Chapter 17
Helen's eyes were wide with surprise. That was impossible. She had heard all the same medical reports that Beth had.
"Beth, that can't be. I mean, Kevin can't, well, the doctors said..."
"I know what they said and I know that I'm three weeks late and I've been sick for the past six mornings. All it takes is one little persistent sperm."
"Have you taken a test?"
"No. I was just about to go get one."
Helen couldn't believe her ears. "Wait, Beth. You stay here in case you get sick again. I'll go to the drugstore and pick up one. I'll be back in 15 minutes."
Beth nodded and walked wordlessly to the couch. She didn't need a test. She knew deep inside her what the results would be. She also knew that they weren't ready for a baby. She tried to work things out in her head. They had only been married a little over six weeks. She was still sitting on the couch, thoughts milling in her head, when Helen returned. She handed Beth the box and watched as the shocked girl walked into the bathroom. Ten minutes later Beth emerged with the little stick in her hand. A blue plus sign was visible near the end. Tears were visible on her cheeks.
"What do I do?" she asked quietly.
Helen realized how alone Beth must feel. Even though she had been "in the real world" for almost five years, she and Kevin had been together. Now, her parents had left for South America and Kevin was in China. She walked over to Beth and held her. A few seconds later, Beth let go of Helen, wiped her eyes, and began to look for a phone book.
"I need to see a doctor, I'm guessing. They'll need to do bloodwork and probably an ultrasound. I haven't been taking any prenatal vitamins or anything, and I know I've had alcohol in the past month. I should have been more careful. We just didn't even think it was possible."
"Beth, sweetie, don't chastise yourself over this. I'm sure everything will be just fine."
Beth had found the book and was dialing the number of the first office she saw advertised in the physician section under "gynecologist." The receptionist informed her that there had been a cancellation in half an hour. Beth thanked her and said she would be at the office as soon as possible. She ran to the shower to get ready. Helen was left with the stick, the phone, and shock.
Beth asked Helen to come with her to see the doctor. Helen gladly agreed and climbed into the passenger seat of Beth's car. In five minutes, they turned into the parking lot. Beth signed in at the desk, filled out the necessary forms and waited for the nurse to call her name. She motioned for Helen to come with her. The two women followed the nurse into the examination room. The nurse took her vitals, a urine sample and two vials of blood. Beth waited in a paper dress until the doctor arrived.
Dr. Melanie Selzic was a small blonde woman with kind eyes. She instantly recognized the fear on Beth's face. She said they would start with the exam. Dr. Selzic was very gentle, but when she depressed Beth's right Fallopian tub, Beth flinched in pain. The doctor frowned but continued the exam. She finished soon afterward and asked Beth to get dressed and meet her in her office.
A few minutes later, she arrived with Beth's chart in her hand. She wrinkle her brow as she read the results.
"Beth, the qualitative and quantitative tests both indicate that you are pregnant. However, by your estimation, you should be around six weeks along, yet the quantitative results place you at only three. This could indicate a serious problem. I don't want to frighten you prematurely, but we're going to need to take an ultrasound."
Beth looked mortified but nodded and followed Dr. Selzic into a different examination room. She pulled off her shirt and sat back on the table. Dr. Selzic warmed the jelly in her hands before she squeezed it onto Beth's stomach, but Beth shivered from the remaining coolness. The doctor switched on the monitor and moved the wand back and forth across Beth's abdomen. She stopped on one location and sighed heavily.
"Beth, I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but all indications show that you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. It appears that the embryo is lodged here, in your right Fallopian tube,"she said while pointing to the screen. "The pregnancy isn't viable and will have to be terminated. Do you understand?"
Beth nodded her head, visibly in shock. Helen held Beth's left hand.
Dr. Selzic continued, "There are a couple of options, but I think the best one for you is an injection of a drug called methotrexate. It's used to treat cancerous growths by inhibiting cell division. We've also found that it stops embryo cells from dividing as well. The placenta will stop growing and your body will simply absorb the cells just like an early-term miscarriage. You'll bleed vaginally for a week or so as your body sheds the uterine lining. This is the least invasive method and would be the easiest for you since you are so early in the pregnancy. It also offers the best option for future pregnancies by causing the least damage to the tubes. We can do it here in the office."
Beth stared straight ahead. She didn't know what to do or say.
"Could I wait until my husband gets back so I could at least tell him first?" she asked.
"When will that be?" Dr. Selzic inquired.
"Not for two more weeks."
"I'm sorry, Beth, but that may be too late. I know it isn't optimal, but could you discuss it with him on the phone and come back tomorrow or the next day?"
"I, uh, I guess I could try to get a hold of him."
"I'm terribly sorry to throw all of this at you so suddenly Beth, but we want to do everything we can to protect your fertility."
"I know, I just can't believe this is happening. We weren't even supposed to be able to have babies."
"Beth, I'm going to schedule you for tomorrow afternoon. Go home, talk to your husband, and I'll see you tomorrow. If you need anything, please call me."
Beth used the towel Dr. Selzic handed her to wipe her stomach. Then, she pulled her shirt over her head. Helen helped her from the table and walked her to the receptionist window to schedule her appointment for tomorrow. Helen took the keys from Beth and helped her into the passenger seat. Slowly and sadly, they made their way back home.
Helen helped Beth back into the house. She seemed to be walking in a fog, unable to comprehend anything around here. They walked up the stairs to Beth and Kevin's room and Helen tucked Beth into her bed. She asked if there was anything Beth needed but she said no. Helen kissed her on the forehead and walked to the door. Beth suddenly called after her.
"Helen, could you bring my phone, please. I'm going to call Kevin now."
Helen nodded and went downstairs to retrieve Beth's phone as well as the list of numbers for Kevin that was hanging on the fridge. She brought them back to Beth and exited the room, closing the door so they could have the privacy they needed. She felt so horrible for Beth. She hadn't even had time to adjust to the idea of being pregnant before she learned that she would never carry the baby to term. Helen knew that their young marriage would face trials, but she could have never expected on this devastating to come at the so soon.
Beth didn't even stop to calculate the time difference. She knew she had to talk to Kevin, but how would she tell him what had happened. She dialed the number of the international cell phone give to him by the network. He picked up on the third ring.
"Hi Beth, what's up?"
"I need to talk for a minute, if you have time."
"Sure, honey, it's almost midnight. I have plenty of time. What do you need."
"Oh, Kevin. I went to the doctor today. I hadn't been feeling well, and I missed my period, so I took a test and it was positive."
"What! A baby, that's impossible." Kevin yelled from the other end.
"I know, but the doctor said it was right, I was pregnant. But she thought something was wrong with one of the test results. She did an ultrasound and the baby is in the tube, Kevin. They have to...I can't carry the baby. I have to go back so they can kill it." Beth erupted into sobs.
Kevin was silent on the other end. Finally he spoke to her. "Oh Bethie, I'm sorry baby. I'm coming home to be with you. You can't to this alone. I'll be there tomorrow."
"No, Kevin, you can't leave. This assignment is why they hired you. You have to stay. Your mother is here with me. I'll be okay. They're just going to give me a shot of something that stops the cells from dividing. They aren't going to have to do surgery or anything. I'll be okay. You have to stay and do your job. Everything will be fine. I shouldn't have called you. I didn't want to worry you, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I'll be okay." Beth knew she was rambling, but Kevin couldn't leave China.
"Beth, I can't stay here while you're going through all of this. I still have a few more days until we go on air. I'll talk to someone and will be there as soon as I can be."
"Kevin, are you sure? I don't want you to do anything to jeopardize your career."
"Beth, you are my first priority. Nothing matters unless you are safe. I'll be there the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll call the doctor and schedule for then."
"Beth, I love you. I'll see you soon."
"Thank you, Kevin. I need you."
"I know, baby. I'll be there as soon as I can. You rest now. I love you. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
They hung up the phone and Beth called Dr. Selzic's office. The appointment was set for 3:00 pm two days later.
Helen knocked on Beth's door and opened it. She approached the bed and sat on the edge. It was unbelievable that even more tragedy had befallen her family. Beth had stayed so strong. Helen knew she was conflicted inside.
"Did you talk to Kevin?"
Beth smiled wearily, her love for Helen's son showing, "He's coming here to be with me. Just for a day or so and then he's going back to do his job." Beth's face broke and the tears began to fall. "Helen, this can't be happening to us."
Helen pulled the girl closer to her. She didn't have any platitudes for Beth. She knew about loss and the empty words people could offer. She held Beth who cried for herself and for Kevin and for the tiny little baby growing inside her that would never have a chance to experience the world. Beth fell asleep in Helen's arms. Helen lowered her to the bed and left the room.
Meanwhile in China, Kevin spoke with his producer to explain the situation. He asked if he could fly back home for two days to be with Beth during the procedure. Thomas Hoyt, Kevin's boss, was quite sympathetic. Kevin had worked hard for him during the past six weeks, and he understood the difficulties involved in making a marriage work. Tom and his wife Kellie had three children of their own. He couldn't imagine his life without one of them. Kevin was only slated to broadcast wheelchair basketball during the second week of the Paralympic Games. Tom looked at the schedule and told Kevin to catch the next plane out. He said he would expect him back by the beginning of the basketball semifinals eight days later. Kevin couldn't believe his ears. He thanked Tom profusely, and turned to leave the office. Tom called after him and handed him a company credit card to cover his expenses. Kevin tried to protest, but Tom placed his hand on Kevin's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Kevin, take as much time as Beth needs. We're here for you. We want you to think of us as family. If there's anything that you or Beth need, please let us know."
Kevin promised to do so. He rushed to the airport. When he made it onto the plane, he phoned his mother to let her know when he would be arriving. She planned to meet him the next evening at the airport. They disconnected and Kevin sat back in his seat hoping his bladder would be able to take the entire flight without being emptied. Beth had helped him on the way over and there was no way he was asking a flight attendant for help, unless he really had to. He checked his watch when the flight map showed that they were nearly over the continental U.S. It had been almost ten hours since he had cathed last. Mostly everyone on the plane was asleep, so he thought would be able to ask for help. He pressed the call button and a few moments later was greeted by Marta, his section's attendant.
"Hi, Kevin," she smiled, "How may I help you?" He had met the flight staff earlier when boarding the plane. They had expressed their desire to assist him in any way during the flight.
"I need to use the restroom, please," he replied, not quite looking her in the eye.
"Sure. Let me get the chair and we'll get you right in there, okay?"
He nodded. She returned in less than a minute with a transport chair. He placed his toiletry bag on his lap and transferred himself into the chair. She pushed him toward the very front of the plane just behind the cockpit. He looked back at her as to inquire where they were going. She smiled and told him that there was an additional restroom for the crew at the front where he would have more privacy. Kevin thanked her as she pushed open the door and he pulled himself inside. He found that there was enough room for himself and the chair. He took care of everything and pushed the door back open. Marta was waiting for him, a smile on her face.
"All set?" she asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Kevin answered as she began to help him back to his seat. There were only five hours left in the flight. Kevin attempted to sleep a little while but found that he was too worried about Beth to rest. He had finally stopped trying to sleep when the captain announced their descent into Hartford. Marta came to explain his exiting procedure just before the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated. The plane landed and the passengers moved around him to the doors. After the way had cleared, Marta met him with the transport chair. He grabbed his carry-on bag and she directed him to the tunnel where his own chair was waiting for him. Relieved to be in control again, Kevin thanked the crew for their help and moved to exit the gate and find his mother. Since he was only staying for a few days, he had not checked any luggage, so he dialed her cell number to find out where she was. She told him her location and they met up in a matter of minutes.
Helen hugged her son who was looking equally as tired as Beth had coming from the plane. The first words out of his mouth were "How is she?" His mother directed him out the door to the car where she explained Beth's state of mind and all that Dr. Selzic had told them regarding the pregnancy and how they would terminate it. Kevin sat silently in the front seat with his head in his hands. His mother tried to comfort him but knew that he needed time to deal with his own emotions. She also knew how volatile Beth's emotions were as well. She hoped that the two of them would be able to spend some quality time together before they had to go to the doctor's office the next day.