Chapter 6 - “SHE KEEPS TAKING IT OFF”
Ruby’s four earlier incidents formed a pattern.
The first happened eleven days after the injury.
Family lunch at Villa Ventano.
Ruby complained the brace felt itchy.
Lucinda offered to help.
Removed it.
Then told Ruby:
“See? You can stand.”
Ruby stood beside a chair.
No fall.
Brace returned ten minutes later.
When I learned about it later, Lucinda described it as giving the skin a break.
That can be appropriate under medical guidance.
No alarm.
Second incident:
Physical therapy day.
Lucinda asked for unsupported walking demonstration.
Therapist refused a prolonged trial.
Allowed normal clinical assessment within treatment.
Lucinda later told relatives:
“Therapist says she can walk fine.”
Misleading.
Third:
Garden video.
Brace removed.
Repeated walking.
Knee dipped.
Fourth:
Charity rehearsal.
A volunteer saw Lucinda unfastening the brace backstage.
Ruby said:
“Daddy says leave it.”
Lucinda answered:
“Daddy isn’t a doctor.”
True.
Then:
“Neither are you,” the volunteer said.
Lucinda stopped.
The volunteer never told me because the brace stayed on and she assumed it was family disagreement.
Fifth:
Birthday.
Public.
Violent removal.
Fall.
When Dr. Callahan heard the history, he added explicit instructions that no family member other than me or an authorized caregiver should alter Ruby’s brace use outside clinical guidance.
I hated needing that sentence.
Then Ruby’s therapist asked her a question:
“What does Cousin Lucinda say when she takes the brace off?”
Ruby answered:
“If I walk good, everything can be normal.”
There.
Normal.
Not strong.
Not brave.
Normal.
“What happens if you don’t walk good?”
Ruby looked down.
“She gets mad.”
“Does she tell you why?”
“She says people are watching.”
That was the line.
People are watching.
Ruby thought it meant family.
May you like
Lucinda meant insurers, directors, photographers, and everyone whose opinion could affect her authority.
A child had been taught to perform recovery for adults.
