Chapter 6: Trouble

Over the next couple of days, Mark was slowly improving. His speech,

although slurred at times, became more normal each day. He was disconnected

from the IV that once helped him "eat" when he was unconscious, seeing that

his doctors felt that his stomach could hold solid foods. Roger and Mimi, as

before, were frequent visitors, gently helping Mark up and down despite

having to carry the oxygen tank and that Mark's gait was shaky alone. One day,

while Mark and Roger were reading cards and letters, Dr. Studley came in to

check on him.

"How are you doing today Mark?" she asked.

"I'm doing fine." Mark said gently.

"I want to disconnect you from the oxygen, is that okay?" the doctor asked.

"Why?" Roger asked.

"Well, his heart rate is normal, and too much oxygen is toxic for his blood

pressure." the doctor replied.

"Okay." Mark said.

The doctor turned off the machine and gently took the tube out of Mark's

nose. Now, Mark looked normal, as if the accident never happened.

"I'll leave you two alone now." Doctor Studley said.

For the next couple of hours, Mark, though alert, became tired and went to

sleep. Mimi and Collins came in the room when they got out of work. They

greeted Roger and took a seat.

"Mark's asleep?" Collins said as he pointed to Mark's sleeping form.

"Yeah." Roger said. " They took him off the oxygen because his heat rate was

normal. He's been sleeping now for a couple of hours."

Suddenly, Mark squirmed in the bed. His face started to grow red and he

started to sweat.

"Mark, are you okay?" Mimi asked.

Mark shook his head no and started to cough and shake violently.

"Mark!" Roger yelled as he and Collins helped Mark sit up. Collins pounded

his back.

But Mark wouldn't stop coughing. His body was shaking harder onto the bed,

as if he was having a seizure. Roger stared at Mimi, who looked confused.

"Call the nurse!"Roger yelled at her.

Mimi beeped the nurse, and nurses came into the room. They restrained him as

they reattached the oxygen tube. Slowly, Mark started to calm down, but the

bohemians were ushered out by Dr. Studley. As Mark was rushed into the MRI

room, Mimi cried in Roger's arm.

Later that night, Maureen, Joanne, Angel, and Benny entered. Angel ran to

Mimi and hugged her crying friend and kissed Collins.

"What happened Roger?" Maureen asked.

"I don't know. Roger said. " We were talking and all of a sudden, Mark just

couldn't breathe. He was shaking violently. The doctors rushed us out as they

were testing him."

Suddenly, Dr. Studley walked out of the MRI room. She walked over to the

bohemians, her face vacant yet still trying to regain composure.

"Excuse me Roger, may I speak with you?" she asked.

"Of course." Roger said as he kissed his fiancé and walked away. He followed

her into her office. On the wall, amid the countless awards, geld and x ray;

Mark's x ray. Roger sat down and Dr. Studley breathed before saying:

"This is unusual, I have to say. Please look at the chart."

She turned down the lights and pointed to the x-ray.

"This is Mark's brain. The side that looks distorted slightly was the part that

was impacted by the skull fracture. The part happens to control his breathing,

telling him when to inhale and exhale. That was why mark started to cough and

shake. His brain can't control his breathing and heart rate."

Roger's eyes started to well up. Will my best friend die? He thought.

"So, will Mark come home?" Roger asked.

"Well, his other functions are unaffected by this. Just his breathing and heart

rate, so he is more independent." Dr. Studley said.

"Can this be repaired?" Roger asked.

Sadly, she said " No, it can't be reversed."

"So, what will happen when Mark comes home?" Roger asked.

"Well, Mark will have to take medication for his heart, and make sure he keeps

at it. He would need an inhaler during the day, and at night he would need to

be attached to the oxygen tube and a heart monitor" the doctor said.

" Will he be able to do things, like film?" Roger asked.

The doctor smiled and said:

" I don't see why not. Just don't let him get too tired. I will discharge him in

two days because he can't do anything else for him."

Roger got up, said thank you, and joined the bohemians. He told them about

Mark's condition.Despite his new handicap, they new that he was still the same

cameraman and their friend. Mark was still the same, and nobody would ever

treat him like a fragile person. They promised to makesure that Mark would be

okay.

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