Lost Loves
Chapter 11
Christine smiled at the way Mike was making faces at Sophia. They were waiting on a pediatric orthopedic surgeon after a battery of tests. The sound of the little girl giggling at Mike made Christine smile even more broadly. But, then there was a knock on the door and Mike settled Sophia between them.
"We have to be serious now." Mike told the little girl as a doctor about his age came in and sat down on a stool.
"Now, that would be no fun." The doctor said as he made a face at Sophia, which earned him a giggle.
"This is Sophia, and I'm Mike Slattery and this is my wife, Christine." Mike introduced them.
"I'm Dr. McDonald, but my patient's call me Doctor Charlie. You can call me that, Sophia." Dr. McDonald said.
"Did the nurse explain…?" Christine asked.
"She did. Regardless, Sophia has to warm up to me before she can trust me. Some of the ways I will maneuver her arm might hurt a bit." Dr. McDonald said as he took a pair of gloves out of his pocket and blew one up; making a balloon out of it and giving it to Sophia.
"She doesn't use that hand at all." Mike remarked.
"I have to figure out if its because she can't or if she just doesn't know how to without pain." Dr. McDonald explained as he watched Sophia play with the 'balloon.'
"She does open and close her hand in her sleep. I noticed that last night." Christine told him.
"Sophia, can I pick you up and put you on the exam table? Or maybe your dad?" Dr. McDonald asked. Christine thought about correcting him, but Mike was certainly playing the part and Sophia adored him already. Sophia pointed at Mike and he lifted her up onto the exam table.
"What will you have to do?" Christine asked nervously.
"Just some range of motion to see where she's at. It might hurt a bit, Sophia. I know you don't talk right now, but if I start hurting you too much, pull on my sleeve with your other hand, okay?" Dr. McDonald explained and Sophia nodded.
Sophia had a high pain threshold because Dr. McDonald was able to conduct all of his tests. Once he finished, she settled onto Mike's lap, apparently exhausted. The doctor reviewed some notes before settling back on his stool.
"So, between x-rays and my exam today; I believe Sophia is able to use that arm. It is going to involve a surgery though. I will…have to brake a bone and set it properly. I believe there is some nerve damage and I think there is a good possibility that I can relieve some of that with fixing the bones, but it needs to be done sooner rather than later." Dr. McDonald explained.
"Why sooner?" Christine asked.
"The nurse explained Sophia's entire situation and now that she is being properly cared for and fed, she'll thrive and grow. As she grows, the nerve damage will worsen and there will be little we can do for the arm." Dr. McDonald answered.
"Can you explain the surgery in a way she'll understand?" Mike asked.
"Sure. Sophia; you understand your arm doesn't work like your brother's, right?" Dr. McDonald asked. Sophia nodded and looked down at her arm. "But, I can fix it! So, I would make you go to sleep and while you're asleep; I would cut into your arm, just above the elbow; right here." Dr. McDonald continued.
"Sophia, do you understand so far?" Christine asked and Sophia nodded.
"Good, so I would make the bone break so it can heal properly. It'll hurt some but we'll give you medicine. I will also put this hard material on it to straighten it completely for two weeks. That part won't be fun. It'll be hot and itchy. It'll go from your arm pit to your fingers. But…we can draw pictures on it and if you tell me your favorite color, I can make sure the material is that color." Dr. McDonald said. Sophia pointed at Christine's shirt and smiled at Dr. McDonald.
"Sophia, do you want to have the surgery?" Mike asked. Sophia nodded fiercely.
"Good. I'm glad she's on board. I hate operating on kids when they aren't clear on what they are about to go through. Now; it won't be pleasant and she will be in pain, but better now then after she's grown some. Are you both on board?" Dr. McDonald asked. Mike looked to Christine and she nodded.
"I'm okay with it." Christine said as she touched Mike's arm.
"Let's get it scheduled." Mike said.
"I'll get with my nurse." Dr. McDonald told them before leaving the room.
"I noticed you didn't correct him about the dad thing?" Mike remarked.
"I'm still figuring things out, I suppose." Christine said.
"You know I'm in." Mike answered. His attention went back to Sophia.
"Mike; thank you. You don't know how much I appreciate everything you're doing." Christine said. Before he had a chance to respond, Dr. McDonald and his nurse came in.
"Alright; so we have the surgery set a week from this coming Monday and Sharon is going to explain pre-surgery care and what recovery will be like. Sophia, this is for you." Dr. McDonald said before giving her a stuffed bear. She immediately grabbed it with her good arm and looked to Christine to speak for her.
"Thank you so much." Christine said.
"You're welcome. See you in about a week and a couple days, Sophia." Dr. McDonald said before leaving them with his nurse.
