Authors note: I wrote this story as a way to cope with my own illness. I just wanted to look at my journey from a different perspective. So pleaseexcuse me if the grammar isn't perfect. Some of the events are true...some I wish were true. :) This story is based on faith and my belief that God can use you in whatever situation you're in. Please forgive me if the updates don't come as fast as you would like them, I don't feel up to writing every day and there are no computers in the hospital. Anyway, hope you like it! Let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see in the plot. R&R.
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I was twenty-eight years old when I met Walter Rhines. I was in my second to last year of medical school and my grades put me at the top of my class. I had already been offered a position at the Pediatric Cancer Research Hospital in Morehead City, North Carolina upon graduation. My patients respected me and other medical students sought my advice on difficult cases. I was naive enough to think that I knew everything. I had no idea how wrong I was.
It was December 23 and I was twenty hours into a twenty-four hour rotation when I stepped off the crowded elevator onto the oncology floor. I had finished my rounds early and I was looking forward to a cup of coffee and a nap on the couch in the student lounge. I had one more patient to see and I could almost smell the coffee brewing downstairs. I ducked under a plastic snowflake hanging from the ceiling and retrieved a chart from the door of room 835. 'Walter Rhines, age 82...', I quickly scanned the front page, taking in the information. 'Acute Mylogenous Leukemia.' After 7 years of studying medicine, a lump still formed in my throat every time I read those words. I pushed the door open and found an elderly man with white hair and leathery skin lying in bed flipping through channels on the TV. "Good evening, Mr. Rhines. I'm Dr. Carter. How are you feeling today?" "I was hoping you could tell me." he replied with a chuckle. "Any chance I'll get out of here for Christmas?" "Well..." I hesitated, trying to find the right words. I had not yet gotten used to being the bearer or bad news. "I think your doctor might want to keep you here a few more days. At least until your white blood cell count stabilizes." "That's alright. Not much waiting for me at home anyway. As long as they don't try to keep me in here during fishing season. Then there would be trouble." He laughed hoarsely. "Did you say your name was Carter?" "Yes, Sir." "Any relation to Worth Carter? He was my Ethel's cardiologist for quite a while before she passed away." "Actually he's my father." I adjusted the settings on the IV pump. "He's a good man. Is he the reason you went into medicine?" "No." I reached into my wallet and handed him a worn photograph. "She is." "Jamie." Saying her name brought back a surge of emotions that I quickly tried to suppress, reminding myself that I was a professional. "She's one of your patients?" "My wife." I glanced over his shoulder at the picture, even though its image had been engraved in my mind for years. It was taken opening night of the spring play, and the stage lights cast a soft glow around Jamie's silhouette, making her appear almost ethereal. "That was taken the night I fell in love with her." "There's a sadness in your voice." He observed, his cloudy blue eyes taking on a concerned look. "She passed away seven years ago. Leukemia." "I'm sorry. You must miss her terribly." "More than anyone will ever know." "Jamie was amazing. She had faith in me when no one else did. She saved my life. I have never met anyone else like her...I doubt I ever will." "No really tell me about her. Faith, love - its not every day you hear a story like that. Unless of course you have somewhere else you need to be." I glanced at my watch. "Actually, I'm done for the night and I have four more hours until my shift ends. How much do you want to hear?" " I have all night. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable." I sat down in the vinyl chair next to the bed. Memories flooded back that I had not allowed myself to relive in a long time. I was oblivious to the noise and fluorescent lights of the hospital. My mind traveled back in time and I could see Jamie's face, hear her contagious laughter. A sad smile formed at the corners of my lips. I closed my eyes and began my story.
I smiled, recording the information from various monitors hanging above the bed.
Walter's eyes met mine and he paused a moment before speaking.
Another pause. "Tell me about her." he spoke softly.