Life Lessons From a Stranger

Limited Participation

"We're going to insert a pacemaker inside here," Dr. Amber pointed at his chest.

"After that, can I play sports?" He asked.

Dr. Amber smiled, "Yes" Brian was happy to hear it "But it's better to avoid contact sports such as football as it might risk your pacemaker of getting hit." She added.

Brian nodded. It's okay he thought, as long as he can participate.

Brian smiled widely and turned to see his mother, "You hear that, Mom? I can participate again!" He said cheerfully.

He knew he could not participate in most of the things he liked as before and it killed him at first. He was always the one who will raised his hand if his teacher asked for volunteers, he joined most of the sport clubs in school, he became the water boy for the team he liked, he were there in everywhere as if he had 30 hours a day!

But that day when he was diagnosed with the disease, his world crumbled upon him. The doctors all said the same thing, 'Avoid sports', 'Don't exhaust yourself', 'Don't run!'

***

As soon as Brian woke up he heard his mother was talking to Dr. Amber.

'Same dream again.' He sighed. 

"You said he's okay so why would he need to stay?" His mother asked with a low voice.

"He's okay, but we need to monitor his heart's activity at least for two days," she assured her, "And I need to adjust the pacemaker, it might be something with the rate drop response didn't suit him or maybe it's just his blood pressure that made him fainted. Don't worry, he's fine." Dr. Amber patted her back.

His mother turned to see him and noticed that he had woken up.

"Hey, Mom," he smiled while slowly dragged his body to sit against the pillow.

His mother walked towards his bed and said, "Brian Lee Harrison! If you dare to faint again after this, I will not see you again!" His mother threatened him.

Brian lifted up both of his hands and smiled, "I will try my best, Mom."

"You good-for-nothing child, how dare you scared your mother like that," this time his mother sat next to him and held his hands.

"Sorry, Mom," Brian felt guilty as his mother looked worried, "I was just trying to help."

Brian looked at Dr. Amber and asked, "Is the girl alright?"

His mother interrupted him, "You yourself a patient have time to ask about other people's well being. I raised a good son." She glared at him.

"She's alright," Dr. Amber answered.

Dr. Amber took his chart and examined it, "We will need to adjust the rate drop response and do some EKG tests. This is the second time you had fainted and I think it might have been the pacemaker but I'm quite sure it just you blood pressure acting up, then we need to consider some medicines or exercises to deal with that," she stopped for a while and added, "You might need to consider to limit his time to 'participate' after this." She said this while looking at Brian.

Brian nodded and then Dr. Amber continued talking about some medical terms which he had used to hear.

Somehow, Brian felt relieved when he heard the girl was fine. She was such a young girl. What happened that made her as far as to end her own life? Life is already short enough but she wanted to reject the privilege? She should swap with him if she wanted to die so badly, he thought. But then, your life is not just yours, you cannot just easily end it just because you wanted to. He suddenly wanted to know her story.

"Brian?" He snapped back. "Were you listening?" Dr. Amber asked.

Brian perplexed, "I'm sorry. I was thinking about something just now. What were you saying?"

Dr. Amber sighed, "I've already explained everything to your mother. In short, you just need to rest and stay here for another two days."

"Two days?! But I have a chess tournament tomorrow," Brian objected.

"You, young man should not complain. Who do you think made you like this?" His mother silenced him.

"Okay."

"Alright then. Mary, I have something to discuss with you. Let's go to my office."

Just as they were leaving, Brian asked, "Is the girl in the hospital? May I see her?"

"I don't think this is the right time," Dr. Amber contemplated for a second and said, "Anyway, she's fine so you just worry about your health." She smiled and left the room with his mother.

'Is she really fine?' He thought and looked outside the window.

'Let's find her tomorrow!'

Author's note:

It took me a week to read about the heart disease. It was loosely researched as my capability in understanding medical terms is limited thus I'd only mentioned a few about it. So, if something, somewhere is off, please let me know. ^^

p/s: the picture above is the pacemaker.