"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. The CT scan, MRI and ultrasound show that Erica has 2 masses on her right kidney. She has a spot on her lung as well. Additionally, the masses have ruptured and are bleeding into her abdomen. She needs immediate surgery to remove her kidney and surrounding tissue. We'll also remove the spot on her lung and biopsy it. Based on the lab results we'll know if the masses are cancerous or not and if it's spread. The results will greatly impact her treatment and overall prognosis." The doctor explained to Monica and Chandler.
Monica immediately burst into tears and clung to Chandler while crying on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
"S-so d-does she need a transplant?" Chandler asked trying very hard to keep it together at least until the doctor left.
"We didn't find anything on her other kidney and she can live a pretty normal life with just one kidney. She'll just have to be careful." The doctor explained.
"Okay... H-how did this go so long without us knowing?" Chandler asked. He felt horrible that she was so sick and no one had noticed.
"Well sometimes there are no signs until it gets worse. I'll be able to give you both a lot more information on everything after surgery. They're going to prep her for surgery soon but you can go see her until they do." The doctor told him.
Chandler nodded as the doctor left the room. Monica calmed down a little. She wanted to be brave for Erica. After a few minutes they walked into Erica's room. She looked so tiny and fragile in the hospital bed.
Monica and Chandler walked over beside her bed. Her nurse had already explained to her what was going to happen. She looked up at her parents. "I'm scared." She told them.
"We know honey. But the doctors are going to try to make you feel better." Chandler told her.
"But daddy I don't want surgery. I wanna go home. Can't they just give me some medicine?" Erica asked.
"I'm sorry sweetie but they have to do the surgery. But you'll be okay. You won't even know the surgery's happening. They're going to give you some medicine so you'll be asleep for it. And when you wake up everybody'll be here. I already talked to your aunts and uncles. They're going to come see you. And Jack's coming back too." Chandler told her. Monica couldn't say much. She didn't want to break down in front of Erica.
"Okay..." Erica said.
A few minutes later a nurse came in. "Okay Erica, we're going to take you to get ready for surgery now." She told her.
Chandler and Monica both hugged her tight and told her they loved her and then she was wheeled out of the room. Monica and Chandler went to the surgical waiting room where there was a TV screen with all of the patients' initials and dates of birth that indicated when the surgeries were in progress and when they were finished. Monica and Chandler both clung to eachother and cried on eachother's shoulder.
