Chapter 19

The next morning, Lucien was up seeing patients. The usual complaints, a few that needed some extra attention, but nothing serious. Jean had made him promise to leave his lunch hour available so they could discuss the options for the studio. They never got to lunch though as a phone call came in from the hospital. Lucien quickly donned his coat and was out the door after a quick kiss for Jean.

"Lucien, we've run out of time," Alice told him as he met her at the front door of the hospital.

"It's that bad?" he asked her.

"Mrs. Dunwoody came in for her appointment. As they usually do, they checked her general health. She's got a fever and a cough that doesn't sound good," she said.

"We're sure that it's related to her diabetes?" Lucien wanted to know as they made their way to the nurses' desk.

"We can't be sure that it isn't. The lab is running a blood test but I'm willing to bet that her white cell count will be elevated," Alice shook her head.

"She could have a cold," Lucien said.

"In the summer?" Alice gave him a look. Lucien heaved a sigh. Phyllis' file was on the nurses' desk and he looked it over.

"How could this happen?" He asked.

"We knew the dialysis was not going to work forever. I've put in a call to Dr. Kluk, but I worry that our bigger problem is…" Alice didn't want to say it.

"That she might not be healthy to make the long journey to Sydney, never mind have a major operation. So, we need to narrow down what is causing the issue and see if it really is related to her kidneys and diabetes," Lucien shook his head.

"Some of the other doctors are offering their assistance," she said. Lucien disliked asking for help in a situation like this, but he respected Alice too much. She was outside her wheelhouse dealing with live patients but doing everything she could to help a woman that she just met, one of his patients to boot. She had a good heart and she cared and that was what mattered most to him. He had no doubt that if her path had not been derailed by the hospital, she would have been able to accomplish much more. He was lucky to have her as not only a colleague but also as a friend.

"Good. We need a few more brains on this," he gave her a smile. Alice smiled back and quickly went to get the other doctors. The phone at the desk rang and the nurse answered it before telling Lucien it was for him.

"Doctor Blake," he said.

"Lucien, it's Doctor Greg Kluk," the voice on the other end of the line said.

"Greg, I wish I could say it was good to hear from you, but our shared patient is not doing well. Phyllis has a fever and a cough. We're running tests but…" Lucien heaved a sigh.

"You think we're running out of time," Greg said.

"I don't know how this could have happened so fast. I'm hoping I'm wrong and it's just a cold or something but if it isn't… I don't know if she's going to be able to make it to Sydney," Lucien warned him.

"Keep me posted and I'll make some calls. If Phyllis can't come to Sydney, maybe Sydney could come to her," Greg said.

"I certainly will. Thank you, Greg," Lucien told him and with that the call ended. Alice had arrived with a couple of other doctors and she held a stapled packet of paper, which had been folded multiple times.

"The lab results already?" Lucien asked.

"I wish. Doctor Chase read this article that a colleague mailed him a few weeks back. It's about kidney transplants," Alice smiled.

To Be Continued…