I was stunned for a moment. "What?"

He shook his head slightly and said softly, "Nothing." But the determination in his eyes was deep.

*****

When we arrived at Heart of Hope Hospital, the medical staff had just come out of the emergency room.

The hospital director walked up to us and shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Blackwood, we did our best, but her condition worsened too quickly. The doctors couldn't do anything more."

I asked for confirmation, ...