When Meredith got to the hospital she found her mother conscious and under observation, but unfortunately not lucid. In the morning they would run a series of test to help find out what was wrong with her. Meredith thought how her secret would be out to everybody in short time. And with that would come questions and concern all the way from her friends' to her mother's, as well as the staff of the hospital. She sat by her mother's bed as the daylight broke, trying to decide how she would, or could handle another difficult day.
Just as Meredith had anticipated word traveled quickly through the hospital. Fortunately it was her day off and she didn't have to field questions from Izzie, George, and Christina. Derek and Bailey were off and Dr. Weber was out due to his "secret surgery." Her mother was gone for several hours having a multitude of test and returned more confused than ever. Finally that evening, the doctor assigned to her mother showed up with a probable diagnosis, and told her that to confirm the options for treatment he would be asking for a surgical consult on her case. Based on the Cat Scan and MRI they felt that she had a Meningioma , and after the consult he would have a better idea on all of the options available to Meredith and her mother as far as treatments go. Meredith knew what all of the possible options could be, she just wanted someone to tell her what the best one would be for her mother. She was completely responsible for the decision as far as treatment went and what her mother would want. Maybe her mom would have a moment of lucidness where she could ask her what she wanted them to do.
That evening, her mother was resting peacefully so she decided to go home and try to get some sleep herself since she had pre rounds in the morning. When she got home, Izzie and George where there so she decided to share the news and fess up at that point. No time like the present, right? This way she would actually have two less people asking questions of her tomorrow. They listened attentively and didn't interrupt her.
Izzie finally said quietly, "I'm so sorry Mer, I wish you would have told us, or at least felt what you could have told us, but I completely understand."
George said, "I'm sorry too Mer. Wow, when it rains it really does pour. I know we keep asking this, but is there anything we can do?"
"No, not unless you can deflect some questions for me tomorrow, but thanks. I just really need to try to get some sleep, but as always thanks for your support, and I too am sorry. Sorry that my life is such a mess right now and that you have to somewhat be subjected to it and me since we are roommates."
"Hey, we told you we would help you and face things together Mer. We're not only your roommates, but your friends." Izzie smiles slightly. "By the way, when is the last time you had a bite to eat?"
"I really don't know to be honest, but at this point I don't have the energy for that either. Goodnight guys."
When she got back to the hospital the next morning Meredith quickly checked in on her mother and thankfully found her peacefully sleeping. After checking with her nurse and leaving the message with her to contact Meredith immediately if her mother was having a lucid moment, she headed back downstairs. She really needed and wanted to try to get her input on her diagnosis and possible treatment plan.
After Dr. Bailey noticed Meredith's late appearance and gave marching orders to everyone, Meredith asked for a moment to talk with her. She explained the situation with her mom and that she understood she needed to be out on the floor and possibly in the OR with Christina being out again today, but also had some decisions to make today regarding her mother.
Dr. Bailey said "Meredith you need to do whatever you need to today regarding your mother, just keep me posted and take as much time as you need."
"Thank you Dr. Bailey, I'll do that."
The day was very chaotic and long for everyone and it had been hours since Meredith had checked on her mom due to being in surgery. When she went by later the nurses told her that she was having a surgical consult. When she walked into the room, there stood Derek with her mother. She walked over to her mom and kissed her forehead, held her hand and asked, "How are you feeling mom?"
"Well, this very nice doctor came by to see me. Are you going to be on my surgical team too?" Ellis Grey responded to her daughter.
"No mom, it's me Meredith, your daughter, and I really need for you to try and focus for me so that we can talk about some important medical matters concerning you."
"The only medical matter that I want to talk about right now is the upcoming surgery I need to perform."
"Okay mom, could you give me just a minute please? Dr. Shepard and I need to talk for a moment." And with that she motioned for Derek to come outside of the room with her.
"Dr. Shepard what are you doing in there with my mother?"
"Your mother's doctor asked me for a consult. How are you doing, are you holding up okay?"
She really wished that he would stop going down this caring path with her, but she answered his question anyway. "Just fabulous! I'm a surgical intern who normally functions on a small amount of sleep in a week, who now has her only living family member in the hospital possibly facing a major surgery, but because she suffers from Alzheimer's I can't get an opinion out of her so I'm being faced with making the decision myself. People in the hospital come up and want to talk to me about my mom and her condition all day long and I have to try to be pleasant and answer because they are my coworkers and many use to be hers. I couldn't even begin to tell you the last day, let alone time, I ate anything. And oh, did you hear? The man, who I thought was my boyfriend, has a wife! How do you think I'm doing?"
Derek felt even worse that he was part of what Meredith had to be dealing with at that moment. She had called him her boyfriend. He wasn't sure how to respond, or even if a response was appropriate, but considering they were standing in the hallway with people nearby he opted to keep it professional.
"Would you like to know what I think about the surgery option?"
Meredith weighed this option for a moment. "Yes, Dr. Shepard, I suppose I would. I might not respect you much as a person, but I do as a doctor and I need some advice so I can make the best possible decision for my mom's medical care."
Though the comment stung Derek, he started telling Meredith what his recommendation would be for her mother's condition. Basically they felt the tumor was benign, but couldn't be certain until they got in there. He felt they needed to remove as much of the tumor as possible in order to hopefully alleviated the pressure on her brain, and therefore the seizure symptoms she was now starting to exhibit. After the tumor resection and biopsy they would be able to go from there depending on their findings as far as a treatment plan. So basically Derek was confirming what she already knew for herself. As she pondered this for a moment longer, she made a decision; she needed to make a decision.
"Can we go ahead and schedule this for tomorrow? I'm still hopeful that my mother will come around some time today so that I can talk to her about this, but I also feel that I need to go ahead and make a decision. You have just confirmed what I already knew was coming, so lets go ahead and take care of her the best way we know how."
"I'll take care of scheduling the OR Mer."
"Thank you and I'll let you know if anything changes on this end."
"Mer, why don't you come downstairs with me and let me buy you something to eat, I'm sure you need it my now and you need to keep your strength up."
"Thanks Dr. Shepard, but I just can't do that right now."
"Will you at least let me know if there is anything I can do Meredith?"
"Dr. Shepard, you have already, unfortunately, done plenty." Meredith stated as she walked past him back into her mother's room.