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“She’s just given me permission to speak with you, so I’m able to tell you more about her condition. She’s always had a congenital heart defect that we were able to manage for quite some time with treatment, but things have gotten worse within the last year or so, and now her heart is failing. That was actually the cause of the stroke.”
I suck in a sharp breath. “Her heart was the cause of the stroke?” I’ve never even heard of that.
“Yes. This looks like the same sort of defect your mother suffered, but in Gina’s case, we were able to treat it. However, the condition has gotten to the stage where she needs surgery.”
I swallow hard. “What kind of surgery?”
“My recommendation is valve replacement surgery. That should fix a lot of the problems she’s having, and of course, if successful, extend her life, but the treatment plan would be quite extensive, and we’d have to factor in the recovery from the stroke. Gina and I have talked about this before.”
“How long ago was this?”
“Since she had the stroke.” He opens his palms. “That was the moment things got worse. She didn’t proceed with the treatment plan for financial reasons. Her insurance won’t cover it, and she didn’t have the finances.”
Oh God. She didn’t have the money because of me.
Because she saved me.
“How much will it all cost?”
“In excess of a hundred thousand dollars because of the level of care she’ll need.”
My entire body squeezes as if clamps are attached to my joints, tightening with every breath I take.
I dip my head. I don’t have that kind of money.
Fuck, this is absolute shit, and I just paid all those loans the other day. Had I known about this, I would have used it for Gina’s health.
Slowly, I lift my head and meet Dr. French with tears in my eyes.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We’ve done a lot within the remits of what her insurance will cover, and we will continue to do so, along with anything else we can offer, but that won’t be enough. She needs the surgery now. If we don’t do it, she’ll get to a stage where there will be nothing we can do because her body won’t be able to handle surgery.”
My soul trembles on hearing that. “I understand.”
“Take some time to think about everything and get back to me. Here is my business card with my number.” He hands me his card.
“Thank you. I appreciate all you’ve done for her.”
He nods respectfully. “Go, spend some time with her. I’ll take you to her room.”
“Thanks.”
I feel like a shell of the person I was hours ago as I get up and follow him to Gina’s room. The feeling worsens when I find Gina in her hospital bed looking so frail I fear she might dissolve into the air.
She looks at me, then at Dr. French, and in her eyes I read realization that she knows he’s spoken to me.
He leaves us, and I move toward her. She has tubes attached to her wrist but manages to lift her hand out to me.
When I take it, the tears just come.
“Oh, Gina,” I whimper.
“Please don’t cry, my sweet, sweet girl.” Her voice is whisper-soft, and as she breathes in, her chest rattles, sounding like a broken engine.
I wipe away my tears and shake my head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this. I really tried to take care of myself, especially after your mother died, and it seemed like things were okay for some time, until they weren’t.”
“I will find that money for the surgery.” I don’t know where to start, but I know I have to find it. “If not for me, you would have had it.”
