Time-Bound

Chapter 43

January 2nd, 2020.

La Pitié Salpêtrière,

Hospital, paris.

The Johnsons met with the receptionist who told them in French that the doctor they wanted to see  went out a while ago and he'd be back shortly. When Victoria translated it for Anthony, he made a fuss.

“Why are all the doctors like this anyway?” He hissed. “We made an appointment with them and agreed on a particular time, then they disappoint us.”

“Calm down. They're doctors, obviously busy.” Victoria said.

They waited outside the office for about 30 minutes before the doctor arrived.

“The Johnsons?” He asked.

“Dr. Meyer?” Anthony asked.

“Oui.” Yes. Dr. Meyer smiled. “Bon après-midi.”  Good afternoon.

“That's a greeting right?” Anthony turned to his family.

“You don't even know a bit of French Daddy.” Mercy laughed.

“Yes, it is a greeting.” Dr. Meyer chuckled.

“Oh, you speak english?” Anthony asked.

“Yes. Come in.” Dr. Meyer unlocked the door to his office and led them in.

“Beautiful places and things are  in Paris.” Brenda commented.

“Yes.” Dr. Meyer turned to Anthony. “I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I heard you got angry.”

“Yes, I was.” Anthony sighed.

“One of my patients had an heart attack so I went over to his house to attend to him.” Dr. Meyer said.

“Wow! that's very serious.” Victoria said with emphasis as she stared at Anthony.

“Yes, it is.”

“I told you they are busy.” Victoria hissed.

“So who is this Brenda?” Dr. Meyer asked.

“I am.” Brenda raised her hand.

“Oh, C'mon. You're not in a classroom.” Mercy dropped her hand.

“How are you?” Dr. Meyer asked.

“I'm fine, thank you.”

“How's your health? How do you feel or how have you felt in the past week?” Dr. Meyer asked.

“Year, you mean.” Anthony corrected.

“My health is just fine except for the fact that I'm scared I'll have amnesia and all that Dr. Parker said.”

“How about before? How did you feel?” Dr  Meyer asked.

“I had speech problems and felt uncomfortable. I had continuous migraines that only attack me at night.” Brenda laughed.

Dr. Meyer sighed. “Anything else?”

“I sleep a lot but I'm grateful that I don't sleep 24 hours. That would make me cry.”

“Hmm. Did you receive the reports of your last radiation?” Dr. Meyer asked.

“No. We totally forgot to pick it up.” Anthony said.

“It was sent to me yesterday.” Dr. Meyer sighed.

“What does it say?” Victoria asked.

“Nothing we've not heard before. These guys should stop trying to scare us.” Mercy hissed.

“I'm sorry that you feel that way. Our profession doesn't entertain scaring patients or threatening them. We just warn you and let you know what the reality of things are.” Dr. Meyer smiled.

“Please don't smile when you're about to share bad news. It's creepy.” Victoria said.

“I'm sure you already know about your daughter's condition this far, but according to the  results of the radiation therapy, the tumor increased in size.”

“But they said it would reduce my tumor.”

“Yes, that's what it does. But every time they do the radiation, it reduces in size but after days, it returns to the way it was and multiplies. The next time you do the radiation, they're only able to reduce a very small amount of the tumor.” Dr. Meyer demonstrated with his fingers.

“What are you implying?” Anthony asked.

“The radiation isn't working. It is useless on her kind of stage.”

“What should we do?” Victoria asked.

“Surgery as soon as possible or you wouldn't like what would happen.”

“What would happen?” Mercy asked.

“There could be a clot in her brain, brain bleeding or the tumor could even rupture.”

Everyone stared at Anthony.

“What?”

“Surgery!” Victoria yelled.

“How long will it take before it ruptures?” Anthony asked.

“So you're waiting for it to rupture before we do surgery? Do you want to kill my daughter?” Victoria asked.

“Hold on. How long will it take?” Anthony turned to the doctor.

“Every passing moment is critical and I don't expect you ask such questions. I expect you to tell us to prepare for the surgery.” Dr. Meyer frowned.

“It's not like I don't care for my daughter, I do. I'm just scared to lose her.”

“You think we are going to kill her immediately she enters the operating theater?” Dr. Meyer asked.

“No, it's not that. I- Can we wait till next month?” Anthony asked.

“At your own risk. Most families put the lives of our patients at risk. Once it comes to a stage where the surgery is ineffective, you'd blame us for the loss of your loved ones. I'm not an intern here that's why I was recommended.” Dr. Meyer said.

“I apologize on his behalf. I'd do all I can and try to see what next week can do for us. Thank you.” Victoria said.

“Next week it is then.” Dr. Meyer sighed.

The Johnsons left the office, walked out of the hospital and by the road side,  Anthony didn't care, he broke down into tears.

“Tony, Tony. Pull yourself together.” Victoria patted him. “People are watc...”

Anthony drew her into a hug and cried.

“It's okay, It's okay.” She patted him.

“It's not okay. They want to take Brenda away from us.” Anthony cried.

“Daddy, I'm right here. I told you I'm not l-leav-ing.” Brenda broke down into tears.

“Come here Brenda.” A sniffing Anthony said.

Mercy wasn't left out of the emotional breakdown the family was having, she was soon to join in the hug.

Somewhere in a far distance, Sia's Courage to change was playing.

You're not alone in all this
You're not alone I promise
Standing together we can do anything
You're not alone in all this
You're not alone I promise
Standing together we can do anything