Chapter 4
Sitting in the gynecologist's office after her exam, Abbey listened as her doctor explained her options.
During Abbey's last year on staff at Mass General, Dr. Kim Cox had been one of her favorite surgical residents. She had looked Kim up when they had moved to Washington in 1999 and had been seeing her on a yearly basis. Dr. Cox wanted to do a diagnostic D&C to find out why Abbey had been experiencing heavy bleeding for the past couple of weeks. An ultrasound had been inconclusive so a more invasive procedure was the best means of coming to a confirmed diagnosis.
"I can do it on Tuesday. Will you be available then?"
"I don't want to wait that long. Jed will be back Sunday night. If I have this surgery, I want it before he gets home. Can you schedule it sooner?"
"Abbey, it's not a matter of 'if' you have the surgery. It's 'when'."
Down deep, Abbey knew she really didn't have a choice. She had to know what was wrong. "I know. Can you possibly schedule it for tomorrow? I know this is short notice, but I really want to know what's wrong before Jed comes back. I think he knows something is not right with me so the sooner I know what's going on, I can prepare myself with the facts. I know surgery is not usually done on the weekend, but can you do this as a favor to me?"
"Abbey, I'm not trying to be a marriage counselor, but don't you think the President will want to be here with you? You two appear to have a solid marriage, and I know I would want my husband with me when I'm undergoing anesthesia. It would bring me great comfort. Why don't you want him to be there?"
"Kim, he's been so stressed out recently. There have been so many issues for him to deal with that I won't add anything else. Besides, this is such a routine procedure that I'll be fine by the time he gets back Sunday night, and I'll have the facts to discuss any problems with him. That is, if there are any problems."
"I disagree with you, but it is your relationship." Kim sighed. It was obvious that Abbey was not going to tell her husband about her problems. "Okay. Let me call and see if I can get an OR for tomorrow."
By the time Abbey left, her surgery had been scheduled for seven am. Even though she would be driven back to the White House afterwards, Abbey agreed with Kim to have a friend come with her.
She also knew that she had to let Ron know what was going on. But she was going to insist that Jed not be told. She knew Ron would agree to it. Personal issues were not the responsibility of the Secret Service.