The SPECTRE Of The VATICAN ©

Chapter 17 - Liver Die.

Time: 23 Years Prior
Location: Sydney, Australia.

Carter watched the next two weeks of the movie in relative and reflective silence. He watched the arguments unfold between the Margates and the Chevals, watched as his uncle thwarted Peter's efforts to see Amelia. Uncle Tony was adamant that Peter should be charged with rape. The Chevals wanted to wait until they could talk to Amelia, until she was well enough to corroborate Peter's story of the events leading up to Amelia's collapse. Carter experienced their disappointment with Peter, in that he had seemingly betrayed the trust they had placed in him to look after their daughter. He rode the rollercoaster ride of emotions as the Chevals watched the variances in her liver test results that had her pushed to the brink of death several times. He felt their elation as they could only stand by and watch and pray as she made a series of miraculous recoveries in her daily fight for life.

He felt their absolute joy as she finally awoke and spoke those first few incoherent words until she asked quite clearly for Peter. . . not for her Mum or , , , her Dad . . . not even for Amanda . . , but for Peter.

These feelings were soon to be replaced by anguish and foreboding.

It was when Don, who had been left in charge of her case as he seemed to be the only person at the hospital who knew anything at all about this Reyes Syndrome, asked to speak to them privately. Monique was beside herself. Carter could feel her self loathing and the heavy weight of blame she had taken on over Amelia's illness.

He felt her heart sink when Don ushered Monique into a private consulting room.

"Look," Don started, "Monique, there's no easy way to tell you this but I've got Amelia's latest blood tests. Her liver is fine actually, in better shape than mine, and the other good news is that her brain seems to be functioning normally and there appears to be no permanent damage or incapacity. She is a very lucky girl . . . not too many come through a bout of Reyes with this little damage."

"That's largely thanks to you," said Monique, "I've been making some inquiries, and I was absolutely astounded . . . no, wait, disgusted that's the word . . . to find that the drug companies know about this but are refusing to put warnings on their labels. How on earth did you know she had it?"

Carter experienced a wave of profound sadness emanating from the screen. There were sighs and shocked reactions from the others watching his movie. Don said sadly, "Unfortunately I knew from bitter personal experience. We haven't told you yet but I was married before, before Vera . . . her name was Jenny, remember how I said I had a case before of Reyes, a seven year old boy. We lost him. He was our son, Jackson. He got Reyes after Jenny gave him aspirin when he had chicken pox. He died three days after the first symptoms appeared. Jenny blamed herself, then me. She couldn't understand why I didn't know . . . didn't warn her not to give him aspirin. After all, I was a doctor wasn't I? I saved lots of stranger's kids, but I couldn't save our own son. She said she couldn't bear to look at me after that. It ended our relationship, our marriage. I threw myself into my work, resolved never to watch another child go through that again. I did some work for the foundation, education and stuff. I told Jackson's school I could speak to the parents and warn them of the dangers of this disease, especially when their kids had Chicken pox or Glandular fever. You know what the principal said? The principal thanked me for my offer, gave her condolences and declined saying, she didn't want to alarm the parents as the disease is so rare, can you believe that? And don't get me started on the drug companies!"

Monique looked quite sad.

Don finished up with, "And that's why we adopted all these kids, well Peter, anyway. I was desperate to have another son and so was Vera, but she had problems both conceiving and carrying to full term, then when she did, twice we had still borns. It was at the funeral for the last one I mentioned something to Father Dan. He made some enquiries for us with the Church. He visited an orphanage on one of his return trips and came home with a three year old boy. So. we adopted Peter. He was such a joy. We decided to adopt more, four more!" Don smiled as he said this.

Monique looked relieved and a little confused, as she finally said, "Don, I'm a little confused when you called me in here to discuss Amelia's test results I was panicking, thinking there's something wrong. What is it then?"

A sigh escaped Don's lips as he said, "As I said when we first came in, there's no easy way to tell you this so I might as well just come out with it . . . your daughter . . , Amelia's pregnant."