Different Worlds (Elizabeth Olsen/ You)

Chapter 12: "Lucy"

Alex POV

"Walker, summarize the patient's situation..." Ross said, moving next to the lady's bed.

"Jarnette Olsen. 67 years old. She was born on January 22, 1954. Treated with antibiotics and a diet free of dross and potentially inflammatory agents for the intestine...
Blood tests have improved and her diet seems to be working, but I think it's wiser to let her stay a few more days. The white blood cells are still on high alert, so it's better to be careful..." I said, convinced of my beliefs, smiling at the lady.

"...Very good...
The case is yours, as the decision..." said my mentor, approving what I decided and then continuing the morning shift of the various cases. I really saw everything and more: intestinal washings, inflammatory diseases of all kinds of species, people who hadn't gone to the bathroom for weeks and people afflicted with polyembolokoilamania... therefore it's better not to go into details.

After another coffee break, I was interrupted by Dr. Ross, who asked me to assist him in a particular case in pediatrics: a young girl of 14, Lucy Miller, with a neurendocrine tumor of the appendix, just like my sister.
Inevitably my mood changed, thinking back to Elise and what she had gone through over the years because of that cancer.

"These are the tests we did on her... how would you act?"

I observed the blood test values and her PET with contrast, but unfortunately for her due the size of the cancer there was only one thing to do: operate her to prevent from coming back and getting worse in the future. Most likely being young, the intestine would have become accustomed to the new condition and physiological structure.

"... I think she needs to be operated... the tumor is larger than two and a half centimetres, and thanks to your young age Lucy should be able to efficiently recover the lack of the part of the intestine...
A right hemicolectomy..."
"Good job. I agree with your assessment... it is necessary to operate as soon as possible, indeed, I would already say to plan the operating room... but first we need the authorization of her parents...do you think you can take care of it?"
"Sure, I'll meet Lucy and talk to her parents...
When were you thinking of planning her surgery if her parents cooperate?"
"3 days. Today I would say to do other supplementary examinations..."
"Right...and on the second day I would say to give her the pills to make her absorb the air and I would also say to make her drink a lot of water..."
"Yes, that's it...
...are you sure you want to take care of this case? I can always ask Whitman or someone else...I can only imagine how emotionally difficult it could be for you..."
"No sir, everything is fine. Helping the young patient is all that matters..."

I said keeping a serious facade although it was a complicated subject for me.
With bitterness, I studied the patient's situation and ready, I went to meet Lucy in pediatrics.

I had Molly by my side and soon after we crossed the main door, we were welcomed by all the little kids, delighted to see us after weeks now.

-Alex! You're back!- "See? I missed you too much! I told you I would come back..."
- Doctor Walker! Have you seen my drawing? How cool is that?- "Wow! Gorgeous Daisy!"
-I've done it! Yesterday I ate all my broccolis! - "Great Tommy! Nice Job!"
-Shall we do a puzzle together?- "Maybe after, Willy..."

I slowly got closer and closer to the new patient who looked a sort of a fish out of water.

"Hi, you must be Lucy, isn't it?"
-Y-yes, that's me...-
"I am Dr. Walker, but you can call me Alex..."

The little girl nodded shyly and as she looked around the colourful room, I discreetly observed her, looking for a topic that might put her at ease. Looking down, I noticed a familiar logo on the hoodie she was wearing.

"Are you a Marvel fan?"
-That's right!-
"Who is your favorite superhero?"
-Wanda...-
"No, really? Even my sister is crazy about her..."

💭Elizabeth is haunting me in these days...

-...Really?-
"Yeah, she even dragged me to a meet & greet with the cast of WandaVision and the funny thing is, I didn't know her..."
-But...- immediately after Lucy started laughing and I noticed that the ice had finally melted.

I laughed with her but soon after I felt someone tugging at my white coat.

-Aleexxxxx, sing us a song... last time you promised us...-
"How do you say...?"
-Pleeeeeeease...-
"Okkk... I'll sing you something...
Where's the guitar?"

Molly, who had been kidnapped by a group of girls since they wanted the braids, promptly replied.

"It's right there, where you left it last time...!"
"Perfect..."

I thought about different possibilities since I was singing in front of children, until I came up with the perfect idea: "Here comes the sun" by the Beatles.

//A.N If you can't click the link, you can search on YouTube: "Here comes the Sun" by Boyce Avenue//

(https://youtu.be/AfKd7aGCL7U)

(...)

After getting to know the patient, I asked Lucy's parents to meet up in the corridor, just outside the pediatrics room.

-Here we are doctor, did he want to talk to us? What's wrong with our Lucy?-
"Yes, I wanted to speak face-to-face with you about your daughter's condition.
We diagnosed her with a neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix.
It is a very rare tumor whose nature is not known very well, but it has positive sides: first of all it is a carcinoid, that develops very slowly and if taken promptly it can be treated and eradicated..."
-What can you do to cure it?-
"The right thing to do would be to operate her and remove a good piece of intestine in the part including the tumor. Your daughter is young and has all the credentials to make up for the missing part of the intestine, which, adapting over time, will allow it to heal and return a life as normal as possible.
Our concern is that if we don't intervene as soon as possible, the cancer could spread to other important regions, and we would like to avoid further suffering for both Lucy and you...
But obviously the choice is up to you both..."

The parents looked completely overwhelmed by those multitudes of information. They were silent for a few seconds and then the wife spoke up.

-Can we think about it for a moment? When would you operate Lucy?-
"...within three days...the sooner the better..."
-Give us a few hours then...-
"Of course...as soon as you've made a decision, let me be called by the nurse..."

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Writer's Corner

Hello guys!
Even if Elizabeth is not really in the chapter, she seems the fate destiny! Like parsley, she's always among us🤣

Since Alex is a doctor, I wanted to show a bit of his daily routine and the difficulties he faces, like saying to the parents of the young girl about the cancer, and other things like that.
Lucy will come back even in the other chapters since she'll be an important case for Alex, since she has the same condition of his sister, so he'll try to do all the possible to help her out. He's motivated. Who knows if Whitman will come in the picture...?🤔😏
See you in the next chapter, can't wait to read all your comments!❤️
Thanks for all the support!
-Author