A nurse came out of the hospital room first, but Trent could tell she didn’t have anything to say that would make him feel better about the situation. She simply took him by the shoulders and walked him a little bit away from the door. “They’re moving her to the OR,” the nurse said. “The doctors are still working on her, but they’re afraid they may have to open her up in order to see what damage is being done to her heart.”

Trent felt tears rolling down his cheeks as he ran a hand through his hair and tried to keep himself under control. “Open her up? Oh, God!...