LEGACIES AND LOLLIPOPS - PART 13
FIRST DRAFT
Tink and Wilson agreed I should explain to Greg that Tink was there. "He is having to process so much right now that the simpler the message the better."
Greg's eyes were partially open. The nasal tube carrying his nutrients was still in place but his mouth was free enabling him speak. He looked more human but was in obvious distress. I took his hand. His eyes, tearing with pain, found mine.
"Darling an old friend has come to see you. Remember Tink from Singapore?" I asked and he nodded. He tried to moisten his lips with his tongue.
"His mouth is dry, he needs help."
Wilson handed me a large wet cotton swab. I ran it around the inside of his mouth and moistened his lips.
"Tink ... here in America?" His voice was raspy and speaking was an effort. "Professor Chan?"
Tink stepped forward I removed my hand from Greg's so Tink could put hers in its place. She leant over the bed and kissed him gently on the cheek. When she started speaking to Greg I remembered my surprise hearing her for the first time in Singapore. Diminutive elegant with her fine Chinese features and beautiful skin she sounded completely English. Her voice was like Princess Diana and like the Princess she knew exactly how to speak to someone in pain.
"Always Tink to you Greg." She said. "I'm sorry to find you in my area of expertise. Dr Cuddly has asked me to consult on your pain management. I can observe and advise but I have no authority to treat. Is that alright with you?"
Greg nodded he was about to answer but instead he gasped.
"Stomach, spine or leg?" asked Tink.
"My leg. Shit." His eyes closed tight.
"I'll have to look at the leg. Do you want Stacy to be here while Dr Wilson gives me the tour?"
"Yes." Greg's crystal blue eyes locked on mine. Tink released his hand and he reached for me. Wilson drew the sheet down to reveal his mangled right thigh.
"Greg. I am going to have to touch your leg." Tink could not hide her reaction she did not like the look of the deeply indented scar revealing the massive removal of muscle.
"Yeah. Okay do it." Very gently she touch the parameters effected area. Greg held tight to my hand his eyes starting to tear.
"How long since this has been examined?" She asked Wilson.
"About six months. He doesn't like examinations." Wilson was guilty.
Tink nodded. She touched the upper extremity of the scar and Greg let out a cry. She instantly took her hand away from his leg.
"Greg. Greg, it's alright I am not going to touch your leg again." She pulled up a chair and sat down looking at Greg who was unable to speak as he tried to regulate his breathing. "Has it always been this bad?" She asked him and he nodded.
"Doctor Wilson could you organize some Vicodin for Dr House?" She said evenly.
"Yes but Dr Cuddy and I thought..."
"I know what you thought. But did you think withdrawal would be an aid to his recovery?"
"If you don't want to write the script I would be happy to." Said Steigler. I had quite forgotten he was there.
"No ... no it's alright I write it up." Said Wilson.
"Call Cameron there's some in my desk drawer." Said Greg with difficulty. Wilson nodded and headed out to the nurse's station.
Greg looked at Tink.
"Thank you."
"Shut your eyes. Don't try to talk. All you need to do is relax." she stroked his forehead and ran her hand back over his hair rhythmically as she talked in her calm beautiful voice.
"Wilson won't be long with the Vicodin. You are going to decide how many you need, but there will be no dry swallowing your stomach cannot take that. We'll crush them and give them to you in an antacid. Stacy, Joe and I will be here to see you get what you need. Our job is to deal with your pain. You don't have to cope with it alone anymore. It doesn't have to be a secret any longer."
Greg's eyes partially opened and tears flooded from them as Greg wept. Joe Steigler and I both stepped forward in concern but Tink did not depart from her rhythmic speech and stroking.
"That's right Greg let it go. Don't be embarrassed, cry away the pain. Just let it flow out of you, That's right. That's right just let it go." Her voice was like soft music and Greg's tears flowed freely and silently like fresh spring water bubbling from the earth.
"Tinkerbell" said Greg.
"Shush" answered Tink. "Don't talk Greg. You need to rest now. Just let each part of your body relax."
As she guided him through the relaxation the tension and fear seemed to flow out of him with his tears. Calm seemed to flow through him as his body gradually let go. Finally his breathing quietened as he drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Wilson was looking though the glass he had seen everything he looked shocked, unsure of what he had witnessed. Cameron entered ICU with the Vicodin. Tink joined Wilson and Cameron at the nurse's station. Tink examined the Vicodin bottle and checked the date against the number of pills. Steigler and I relieved to see Greg sleeping joined the others.
"The important thing is that he knows the Vicodin is available to him if he needs it."
But it was obvious that Wilson's concerns went far beyond the white pills.
"What happened here, Dr Wilson?" asked Tink. "Have you and Dr. Cuddy had phone calls warning you about red flags."
"Yes I got the call six months ago and Cuddy got hers last week. We didn't tell House. We couldn't." He seemed relieved to be able to discuss it with someone else.
"You didn't tell me either." I said, "Who called the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners or Washington D.C.?"
"Mine came from Washington and Cuddy's came from here. I was stupid I didn't take down names or anything." he answered.
"It's hard to be smart when you are being threatened with the loss of your license to practice." Said Steigler sadly.
"I expected so much more of America." Said Tink, "I really didn't expect to find people suffering chronic pain under-treated, humiliated, dismissed and brutalised by a system which chooses not to differentiate between those suffering acute and chronic pain and hardcore addicts or recreational drug users."
"I hope you are going to talk about that when you address the interns." Said Cameron.
"Don't worry I will," said Tink. "And I will also tell them how compassionate and decent doctors are pursued by the DEA who cannot differentiate between a highly skilled medical practioner and a drug pusher."
"Please don't say anything about doctors. It'll just make things worse." Wilson looked genuinely alarmed.
"Failing to alleviate a person's pain is tantamount to engaging in torture." I said. "Legislation determined by the same criteria that is applied to the illegal drugs is forcing medical practioners to protect their licences at the cost of breaching the human rights of their patients."
"I think you should join me in the lecture." Said Tink. "Give the legal side."
"Great idea" said Cameron.
"Allison I meant to ask you. Did you by any chance publish an anonymous blog on the internet about a colleague suffering chronic pain?" I looked directly at her.
She nodded "Yes."
"Dr Cameron should be there too." I said.
"Good idea." Said Tink.
Cameron was obviously proud to be included. Steigler and Wilson exchanged a look.
"Three of them!"
Wilson rubbed his neck. Then he smiled.
"I think we'll to have to go halves in a cauldron, Joe"
"You are not going to force me into quoting the Scottish play Jimmie. We have enough problems without inviting more."