be
too quick to say the Aortic Dissection is back. However, if you want to be
absolutely sure, I’ll have an X-ray done on your chest right away.”
“I’d rather be sure.”
“All right then.” He put his glasses back on, stood, then walked around the desk, urging me along.
When we stepped out of his office and into the corridor, Dr. Henderson asked,
“Did you tell your parents about this?”
“No,” I replied, keeping my gaze straight ahead as we turned at a corner and
continued down another corridor. “I wanted to make sure first.”
“Sounds like you already believe its back, Branden.” He stopped at a door and
peered at me over his glasses. “Remember what I told you that day you left the
hospital?”
I stuck my hands inside my pockets and answered, “That I should keep positive.”
“Yes. I hope you’ll continue to do so.”
Dr. Henderson opened the door and entered what appeared to be an examination
room. “Change into that robe over there and I’ll have a nurse come in to
perform the X-ray shortly.”
He left me alone to it.
After changing, I waited a few minutes for the nurse to come in, cracking my
knuckles and growing anxious by the second. Thoughts circulated around my head.
Like what if the disease was really back? Would it kill me this time? How was I
going to tell my family, not to mention Moya? She would be devastated.
“Hi, Branden,” a petite nurse with her red hair up in a ponytail entered. She
held a plastic smile on her face as she pointed to the box-like device mounted
on the wall and instructed, “If you’ll step over here please.” I’d grown used
to seeing the machine by now.
She positioned me in front of it, and then she walked over to the producing
device a few feet away and sat down before it. “Okay, Branden. Stay still until
I tell you.” This nurse sounded like my mother.
“Ready when you are,” I said flatly.
“Okay,” she replied, her voice chirpy and high-pitched. “Here we go.”
I heard a buzzing sound and lights flashed from the machine in split seconds,
my heart thumped with each. Then she instructed me to turn sideways with my
arms outstretched. The same lights flickered again, and before I knew it, she
was finished with me. A flood of relief washed over my body, and I was able to
steady my breathing again.
Getting up, the nurse headed for the door. “You can get dressed. I’ll get these
developed and get the results back to Doctor Henderson. He’ll be in shortly to
talk with you.”
The minute I hauled on my t-shirt and slipped on my sweater, I received a text
from Moya.
What you up to
today?
Nothing really.
I hated not telling her about this when I’d promised her if anything happened I
would, but like Doctor Henderson said, it could be nothing to worry about.
Wanna meet up?
Sure. Later though. Anything in
mind?
Why later? How about in 10 mins?
Can’t babe. Taking care of something
now. We’ll get together later. Wanna catch a movie?
Dr. Henderson walked in the room, holding my x-ray images. I
stiffened, fearful of what he was going to say. His mouth curled into a smile
as he sat down on the chair. It gave me hope.
“So?” I urged, growing impatient. Sweat started to run down the side of my
face. “Is it back?”
“Branden, it’s not the disease. Like I said, it was probably a late effect from
the surgery.”
He glanced over the images then handed them to me. My chest looked clear from
what I could see.
“There’s nothing wrong, Branden,” he confirmed.
I swallowed down the huge lump that had formed in my throat. “You’re sure?” I
asked again, peering at the x-ray then handing them back to him.
Nodding, Dr. Henderson patted my shoulder. “Relax, son. Enjoy life and stop worrying
so much.” He guided me towards the door. We stepped outside the room.
too quick to say the Aortic Dissection is back. However, if you want to be
absolutely sure, I’ll have an X-ray done on your chest right away.”
“I’d rather be sure.”
“All right then.” He put his glasses back on, stood, then walked around the desk, urging me along.
When we stepped out of his office and into the corridor, Dr. Henderson asked,
“Did you tell your parents about this?”
“No,” I replied, keeping my gaze straight ahead as we turned at a corner and
continued down another corridor. “I wanted to make sure first.”
“Sounds like you already believe its back, Branden.” He stopped at a door and
peered at me over his glasses. “Remember what I told you that day you left the
hospital?”
I stuck my hands inside my pockets and answered, “That I should keep positive.”
“Yes. I hope you’ll continue to do so.”
Dr. Henderson opened the door and entered what appeared to be an examination
room. “Change into that robe over there and I’ll have a nurse come in to
perform the X-ray shortly.”
He left me alone to it.
After changing, I waited a few minutes for the nurse to come in, cracking my
knuckles and growing anxious by the second. Thoughts circulated around my head.
Like what if the disease was really back? Would it kill me this time? How was I
going to tell my family, not to mention Moya? She would be devastated.
“Hi, Branden,” a petite nurse with her red hair up in a ponytail entered. She
held a plastic smile on her face as she pointed to the box-like device mounted
on the wall and instructed, “If you’ll step over here please.” I’d grown used
to seeing the machine by now.
She positioned me in front of it, and then she walked over to the producing
device a few feet away and sat down before it. “Okay, Branden. Stay still until
I tell you.” This nurse sounded like my mother.
“Ready when you are,” I said flatly.
“Okay,” she replied, her voice chirpy and high-pitched. “Here we go.”
I heard a buzzing sound and lights flashed from the machine in split seconds,
my heart thumped with each. Then she instructed me to turn sideways with my
arms outstretched. The same lights flickered again, and before I knew it, she
was finished with me. A flood of relief washed over my body, and I was able to
steady my breathing again.
Getting up, the nurse headed for the door. “You can get dressed. I’ll get these
developed and get the results back to Doctor Henderson. He’ll be in shortly to
talk with you.”
The minute I hauled on my t-shirt and slipped on my sweater, I received a text
from Moya.
What you up to
today?
Nothing really.
I hated not telling her about this when I’d promised her if anything happened I
would, but like Doctor Henderson said, it could be nothing to worry about.
Wanna meet up?
Sure. Later though. Anything in
mind?
Why later? How about in 10 mins?
Can’t babe. Taking care of something
now. We’ll get together later. Wanna catch a movie?
Dr. Henderson walked in the room, holding my x-ray images. I
stiffened, fearful of what he was going to say. His mouth curled into a smile
as he sat down on the chair. It gave me hope.
“So?” I urged, growing impatient. Sweat started to run down the side of my
face. “Is it back?”
“Branden, it’s not the disease. Like I said, it was probably a late effect from
the surgery.”
He glanced over the images then handed them to me. My chest looked clear from
what I could see.
“There’s nothing wrong, Branden,” he confirmed.
I swallowed down the huge lump that had formed in my throat. “You’re sure?” I
asked again, peering at the x-ray then handing them back to him.
Nodding, Dr. Henderson patted my shoulder. “Relax, son. Enjoy life and stop worrying
so much.” He guided me towards the door. We stepped outside the room.
Similar Books
