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“I have some news for you both,” I reply to them in a measured way. “About Ethan and his condition.”
“Yeah?” Nate asks, anxiety revealing itself in his voice.
“You see, I have a friend who is an expert in the field, and I’ve given him a call,” I expound. “I explained everything to him. Based on that information, he’s recommended a new course of treatment for Ethan, something that is at the cutting edge of what we can do for children with his condition. I’ve heard of it but wanted to run it past him and his expert mind to hear his professional thoughts before I present it to you.”
“What kind of treatment?” Nate asks. I notice he’s holding his wife’s hand to stop himself from trembling.
“An operation,” I reply somberly.
“An operation on our boy?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll be performing this operation?” Ethan’s father asks.
I nod at Nate.
“Potentially, yes.”
“And it’s the best pathway for treating him?”
I nod again.
“I’ve been giving it a long and hard think,” I reply. “This is what I recommend as his doctor, with all the information I have at my disposal. I do know it’s at the very cutting-edge of treatment for these kinds of things with all the risks associated with something so new, so I understand if you need to take time to consider it.”
Nate leans forward in his chair. “If this was your son,” he whispers to me across the desk, “and he was as sick as Ethan is, would you undertake this operation? Would you let your doctor do it?”
I pause for a long time. This father deserves the most sincere answer I can provide.
“Yes, I would,” I mutter. “It’s the final option.”
“Well, you know us,” Nate says. “We would do anything for Ethan, and you haven’t led us astray so far, doctor.”
I clasp my hands together and rest them on the desk in front of me.
“I have to say, it is averyrisky operation,” I say grimly. “And it is something I have never performed before. I want you to consider those important factors before we proceed with anything.”
“How risky is it?” Nate asks. “Truly?”
“Very, very risky,” I reply, as solemn as I can be.
Vicky takes a deep breath.
“We’ll do anything to save our son,” she says. “Anything.”
“I do understand if you need time to think about a decision,” I reply. “I have some information about the procedure that I’ll email to you so that you are fully informed.”
Ethan’s parents both turn to look at each other. There is a lot of communication that occurs just through their silent expressions back and forth - a whole marriage of understanding.
Nate nods one final time at his wife before turning back to me.
“No matter what happens,” he whispers. “We only want you to perform the operation, Doctor Penmayne.”
“Okay.”
“No one else. Just you, Doctor Penmayne. We trust you with everything.”
Vicky leans across the desk and takes my hand. They need my support, and I’m willing to give it.
