Deepest sympathy for your M-I-L.
A few years back after a sudden unexpected ice storm I slipped on unseen black ice at the foot walkway steps about 5am. Along with head and other injuries thought I dislocated my wrist which turned out to have broken. ER was loaded at the triage admittance. Had about the same wait while in serious pain. Turns out the had 43 patients with broken wrists with not enough ortho docs to handle the flood. Found this out during release...I was the only one that didn’t require surgery, pins etc. So that may have been a factor in your MIL case.
An ex-Navy Corpsman doing an extended self absorbed woe-is-me number over his wifes serious injuries is unseemly IMO...he gets a pass on the first shock of news but its times like this that one mans up and does what needs doing in aid of his wife.
He didn't retire.
Anyway, I think there was some stress because he and my wife got kicked out of the hospital before they even knew what was going on and there was precious little time to prepare. But I was also thinking you get into "what do I have to do mode" and "let me help her be as cheereful as possible" mode and save the rest for when you're alone.