Seated across from Susan McNeily's desk, Michael and Nikita held hands, waiting for her to speak.
"Nikita I asked you to come in today because the results of the tests from your last visit caused some concern."
"Is something wrong with our baby, Susan?" Nikita demanded, tears thick in her throat.
"No. No, Nikita. The baby is fine. All tests indicate that she is developing normally and according to schedule," the doctor said firmly.
"Then what is the cause of your concern, doctor," Michael asked.
With a calm smiling face Dr. McNeily answered him, "Nikita's urine test indicated that the kidneys are excreting elevated levels of protein. This concerned me because high levels of protein in the urine is a early symptom of a condition called preeclampsia."
"Preeclampsia?"
"Preeclampsia, eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension, or PIH, are collectively called the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is identified by some very particular symptoms. Such as a rise in blood pressure, retention of fluids to the degree of swelling in the hands, feet, legs, and face. A sudden increase in weight and high levels of protein in the urine. As well as severe, presistance headaches and in extreme cases, visual disturbances, and sometimes pain in the upper right side and shoulder area. If left untreated, preeclampsia can be very serious, it can develop into eclampsia, which can result in convulsions. Which can be very dangerous to both mother and child," the doctor explained.
"But I don't have any of those symptoms, Susan, except the protein. Does that mean I have this...this preeclampsia?"
"That's why I asked you to come in today. I needed more information to answer that question. You haven't exhibited enough of the symptoms to point with any certainty toward preeclampsia, but it would be negligent of me not to apprise you of the possibility so that we can monitor you carefully. And while it is extremely rare that the convulsions of Eclampsia just 'come on' without these other signs and symptoms present, it is not impossible. I wanted to let you know what to be on the look out for so that we can are prepared for any situation which could put you or your baby in danger," the doctor said with a reassuring smile.
Michael and Nikita spent another thirty-five minutes asking Dr. McNeily question after question about preeclampsia, Eclampsia and its symptoms and effects.
Thanking Susan for her patience, they left her office with a promise to make an appointment for the following Thursday with the receptionist before they left.
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As her office door closed behind Michael and Nikita Samuelle, Susan McNeily's confident smile slipped until it disappeared altogether. As she glanced down at Nikita's file she mentally went over the interview, certain that she had covered all the bases, but unable to shake off a feeling of disquiet and foreboding. She closed the file and placed it in her out-box for the secretary to pick up later.
Susan checked the clock and sighed, she had missed lunch again. "Probably just hunger pains," she dismissed and picked up Helena Roma's file in preparation for her next appointment.