When It Rain It Pours
Ch. 2- Your Just Fooling Yourself
(still several weeks earlier)
He did not feel up to football practice. This flu or whatever it was starting to get him down. The practice was strenuous too. They were going be playing against their rivals next week and the couch wanted to make sure they were already for it.
So by the time Hank got home he was exhausted. All he felt up to doing was going to bed. He did not even see his father sitting in the family room until he called to Hank.
"Ruth, found these." Dr. Beecham said holding up drenched bed sheets. He had been referring to Ruth their housekeeper, who had been there since Hank's mother, Eileen, died eight years before.
"Why didn't you tell me about the night sheets, Hank? I've noticed you've been tired and those headaches you've been getting. Is that it or are there more?" David, said almost angrily. "You're an EMT, you should know better. You could have something serious." Hank was silent. He didn't know what to say. "Tomorrow you're going to be checked out." Hank's father continued.
***
"The symptoms you have listed are found in many different disorders. So, as you know I have done some preliminary blood work on you, Hank and have found that your white blood count is elevated. I suggest you be emitted to the hospital for more tests." Dr. Douglas stated. "Dr Fouler will be in control of you case now."
Emitted? Hank wondered. He had school, football, the station, responsibilities. He couldn't be in the hospital. "Are you sure?" his dad asked before him.
"Yes, I'm sure Dr. Beecham. You may look over he's blood work if you'd like. But, I think it's best if he does get the tests."
***
"It's proubley nothing. You'll be out of here soon enough, son." Hank nodded in response, as Dr. Fouler came in. "Dr. David Beecham?" she asked. "Your head of surgery in cardiology at Mercy, right?"
"Yes, I am." David replied. It was no surprise. His father was national recognized for his work.
"Its an honor to meet you. I have heard of the great work you do there. I'm Anna Fouler." she said shaking his hand. "Anyway, I have ordered a CT Scan, more antibiotics and lab work. I'll make sure Hank gets the best care." she replied smiling at Hank and then walking out.
***
Hank spent days in the hospital as all this tests were taken. He looked horrible and worn. They were taking blood at what it seemed like everyday. The CT Scan was the hardest part. He was in a huge machine, where he had to lay perfectly still, while they took X-rays of his entire body.
And still they didn't know what was wrong.
Tyler, Val, Jamie and some of the other guys he knew came to visit. But, that left Hank feeling more of an urge to get out of the hospital. He felt like he was missing out on his life. The squad was without their head EMT, and he didn't want to get behind in school, especially in French. Plus, that big game was coming up. Also, he hated hospitals, ever since he's mother died of Breast Cancer. He remembered how sick she got, all the tests, surgeries, doctors. It was funny now, that he wanted to be a doctor.
Then, Dr. Fouler or Anna as she liked to be called, said she wanted to do a biopsy and a bone marrow aspiration. The surgery took three hours and later he was sore, at his hip were they did the bone marrow aspiration an at the neck were they removed the gland. When the test came back days later. Hank was really to leave the hospital with a clean bill of health.
However, Anna's faced did not revel good news. Hank braced himself as she began to speck.
"Your biopsy, the aspiration and tests indicate that you have Hodgkin's Lymphoma."
***
Ch. 2- Your Just Fooling Yourself
(still several weeks earlier)
He did not feel up to football practice. This flu or whatever it was starting to get him down. The practice was strenuous too. They were going be playing against their rivals next week and the couch wanted to make sure they were already for it.
So by the time Hank got home he was exhausted. All he felt up to doing was going to bed. He did not even see his father sitting in the family room until he called to Hank.
"Ruth, found these." Dr. Beecham said holding up drenched bed sheets. He had been referring to Ruth their housekeeper, who had been there since Hank's mother, Eileen, died eight years before.
"Why didn't you tell me about the night sheets, Hank? I've noticed you've been tired and those headaches you've been getting. Is that it or are there more?" David, said almost angrily. "You're an EMT, you should know better. You could have something serious." Hank was silent. He didn't know what to say. "Tomorrow you're going to be checked out." Hank's father continued.
***
"The symptoms you have listed are found in many different disorders. So, as you know I have done some preliminary blood work on you, Hank and have found that your white blood count is elevated. I suggest you be emitted to the hospital for more tests." Dr. Douglas stated. "Dr Fouler will be in control of you case now."
Emitted? Hank wondered. He had school, football, the station, responsibilities. He couldn't be in the hospital. "Are you sure?" his dad asked before him.
"Yes, I'm sure Dr. Beecham. You may look over he's blood work if you'd like. But, I think it's best if he does get the tests."
***
"It's proubley nothing. You'll be out of here soon enough, son." Hank nodded in response, as Dr. Fouler came in. "Dr. David Beecham?" she asked. "Your head of surgery in cardiology at Mercy, right?"
"Yes, I am." David replied. It was no surprise. His father was national recognized for his work.
"Its an honor to meet you. I have heard of the great work you do there. I'm Anna Fouler." she said shaking his hand. "Anyway, I have ordered a CT Scan, more antibiotics and lab work. I'll make sure Hank gets the best care." she replied smiling at Hank and then walking out.
***
Hank spent days in the hospital as all this tests were taken. He looked horrible and worn. They were taking blood at what it seemed like everyday. The CT Scan was the hardest part. He was in a huge machine, where he had to lay perfectly still, while they took X-rays of his entire body.
And still they didn't know what was wrong.
Tyler, Val, Jamie and some of the other guys he knew came to visit. But, that left Hank feeling more of an urge to get out of the hospital. He felt like he was missing out on his life. The squad was without their head EMT, and he didn't want to get behind in school, especially in French. Plus, that big game was coming up. Also, he hated hospitals, ever since he's mother died of Breast Cancer. He remembered how sick she got, all the tests, surgeries, doctors. It was funny now, that he wanted to be a doctor.
Then, Dr. Fouler or Anna as she liked to be called, said she wanted to do a biopsy and a bone marrow aspiration. The surgery took three hours and later he was sore, at his hip were they did the bone marrow aspiration an at the neck were they removed the gland. When the test came back days later. Hank was really to leave the hospital with a clean bill of health.
However, Anna's faced did not revel good news. Hank braced himself as she began to speck.
"Your biopsy, the aspiration and tests indicate that you have Hodgkin's Lymphoma."
***