=Hunter's POV=
(Monday, 2/26/2018-1:00 pm)
(Archian Island, Berk)
(Arc Primary Care-Berk Office)
I sat there on the exam table after Keith explained that my symptoms in the time frame they'd been happening in didn't sound good, but only through suspicion he mentioned and asked if I'd agree to go to the hospital for further testing. What else was I supposed to do? Say no, keeping dealing with whatever might be going on? Wouldn't get to drive, play basketball, or work again? Those were my grounding conditions until this got sorted out. At least if I find out what's wrong and get treated for it; I can get all that stuff back. I'm sure maybe there was something wrong, but I doubted and secretly hoped that it wasn't anything super bad.
"Thank you for your consent, but the problem is that because you're a minor-," Keith began. I already knew where this was going.
"I turn eighteen, legally, on the 28th. Unless it's a leap year when the 29th comes, then I change age that day…But my birthday is legally written as last day in February. This year…That's the 28th. Set whatever appointment at the hospital for after that…Please? My dad is a hovering pain in the butt, and I really prefer he's not present…" I asked softly.
"I understand, Hunter. So…I will be at the hospital on the 1st. I will make copies of all your information, and get a file set up at my office there for you. This is technically a referral to a specialist, and I happen to special is the department these things falls under. We can skip a lot of steps doing it this way." Keith started, pulling up something on his phone and scrolling. "I have an opening on Thursday, the 1st, for 3:00 pm. I know it's a bit tight as you get out of school for 2:30, and usually-," Keith started.
"It's no issue, Doctor Strondsen. The only reason I get home at 3 pm is because I hang with everyone outside of C Hall after the last bell and until buses prepare to leave the lot. I can leave right at 2:30 and get to the hospital for 3 pm. I don't have practice or work, at the moment…" I revealed, still not liking my grounding.
"Wonderful then. I'll make copies of all this, and see you Thursday. For all your symptoms; try to snack lightly on crackers and water for the dizzy and lightheadedness. Fevers and pain can be managed through basic, over the counter medications. I know you said you want to get back to doing your normal things, so I will do this as a favor…And write you an all clear note to pacify your teachers, if you promise me that you'll come Thursday and not skip out on the testing?" Keith stated.
It had been my idea, but this was my girlfriend's dad; I'd never get away with it. He was doing this to help me out, and I did kind of want to know what was wrong to get some real treatment in managing it. "I promise I'll come on Thursday." Hunter vowed.
"Alright, then we're set here. I'll have your note ready when you check out at the office window, and just to avoid any questions popping up about who you saw today; I'll get one of the other doctors to sign it." Keith smiled.
I hopped off the table and got my coat from the chair near the wall. "Thank you…" I replied gratefully. I shook his hand and we both exited the room; I headed for the checkout window to pay my copay, and shoot Glenn a text that I was done and would be waiting outside for him to come. By the time I was finished with all that; the receptionist handed me an appointment card and let return to activities letter with a smile. I gave one back, and proceeded to leave the office. Glenn showed up five minutes later, and I booted him out of the driver's seat after showing him the note, which he only smiled, shook his head, and moved to the passenger's seat before we left to grab some lunch.
. . .
(Thursday, 3/1/2018-2:35 pm)
(Berkian Academy)
Today was my appointment with Keith at the hospital. I haven't told anyone, but first thing I did on Monday was send a text to Devon, Elijah, and my dad with a picture of the note to let them know that I was cleared by the doctor to return to normal activities. Dad was happy, lifting the ban on me driving. And Devon shot me a message back with the information that Coach Bludvist would be delighted to see me on Wednesday for practice. For school on Tuesday, I showed the letter to both the nurse, and Principal Grimborn. I even showed it to my friends, and Shane whole-heartedly apologized to me for what he said last Friday. I accepted it, and let things go with the warning if he ever said something like that again; I'd deck him so hard his ancestors would feel it. Wednesday was uneventful, but I had practice and was glad to be back to it. Keith's ideas to manage the nausea, headaches, dizzy, lightheadedness, and all that worked well. I still dealt with a lot of it, but it was managed enough that no one could say anything to me about something still not being right if I was all clear. Also, I'm officially eighteen as of yesterday, so I'm super excited about that.
When the bell rang at 2:30, I moseyed myself outside and saw everyone, but knew I didn't have time to stay because I needed to get to the hospital for the further testing with Keith. "Hunter, hey!" Ashley greeted. I strolled over, a moment or two wouldn't kill me. I hugged Nicole and kissed her lightly.
"Hi," Nicole smiled broadly.
"Hey, babe. Hi, guys." I said.
"Are we still on for our joint birthday? Mom and dad said we could do it at my house?" Nicole informed. I had said happy birthday to her this morning when we saw one another, and at lunch; I had given her a cupcake, hug, and kiss.
"Yeah, absolutely. That sounds fun, what time because I have practice til 5 pm?" I asked.
"Oh, forgot about that. How about Saturday?" Nicole tried.
"Well, game at 11 am, but free after that is over." Hunter replied.
"Awesome, so we can do it…Around 2 pm? Sound good for everyone?" Nicole looked around as everyone nodded; I checked my phone to find the time at 2:40 already.
"Perfect. I'll catch up with you guys later. Bye, babe. Love you." I gave her another hug and kiss before preparing to leave.
"Where are you going? We still got five minutes until buses leave…" Shane asked.
"Gotta do a couple things for Glenn at the shop for 3 pm, so gonna head there and get started." I stated before getting away from all of them. I reached my jeep, buckled up, and headed for the hospital.
. . .
=Normal POV=
(4:30 pm)
(Hospital-Keith Strondsen's Office)
It was much longer than Hunter wanted to spend at the hospital. He told friends he was helping Glenn, but Glenn nor his father knew that Hunter was at the hospital getting tests done to figure out the cause of all his odd symptoms for the last couple of months. There were so many things done that Hunter couldn't even officially name them all, but most were x-rays, blood work, and a sonogram of his chest and heart. Hunter didn't ask about anything other than what these things were; he got answers and went forward with the tests. He'd been at the hospital an hour and thirty minutes total, but finally…The results were in as he was in Keith's office to find out what was up, and hopefully nothing major as he wanted all this to just go away and continue normal life.
"So…Am I okay?" Hunter asked when Keith was quiet and just looking at the folder with his results in it. Hunter was nervous as it was, and Keith not saying anything made it worse because that usually meant bad news that the giver wasn't sure how to reveal.
Keith sighed, setting the folder down and looking at Hunter, almost sympathetically. "I'm…I'm afraid not, Hunter."
Hunter felt his heart skip a beat, and he wasn't sure if that was a symptom of whatever he obviously had, or a reaction to the fact he was just told that he was not, in fact, okay. "Wh-What do you mean?" Hunter managed to get out after a few moments of silence.
"The results of all your testing have…Revealed something rather serious to be the cause, lad." Keith replied.
"Tell me, please? I can…Take whatever it is. Is it…Cancer or something? I assume that would be the worst outcome…" Hunter inquired.
"Are you…Sure you don't want your father, even your godfather here for this, Hunter?" Keith questioned.
Hunter remained firm. "I'm sure, Doctor Strondsen…Please just tell me what's causing all this?" He pushed, perhaps almost pleaded a bit to know what was wrong with him.
"Hunter, your results show that you have a tumor. It's not cancerous, but still very dangerous and can be considered deadly if pieces break off and go to your heart or brain. It's called Atrial Myxoma; this is a tumor in the upper left or right side of the heart." Keith began to explain, pulling up the x-rays and sonograms to show Hunter where his was. "Yours is on the left side. This is considered a primary heart tumor, which means it started in the heart. Most other tumors would form somewhere else. These tumors are rare, but it is the most common type of tumor." He continued as Hunter was just kind of taking it in. His mind was going a million miles per second trying to process what he was being told; he was still on the noncancerous tumor in my heart bit, but was still hearing everything. "Are you still following, son?"
Hunter managed a nod to him. "Now, these Myxomas are usually more common in women, and…One in ten are passed in families. They tend to occur in more than one place at a time, causing symptoms to start at a younger age." Keith said next, which kickstarted Hunter's mind out of its stalled state.
"Passed down in families…You mean that I could have this because it being hereditary?" Hunter asked.
Keith nodded. "That's correct, and before you inquire; I do not know yet if this is what your mother had. I am attempting to get a release for her autopsy report and see what the official cause of death was. The reason I'm looking into that fact is because you stated your mom grew very ill over time and one day, collapsed and passed away. You said she suffered quite a few things, including a fainting spell, that I matched up with your own symptoms, so I'm trying to see if there's connection. If this is the thing she had, it makes a lot of sense why you have it. If it's not, then it just formed on it's own and you're one of the cases of it's rare appearance, especially being male as I stated it's more common in females." He explained calmly. "If you could get me the report or even a copy of her files, which I'm sure your father has because he seems like a very organized, saves everything type of man…It could save me a lot of work in tracking the information myself as I was not part of anything to do with your mom's medical past."
"I'll…See what I can find at home in Dad's office. He does keep copies of everything, but if it's medical…It's in the safe." Hunter replied softly.
"I appreciate that, but…While we wait to see if this was caused by genetics and passed down from your mother…We need to focus on you and your treatment." Keith said.
"What can I do? I know you said it's not cancerous, but can kill me if pieces break off…" Hunter looked at him.
"That's the problem, Hunter…There's only one way to stop this…" Keith paused. "Surgery to remove it." He said as Hunter froze.
"I…Can't do surgery. I've got…Basketball practices and games, school, my job…" Hunter protested quickly.
"Hunter, I wish I had another option for you, but the only way to treat Myxomas is surgery. There are no medications I can prescribe, no treatments to shrink it, or stop it's growth…Surgery is all there is for this. And the longer it sits, the more dangerous it is for you. If this is tied to what your mom had…Hunter, you could drop one day and be dead. I know that's harsh, but as a doctor; it's my job to give you that reality…" Keith urged. "I know surgery isn't want you want to do, but it's all you can do to stop this…And save your own life."
Hunter just sat their quietly; his only option was surgery? That could take hours, plus recovery time, and then whatever limitations there would be to follow after the operation. Hunter was too close to getting that scholarship; college boards would be coming out to watch the teams play, to scout for talent to go to their schools and represent them. Hunter really wanted to get into Archia Isle University; it was the best school on the island. And he could likely get accepted on grades alone, but he really wanted to keep playing basketball while going to school. "Would you like me to call your dad or godfather for you to talk about this and make a decision?"
Hunter shook his head to Keith's question. No. He couldn't tell his dad about this, or anyone. He'd get kicked off the team for sure, and people would treat him different if they knew he was sick or something. "Can I just…Have some time to think about what to do? I mean, I know there's only surgery, but…I can't make a choice about when or anything like this while I'm still…Processing it all." Hunter said now.
"I understand you need time to sit with all this before jumping into something else big like surgery, so I will grant you that processing time, Hunter. But do not take long to do it, as we don't know how much time we have before it could become critical. Perhaps sit down with your father tonight, and discuss this; you should have a good support system in these types of situations." Keith offered.
"I will…Do that. I know you said…Medication can't stop or shrink the tumor…But is there anything I can take that isn't basic over the counter to deal with the headaches, nausea, and joint pain? Maybe even the fatigue?" Hunter asked.
"I will prescribe a stronger pain killer for you, and some anti-nausea medication as well. I'll take a glance about if there's anything else that may be able to help you deal with the symptoms, I understand that they are interfering with everyday life…" Keith agreed.
"Thank you…" Hunter sighed gratefully.
"But remember that these will not fix the problem, Hunter. They may help or lighten the symptoms you experience, but they will not make the problem go away. And at some point, if you do not get the surgery soon; it will get worse, and could become life threatening. Is that understood? I can't say how much time, but this is not condition that just stops or goes away. I'd like to continue having you be seen by me, for the sake of watching growth and this becoming more. Give us a better idea of when things could change and become more dangerous. If you catch what I mean?" Keith said.
"I do…It's just a lot to process, Dr. Strondsen. Not just the tumor itself, but the fact surgery is the only cure…And there is a lot that surgery would prevent me from doing, I listed them earlier to you…" Hunter looked down.
"I know, Hunter, and I do understand. But all those things have almost little meaning when its your life on the line, as you cannot do those things if you are dead. So, again…Do not take too much time on deciding when the surgery happens. And I would like to see you, at least, once a week to monitor this until that choice on surgery is made. Again, just so we can watch it's status to ensure that nothing happens before the decision is finalized. And I'll expect that if you experience any more symptoms beyond what the medications are there to help with, or anything new…You will tell me, so we can get you in faster to see where things are at, okay? Even if you're just over the house for dinner with us; you can pull me aside to talk and we'll set something in private. I am still your doctor for this issue, even off the clock."
Hunter nodded to him. "I will do that…Thank you, Dr. Strondsen. Should I just set that next check appointment now before I leave?" He wondered.
"Yes, you can see my receptionist just outside the door, Hunter. I will send your prescriptions to the pharmacy to be picked up, shouldn't take more than half an hour or so. I'll see you sometime next week." Keith smiled a bit. Hunter shook his hand before gathering his coat, and then exiting the room. He made the appointment for Keith's next available in the coming week, then he headed to the pharmacy to wait on the prescriptions. When those were done, and he understood how they were to be taken; Hunter went home and right to his room to stash his medications and the paperwork he got on his condition.
At home, Hunter was thankful that his dad and Glenn were out; it made it seem like he was just running errands, or maybe with friends. If they'd been home, they'd want to know where he was all that time after school. Hunter quickly did his homework, then around 5:45 pm, got started on making dinner for Glenn, Spencer, and himself. When the males came in to find everything clean and the meal prepared; they were happy to sit down and relax. After dinner, Hunter put leftovers away, cleared the table, and did all the dishes. Hunter excused himself back to his room on the reasoning of finishing homework, or having to help one of his friends with something; his dad and godfather bought it and Hunter disappeared to his room the rest of the night except around 10:30 pm when he called that he was going to bed and loved them both. But before all that, Hunter chatted with Nicole and they discussed a date to do maybe on Saturday or something as Nicole still wanted to treat him while on a date. Hunter laid in bed once they got off the phone at 10:15 pm; he showered, took the medications as directed, and finally fell asleep around 11:30 pm. The only thing on his mind was what he was going to do about his current problem.
