“There was a time-sensitive surgical problem.

Delaying further could have caused additional damage.”

For a moment nobody moved.

Then I asked the question that mattered.

“When can I see her?”

An hour later I found Sadie in recovery, pale and groggy, an IV line taped to her arm.

She blinked at me and whispered, “Did they find the thing?”

“They did, sweetheart.”