbital road of the Emilian county seat, the man resulted in serious conditions and a red code was conferred to him; after a long wait all the possible examinations were made and he was hospitalized prognosis being reserved.

He lived alone: he never even had the intention of getting married, so the only relative that could be helpful to him was his brother, Mario, who, as soon as he received the news from the workers in the first aid, arrived promptly to make sure of Luigis conditions, managing, though, to only glimpse him for a moment, while he was moved on a gurney to the room where he was now.

Without realizing anything, Luigi got a daily visit from his brother, who could be limited to only see him through a window pane. He stayed about one hour every day, staring at him in the vain hope of instilling in him the strength of healing, and often he would go away without saying a word even to the doctors.

When he consulted them, the head physician always told him that the mans conditions were stable and that he needed almost two weeks before getting out of the coma.
Well think about it, when he will be healed, he guaranteed.

On a regular basis, the doctors made Luigi undergo the exams to keep the situation monitored, trying to report the improvements to the brother.

A servant told me that the coma was inducted? Does it mean that you made him go in a comatose state? asked Mario to a nurse, two days after the accident.

Yes. It was decided to provoke a medically inducted coma to the patient., answered the young man.

Medically inducted? echoed Mario.

Exactly, medically inducted. Dont you know what that is?

No, explain it to me, please! commanded Mario.

When a patient is subject to such serious injuries, as it could be your bothers concussion, the doctors can decide to provoke a medically inducted coma, using therefore drugs. This way all the vital energies are addressed to the damage to be repaired explained the nurse.

Thank you for your explanation. May I speak directly to whom oversaw this, so that I could have a prediction of the improvement? asked Mario.

You should talk to the anaesthetists. Only they can provoke a medically inducted coma. rebut the man.

And where can I find them?

You could speak to doctor Parri. But now I think that hes busy in an operation. Hes usually more available during the morning.

I see. So, Ill look for him tomorrow. Will I find him at noon?

Yes. Except for unforeseen circumstances, he goes on his lunch break at 1:30. Then at 3 the surgery starts, so I suggest you speak to him before lunch, so he will almost certainly have some time to dedicate to you. finished the nurse.

Thank you said Mario Mazza right before dismissing and going out of the hospital.

When he was on the road it was almost five in the afternoon and the winter-like darkness was only interrupted by the light of the lampposts.

He went home to get some rest, knowing that, after a few hours, he had to be there again.

II

Im driving, but I dont know towards which destination. I dont even know where I am. In a car. I cling to the steering wheel and in front of me theres nothing. I dont understand if its dark or light. Me, in front of a steering wheel, that I hold with a firm grasp. And thats it. Where am I going? I dont know or cant I remember? I cant hear any noise around or coming from the outside. Provided that theres something outside. Provided that outside actually exists.

I feel like being in an environment in which the void was artificially created. After all, sound doesnt propagate in void, and that would also explain the reason why I cant hear any noise around me. Am I in a box hermetically closed? Maybe Im not in a car but in a Im inside a driving simulator, as in fun fairs. Yes, maybe Im at a fun fair, but I dont know what I came here for. Me inside a simulator. Im not driving a car. Why am I here? How did I get here? By car. Yes, I probably got here by car.

No, now that I think about it I cant be in a simulator: I would hear at least some small noise, the gears moving, the piston going up and down.

So that means that Im in the car. With void around me? Impossible! I must have been brought here somehow. I dont even know where I am. I cant figure it out, or I cant remember. Where am I? And why? What brought me here? And where am I going? Provided that Im going somewhere. Outside theres nothing, or is it me that cant see? I cant see whats beyond the steering wheel that Im holding with my hands. Maybe its not a simulator, but theres a black cloth in front of me, thats hiding the outside view from me. Im at a fun fair, not inside a simulator, but on a ride on which you apparently drive a car, o some other vehicle, and you feel like moving, but youre actually in front of this black cloth and wait for something to happen. But what? And above all, do rides like this exist? I dont know, or at least I dont remember ever seeing them

We-re back to the start. I dont know where I am. I have no clues that could help me figure it out. At least, I understand that Im alone and theres nobody else with me. Wait a moment I am alone, but it also true that there are no passengers seats. Its just me. In front of me I have the steering wheel and the black cloth, if its a cloth. I cant even understand if theres glass between the steering wheel and the cloth.

Am I moving, or am I still? Maybe Im just apparently moving. Maybe Im going nowhere, Im still, sitting somewhere, with a steering wheel, a black cloth and nothing around me.

Im not understanding anything, or anyway I have a lot of confusion in my mind.

If Im in a car, are there windows? I look at my left: a second black cloth. I look at my right: a third black cloth. And behind me? Another black cloth.

I try to touch with one hand the cloth on my left, but I realize I-m not touching anything: my hand doesnt find any opposition; its like it goes through the cloth, or it is the cloth, not to exist. Cloth or not, my hand is like swallowed by the darkness, and now I can only see my arm. So, I take it back inside, next to me, and I find my hand, still there, and not lost how it looked like.

Now Im holding the steering wheel with both hands. I cant really figure anything out. Actually, every minute that passes by, I am more confused.

Now I know that Im driving something, I have a steering wheel in front of me, all around is dark, but there are no cloths. I realize that in this vehicle, if it is a vehicle, the gear shift was missing.

Chaos in my head was increasing.

I dont know where Im going, but probably nowhere: I stay here, still, waiting for something to happen.

III

Luigi Mazzas conditions were stable, with some slow improvement every day, and the doctors were confident. The body will heal spontaneously, it was the answer that his brother was given every time he asked for information.

The day after the conversation with the nurse, Mario Mazza managed to speak to the anaesthetist that provoked the medically induced coma to his brother.