proof to back up her claims. In time, no doubt, her claims will be investigated. Then we’ll have enough information on which to make recommendations.”
John nodded. “We appreciate you’re bein’ honest about it.”
It was no more, nor any less than they should have expected. It was about the same thing Dr. Miller had told John-Boy at the college. But it was still disappointing.
Dr. Miller smiled. “Do you think Mrs. Walton might feel up to seeing me for a few minutes?”
“I think she’d enjoy talkin’ to you, Doctor,” John said.
Grandma looked at Erin, then nodded. “I reckon she’s probably awake by now.”
John-Boy gathered the pamphlets as the others rose. “Daddy? I could take the truck and get these over to Dr. Vance real quick.”
“I think that’s a good idea, son.”
Dr. Miller’s assistant helped him up the stairs. Then, only John and Erin accompanied him inside. Olivia was sitting up in bed, and showed no surprise at the entrance of a man in a wheelchair.
“John-Boy told me all about you.” She smiled after John introduced them.
“He told me all about you, too.”
Dr. Miller made no effort to examine her, but asked detailed questions about how she felt and how much she could move her limbs. Olivia demonstrated, making unsteady, almost imperceptible movements of her legs. Then, in the same circumspect terms he used downstairs, Dr. Miller discussed the Sister Kenny treatment. When he finished, Olivia smiled stoically.
“Then it’s up to Dr. Vance?”
“Yes. You know, Mrs. Walton, the movement you can make with your legs is very encouraging.”
Olivia laughed. “I’m glad you could even see it. I thought maybe it was just in my imagination.”
“No, I could see it, all right. And I’m not speaking so much as a doctor right now. I’m remembering when I was in your place. I couldn’t do that for months.”
“I’ve been exercising. If I keep it up, I’ll build up more and more control, don’t you think?”
Olivia’s enthusiasm seemed to alarm the doctor. “It’s certainly possible,” he said tentatively. Then he gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know. You want more than ‘possibilities.’ You want certainties. I’m afraid there just aren’t any with polio, Mrs. Walton.”
Watching from across the bed, John felt a wave of compassion for Olivia. He wished the doctor would tell her something positive; encourage her with the exercises, or tell her there was even a slim chance of recovery. But he understood the doctor’s cautiousness.
“It’s natural for you to want to get back to the person you were before this happened,” Dr. Miller said. “But you should be realistic and accept the fact that there are other possibilities.”
“You mean I should be willin’ to settle for less than that?” Olivia asked.
“No, not for less. But maybe for something different.” He suddenly smiled, as if reflecting on his own situation. “It’s really not so bad, Mrs. Walton.”
It was easy to forget that Dr. Miller was crippled and permanently confined to a wheelchair. His inner strength and commanding manner gave the impression of energetic virility. The subtle reminder of his real condition brought a faint blush to Olivia’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry, doctor. And I do appreciate your comin’ to see me.”
He waved aside the apology. “Mrs. Walton, I’m looking forward to the day you’ll be coming to see me.”
John waited until they were downstairs and out to the car before he asked the question. “Doctor Miller, do you think the movement in Livvy’s legs means there’s some hope?”
The man considered the question for some time. “It’s possible, Mr. Walton. On the other hand, every case is different.” He shook his head and smiled. “The only thing I can say for sure is that if determination and persistence are a factor in a person’s recovery, your wife’s got as good a chance as anybody I’ve ever seen.”
John nodded, but the doctor looked
John nodded. “We appreciate you’re bein’ honest about it.”
It was no more, nor any less than they should have expected. It was about the same thing Dr. Miller had told John-Boy at the college. But it was still disappointing.
Dr. Miller smiled. “Do you think Mrs. Walton might feel up to seeing me for a few minutes?”
“I think she’d enjoy talkin’ to you, Doctor,” John said.
Grandma looked at Erin, then nodded. “I reckon she’s probably awake by now.”
John-Boy gathered the pamphlets as the others rose. “Daddy? I could take the truck and get these over to Dr. Vance real quick.”
“I think that’s a good idea, son.”
Dr. Miller’s assistant helped him up the stairs. Then, only John and Erin accompanied him inside. Olivia was sitting up in bed, and showed no surprise at the entrance of a man in a wheelchair.
“John-Boy told me all about you.” She smiled after John introduced them.
“He told me all about you, too.”
Dr. Miller made no effort to examine her, but asked detailed questions about how she felt and how much she could move her limbs. Olivia demonstrated, making unsteady, almost imperceptible movements of her legs. Then, in the same circumspect terms he used downstairs, Dr. Miller discussed the Sister Kenny treatment. When he finished, Olivia smiled stoically.
“Then it’s up to Dr. Vance?”
“Yes. You know, Mrs. Walton, the movement you can make with your legs is very encouraging.”
Olivia laughed. “I’m glad you could even see it. I thought maybe it was just in my imagination.”
“No, I could see it, all right. And I’m not speaking so much as a doctor right now. I’m remembering when I was in your place. I couldn’t do that for months.”
“I’ve been exercising. If I keep it up, I’ll build up more and more control, don’t you think?”
Olivia’s enthusiasm seemed to alarm the doctor. “It’s certainly possible,” he said tentatively. Then he gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know. You want more than ‘possibilities.’ You want certainties. I’m afraid there just aren’t any with polio, Mrs. Walton.”
Watching from across the bed, John felt a wave of compassion for Olivia. He wished the doctor would tell her something positive; encourage her with the exercises, or tell her there was even a slim chance of recovery. But he understood the doctor’s cautiousness.
“It’s natural for you to want to get back to the person you were before this happened,” Dr. Miller said. “But you should be realistic and accept the fact that there are other possibilities.”
“You mean I should be willin’ to settle for less than that?” Olivia asked.
“No, not for less. But maybe for something different.” He suddenly smiled, as if reflecting on his own situation. “It’s really not so bad, Mrs. Walton.”
It was easy to forget that Dr. Miller was crippled and permanently confined to a wheelchair. His inner strength and commanding manner gave the impression of energetic virility. The subtle reminder of his real condition brought a faint blush to Olivia’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry, doctor. And I do appreciate your comin’ to see me.”
He waved aside the apology. “Mrs. Walton, I’m looking forward to the day you’ll be coming to see me.”
John waited until they were downstairs and out to the car before he asked the question. “Doctor Miller, do you think the movement in Livvy’s legs means there’s some hope?”
The man considered the question for some time. “It’s possible, Mr. Walton. On the other hand, every case is different.” He shook his head and smiled. “The only thing I can say for sure is that if determination and persistence are a factor in a person’s recovery, your wife’s got as good a chance as anybody I’ve ever seen.”
John nodded, but the doctor looked
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