Disclaimer: I don't own the guardian and get no money from this
Author's Note: Hello, sorry I haven't updated in awhile but my computer is broken so I have less acess to a PC, and I was back in school too :( I apologize again if my medical knowledge is inaccurate although I did a load of reasearch online before writing it and then my Dad wanted his laptop back so I couldn't update it till now. I know I wake up early on a Saturday aren't I weird? Anyway I hope you like it, (please review if you do). Thanks to all my readers for reading and hgriss and christyzachman for reviewing :) Read on...
"Goodmorning," said Dr Greyson as he entered the room.
"Morning Dr Greyson," Nick replied, pleased he was finally sounding like himself and hadn't needed the mask at all yesterday.
"Please call me Alex, I like to be on a first name basis with my patients," Greyson smiled as he approached Nick who was alone, Lulu and his Dad didn't usually visit till the afternoon, "it's been a week since you were admitted and I need to check on your burns, especially your hand,"
Nick nodded as Greyson began to unravel the dressing on his hand, Nick forced himself to look at the hand, nurses had changed it before but he had looked away unlike now. It was red and blistery with the palm and finger tips being leatherly and black. It looked disgusting, like an aliens hand or some kind of monster. It was basically a black handprint on blistery red skin. It was tender too and quite painful even with painkillers.
"Necrosis, I'm going to have to remove that skin surgically, its dead," Greyson explained and Nick nodded numbly, "can you move it? Try flexing your fingers,"
Nick did so and was both pleased and shocked his fingers moved, pleased his hand wasn't useless but shocked the weird looking thing was an extension of his arm.
"That's good Nick, do you mind if I call you Nick?" Nick shook his head, "that means that the nerves aren't completely destroyed and after I've removed the tissue and grafted some skin it should be fully functional,"
"That's good," Nick said as Greyson redressed the hand.
"Needs to be dressed like this to prevent infection. I'll show you how to change the dressing yourself before you're discharged and I'll show your father and wife too so they can help you change the dressing. It's easier with someone helping you or doing it for you," Greyson continued happily, Nick was surprised by his friendliness, most doctors he knew were cold and distant like the guy who'd treated his mother.
"Lulu's not my wife she's sort of... well it's just complicated," Nick spluttered hopelessly. Greyson just nodded as he finished applying the dressing, "what about my other hand?"
"Your hand and wrist were shattered, I had to reconstruct it completely. It should take 4-6 months to heal and then you've got to go to physical therapy and see if how much function can be regained,"
"Function?" Nick asked confused, wouln't it just heal and be normal again?
"The nerves and tendons and everything was damaged, I did my best but the function will most likely be impaired and limited. Successful physical therapy can make your hand and wrist fully functioning again," he added hopefully.
"What's the odds of that? It's my right hand and I'm right-handed, being a lawyer I need to sign stuff and fill out forms,"
"I couldn't even begin to guess the odds, at least not until the bones are healed. You'll have to try adapt to bring left-handed I'm afraid," Greyson said calmly but looked sympathetic, "you'll probably find when you've adapted to being left-handed you'll stay left-handed,"
"At least I still have hands," Nick muttered thoughtfully, difficult was better than being dead. Greyson continued to diagnose Nick, most other things were minor and not a problem, his back and shoulder had some nasty second degree burns but they were healing fine as was his head contusion.
"You are really healing remarkably well Nick," Greyson smiled and then became more serious, "would you like me to schedule you for surgery so we can remove the necrotic tissue and give you a skin graft?"
"Yeah," Nick agreed, anything to get him better faster, "what happens in a skin graft though?"
"We remove skin from your thigh and put it on your hand instead," Greyson explained.
"Okay, I'm fine with that. Schedule away," Nick said again, Greyson smiled and nodded, "what about my family? Should I tell them now?"
"They should be back to see you before you go into surgery,"
"That's great then and how soon after should I be able to go home?" Nick asked hopefully, he was bored out of his mind watching pointless TV and he missed doing things. It was hard going from constantly busy to stuck in bed and he was also worried about LSP and how it was running without him.
"Barring complications, it might be less than a week," Greyson said as he stood up to leave.
"Excellent, thank you very much Dr Grey- Alex," Nick corrected.
"It's my pleasure," Greyson smiled as he left and Nick leaned back in his bed wondering how his Dad was doing at LSP...