AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, are you the nurse in charge of this ward?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good. Well, first, I just wanted to say I’m not happy that my dad was left wearing the same pad for five hours. It’s completely unacceptable.”
She nods her head serenely. “My sincere apologies. I can assure you, it won’t happen again.”
“Secondly,” I continue, “I’d like an update on his condition. He had his MRI scan on Tuesday and so far, no one has come back to me with the results.”
“Not a problem, I have all of Steve’s notes here.” Putting on her reading glasses, Annie flicks through the medical file. Then she quietly tells me to step into her office so that we can have a bit of privacy.
I take a seat at her desk and wait nervously as she double checks the doctor’s notes. Taking off her glasses, she looks me squarely in the eye. “Okay, so we’ve got the results back from your father’s scan …”
“And?”
“I’m afraid the news is not good.”
I get a sickish feeling in my throat, like I’ve swallowed something heavy. “Go on.”
Annie chews the inside of her cheek and drops her gaze to the table. “Since Steve was admitted, he’s had two more mini strokes.”
“Jesus Christ!”
“This is actually quite common. Once a person has suffered a stroke, it opens the floodgates for more, so we have to tread very carefully. However, so far, they don’t seem to have caused any major damage to the brain, but we’ve had to increase his aspirin dosage to help keep him stable.”
I bury my face in my hands. This is all too much. Everything’s getting on top of me again.
“I’m afraid there’s more,” Annie sighs.
“Oh God, how much more can I take?”
“Please try to stay calm. Would you like a glass of water?”
“No, I just want you to be straight with me and stop prolonging this agony.”
“Okay.” She pauses. “I’m afraid it’s unlikely Steve will ever walk again.”
“What!”
“I’m so sorry. The whole lower part of his body from the waist down is paralysed. He is also unlikely to ever get back the feeling in his right arm.”
“But how can this be? Dr Noble said …”
“Dr Noble made a provisional assessment, but now that we have the results of the MRI back, we can conclude that the stroke will have a life changing effect on your father.”
“Jesus!” I wipe my hand across my cheek. “Does my dad know? Have you told him?”
“Not yet,” Annie says quietly. “And for the moment, I suggest you don’t say anything either. Steve needs as much positivity around him as possible. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
She turns to her computer and types up some notes about our conversation. Then she looks at me from under her fringe and smiles sympathetically. “Okay, well, that’s all I have for you at the moment. If anything changes, I’ll let you know. Before you go, do have any more questions?”
“No. You’ve been extremely helpful. Thank you.”
Numbly, I stagger out of Annie’s office and return to see my father. As I enter the room, I feel completely empty. I have expended so much emotional energy on this nightmare, cried so many tears, I am now incapable of being demonstrative. I am spent; totally spent.
Dad looks up at me like an expectant child and it breaks my heart all over again. I think about what Nurse Annie just told me and hate the fact that I have to lie to him. When he learns the truth, I know it will totally destroy him.
