Authors Note: Still having internet problems but I'm doing my best to update thanks for hanging in there.
"Yeah, they did a biopsy," Nathan spoke into the phone. "We wanted to know for sure if it's what the doctor thinks it is." There was a knock at the door. Haley looked up from the rocker where she was holding a sleeping Keith. Brooke entered. Nathan nodded and waved then continued his phone conversation.
"Hey tutor mom. How's the kiddo," Brooke asked Haley as she sat next to her.
"I'm not sure," Haley said looking at her son.
"What do you mean?"
"The doctor thinks he has glomerulonephritis, I think he called it. It's inflammation of the kidney's glomeruli, the filtering thing. It's caused by a strep infection and treatable with medication but the only way to know if that's what it is besides waiting to see if the medicine works is a biopsy."
"Wow, a biopsy? So are we just waiting to see if the medicine works?"
"I had to know for sure. What if it isn't and we wait around for medicine to work while whatever is wrong gets worse."
"Fair enough," Brooke said, "I really hope this is all figured out soon and Keith is better."
"Me too," Haley sighed.
"You too what," Nathan asked joining their conversation having ended his.
"We both want this to be over and have everything ok," Brooke answered for Haley.
"I think that's what everyone wants," Nathan said taking Keith from Haley and placing him in the crib. Then he took a seat next to the girls.
"What did your mom say," Haley asked Nathan.
"She's worried about us," he said, "and I'm sure she is on her way down here. I couldn't talk her out of it thins time. She's bringing food I guess," he laughed. "How is Tim," Nathan asked Brooke.
"He's good. He got his school stuff figured out and he's visiting friends in the city until next week," she answered.
"That's good," Haley said.
Brooke hung out for a little while then took off for lunch plans with Peyton. Shortly after Brooke left Deb showed up and with food sure enough.
"Hey honey," Deb said entering the room carrying a bag which she quickly put down as she rushed to hug Haley, "how are you holding up?"
"Oh thanks mom," Nathan said from over by the window. Deb just ignored him.
"I'll be better when he is," Haley answered, "I just want to know for sure what's wrong."
"I know honey, I know," Deb said. "Well I brought you some food that's actually edible so here eat," she said as she started to unload the contents of the bag.
They all sat down for lunch. Deb asked about the upcoming move and school and work. The answers she got in return were half hearted but it was a conversation one the less and hopefully helped with the Keith related stress.
When lunch was finished Deb cleaned up as Haley and Nathan tended to Keith by the window. There was a knock and the doctor entered. He saw Deb first, "oh hello."
"Hello I'm Deb, Nathan's mother."
The doctor introduced himself as Nathan and Haley joined them. "We might want to have this conversation privately," the doctor suggested.
"I'll go," Deb said quickly.
"No it's ok Deb stay," Haley said with fear in her voice. Why would the doctor not want Deb there? Maybe if she stayed it wouldn't be as bad as Haley was thinking.
Deb could sense what Haley was thinking but knew it would probably be better if she wasn't in the room. "I'll just wait out in the waiting room at the end of the hall."
"Ok," Nathan said as Deb left.
Haley looked at the doctor once the door was closed, "should I sit for this," she asked nervously.
"You might want to," the doctor answered truthfully.
Haley looked at Nathan who put Keith in the crib then began to sit himself, "I think I'll stand actually," she said and Nathan quickly popped back up.
"Alright, well I put a rush on the biopsy and I'm glad you wanted and that I rushed it. Keith does indeed have glomerulonephritis unfortunately though it's worse than I originally thought."
Nathan looked at Haley but she was fixed on the doctor with a terrified look on her face. He took her hand and she squeezed it.
"I thought Keith had acute glomerulonephritis, which he probably did but it has since progressed to chronic. It is very rare that it progresses to chronic let alone so rapidly."
"So what does this mean," Nathan asked, "its worse I assume? Is it treated differently?"
"Yes unfortunately chronic is worse it usually results in the destruction of the glomeruli and sometimes in renal failure."
"Renal failure," Haley could barely say the words.
"Keith is , well I'm not sure how or why but it has progressed so rapidly that he is in renal failure but it may be reversible with dialysis which will do the filtering for the kidneys and with medication," the doctor paused, "I don't want to guarantee this will help especially with how far and fast this has progressed already. I'd like to go ahead with preparations for the next step."
"Ok," Nathan said. Haley's grip on his hand was increasingly tighter. "So what is that?"
"Well if the renal failure doesn't reverse in 48 hours I believe transplantation will be necessary," the doctor paused because Haley finally lost it. She was barely standing. Nathan had caught her and she was sobbing into his arms.
"Shhh, baby, shhh," Nathan said soothing stroking her hair. "So what does that mean, both kidneys are failing if we're talking transplantation because people can live with one kidney," Haley quieted when she heard what Nathan was saying. "So what does happen next? Does he go on a list wait for some other kids kidney, what?"
"Well we do put him on the national list but that is only as a last resort, back up. His best bet is a living donor."
"Like a sibling or something," Nathan asked, Haley couldn't yet speak.
"Yeah or even a parent or grandparent, usually someone related but sometimes not."
"Wait you mean he could receive an adult kidney wouldn't it be too big?"
"Actually no, at his age his kidneys are almost fully developed and if we transplant before the kidneys are fully destroyed the new kidney may get the kidneys working again."
"So we need to be tested to see if we're a match," Haley finally asked.
"Yeah and you should have any willing friends and family on hand or have them tested anyway whichever you decide. We'll send the two of you down to the lab later and anyone else you want tested let me know. Also I've called in a colleague of mine who's a renal specialist to take over the case and I'll consult."
"Ok," Nathan didn't really know what to say, "thanks doc."
"We're going to arrange for a dialysis machine to be brought in but he won't be on it all the time. Until then I'd like to send him up for a dialysis session now."
"I'll go with him," Haley said, "go find your mother and call Lucas and have him round up the troops."
"Ok," Nathan said and kissed her on the forehead then quickly kissed Keith on the forehead as well.