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10
Ally
Iwalk out of the changing area to find Trent talking with Dr. Fowler in the hallway, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Trent’s expression is one of concentration as he listens intently to what the doctor is saying. I have no doubt Dr. Fowler has been grilled by Trent, asking any imaginable question he can come up with. He deserves to know all the details, so I can’t fault him.
Deciding to rescue Dr. Fowler before Trent hounds the man too much, I throw the strap of my purse over my shoulder and walk over to them. Trent’s arm goes around my waist the second I’m at his side.
“Has he interrogated you enough yet, Dr. Fowler?” I ask, fighting back a smile. I feel Trent’s glare on the side of my head.
Dr. Fowler chuckles. “It hasn’t been too bad. There’s nothing wrong with a husband being concerned. Some patients don’t have anyone to be concerned about them.”
My lips tip down, and a tinge of guilt sours my stomach. The doctor is right. I’m very lucky to have such a loving and caring husband and family and friends.
“Trent and I were just talking about your nausea and the trouble you’ve had eating. People react differently to chemo, and this is one you haven’t had before. Some do just fine, and their appetite isn’t affected. You’re obviously not one of them.” He holds out a small slip of paper. “This prescription should help. We’ll reassess in a week to see how you’re doing.”
“Sounds good.” I take the paper from him and slip it in my purse.
“Do you have any other questions, Trent?” Dr. Fowler asks.
“Do we need to be concerned about her bone marrow?”
“There’s no way to know for sure. Since Ally has had to receive bone marrow in the past, we’re keeping a close eye on her platelets. If they start dropping, we’ll first try medicines to see if we can elevate them. If not, we’ll move to a bone marrow transplant.”
“What are the chances of her leukemia coming back again?”
He pushes his hands into his slacks pockets. “Unfortunately, there’s no way to give an answer to that question. Obviously, the longer she goes cancer free, the lower the chances are.”
“She went nineteen years leukemia free, so time doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to Ally.”
Dr. Fowler nods. “That’s true. For most patients, cancer cells do reappear within the first few months to a few years after it’s gone in remission. But it’s not uncommon for it to take longer. The only reassurance I can give you is with the type of leukemia she has now, and it only being such a small area in her thigh, her chances are lower.”
I feel the tight muscles in Trent’s body relax with Dr. Fowler’s words. He’s already explained all of this to me, but it’s always nice to hear it again for reassurances.
Dr. Fowler pulls out a business card from his pocket and hands it to Trent.
“I know how stressful this can be for loved ones. The number on the card is my direct line. If you have any more questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call.”
Trent takes the card in one hand and holds out his other for the doctor to shake. “Thank you, Dr. Fowler.”
“Will you be accompanying Ally to all of her appointments? She told me she’s here in Nashville just for treatments, but your home is in northern Ohio.”
“The hounds of hell couldn’t pull me away,” Trent answers, and I hear the truth in his words. There’s nothing that could keep Trent from being here with me.
I snuggle closer to him at that thought.
Dr. Fowler laughs and looks down at me. “Looks like you’re one of the lucky ones.”
I look up at Trent and smile before glancing back at my doctor. “Yes. I’m very lucky.”
Dr. Fowler walks off and we do the same, leaving the office building and going to Trent’s truck. His arm stays around my waist, which I’m grateful for because a sudden wave of fatigue hits me as I climb into the truck.
“We’ll drop off this prescription on the way. While we wait, do you want something to eat?”
I press the back of my fingers to my mouth when a yawn suddenly grips me.
“Change of plans,” Trent says with concern. “We’ll drop the prescription off, then I’ll take you home and come back for it.”
I’m shaking my head before he can finish. “No. There’s no sense you going back out. Let’s just go to the drug store, then we’ll grab something to eat and pick up my prescription afterward.”
