So here we go! The medical stuff may not be quite accurate as have to say, the symptoms etc are off Wikipedia! But the dehydration stuff is true because I have experienced that! And Dylan is a bit ooc at points I think but he's hard to write I find.
Disclaimer: the Durrants + Melody are mine, everything else is BBC's :(
"Doctor Keogh? Can you give me a second opinion on Mrs Durrant in Cubicle 9 please?" Melody asked the slightly irritated doctor. Handing him the brown file.
"Well what are you suggesting? Is it interesting? Because if not I'm exceedingly busy" He replied not taking the offered file.
Melody sighed opened the file and explained, "I think it could be Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The thing is it's so rare now I can't see how it could be."
"What symptoms? How long?" Dr Keogh asked turning slightly and taking the file from her hands.
"She's been fitting, her husband says she forgets things a lot and she has a noticeable tic. Not too long apparently about two weeks but it's the first time she's had a fit. Oh and she's developed a lisp and a limp."
"Definitely a possibility. Can I see her?" He asked already heading off in the direction.
"Of course Dr Keogh" Melody muttered following him.
"Right, Mrs Durrant. Have you been abroad, near a farm or eating a funny animal in the past month?" Dylan pulled back the curtain and started his interrogation immediately.
"Em, well we went to that Mongolian restaurant for Jacks birthday, our son. I had beef," Mrs Durrants' husband looked slightly taken aback by the sudden nature of the questions.
"And that was when?" Dylan asked looking up expectantly.
"Around 3 weeks ago. I had squirrel and possibly some other stuff too." Mrs Durrant added looking confused.
"Dr Keogh may I have a word?" Melody interrupted before the conversation could continue. Stepping outside the cubicle she looked at her watch and said "squirrels are notorious for carrying CJD, it's looking more possible by the minute."
"I agree, I'll let you organise the scans shall I? Good call by the way."
"Thanks, wait one second. Here comes who I hope is the son. Look at him, he's limping and looks ill; could he have it too?" Melody stopped Dr Keogh before he went away.
"Hello I was told my Mum is here, Cerys Durrant? I'm her son" The poor man looked as though he could faint at any moment.
"Jack, tell me when you went out for your birthday did you have squirrel?" Dr Keogh asked not bothering to mention the mother.
"Yes, what's that got to do with anything? Is she alright?" He asked getting impatient.
"Jack, we need to take a look at you for a minute. Care to step in here for a minute?" Melody said gesturing to a free cubicle. "Jack, your mother is suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It's a neurological condition affecting her speech, movement and her brain severely. We believe that she got it from eating infected squirrel at that restaurant. As you ate it too we need to check you over as well. Is that ok with you?"
"Oh, right. Yes of course, is it serious?" He asked sinking onto the bed.
"Yes, there is not actual cure. We can slow it a bit though." Dr Keogh said, "Dr Parks I'm going to call the board, tell them to get onto the appropriate department to investigate this restaurant. I'll leave Jack here in your capable hands."
"No cure? So what can be done?" Jack asked his hand twitching.
"It's not my speciality so I'm going to refer you and your mother to the neurological department and they should be able to tell you more. You can go see your mother now, she's in cubicle 9 just a few down from here."
"Right thanks. Okay." Jack said getting up, visibly shaking from the news.
Melody sighed and slumped down into the chair at the desk. She now had to figure out the new computer system and record the Durrants' referral.
"Tired?" Dr Keogh asked handing her a glass of water, "Nice work spotting CJD, most people wouldn't consider it as a possibility."
"Thanks but I did need your help." Melody said taking a gulp then stood up and headed towards the staffroom.
"Dr Kent follow her, take this." Dylan said handing him a cardboard container, "Dehydration. Hasn't had a drink all day. Honestly."
Tom took the container and caught Melody just as she started to wretch. He gave her the container and guided her, still coughing and spluttering, to CDU where he sat her on a bed. "Shh, it's alright. Everything will be fine." Tom assured her, rubbing her back trying to make her feel more comfortable.
"Give her this." Dylan said handing Tom a bag of saline. "Push it in, she needs it now. Before she oh no too late, faints."
"I heard Dr Parks was in here." Nick said slipping into the cubicle.
"Yes, dehydrated herself poor girl. She's just sleeping now, she's on a second saline bag. She seems to be in and out of hospital though, any ideas? I realise that you know her a bit." Tom said fixing the bag to the hook.
"Funny, she was a healthy teenager. When did it start?" Nick asked picking up her notes.
"At seventeen, she has been in and out for dehydration, faints and other minor things but it came on suddenly. Did something happen?" Tom said listing just a few of Melody's trips to hospital.
"I don't know, I last saw her when she was sixteen so something must have happened." Nick said the curiosity obvious in his voice.
"I'm going to go check on other patients, I'll leave you with her for a bit." Tom said as he left, shutting the curtain behind him.
"What's going on Eh? What's happened Mel?" Nick said taking Melody's hand.
Ooh bit longer than I expected! So, what happened when she was 17? I will say soon! Til next time :)
Hattie xx
