Beat | A Jenlisa Fan Fiction

Chapter 20

JENNIE'S POV

"You have a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, more commonly known as HCM." Dr. Gi grabbed the heart model from the top of the filing cabinet on his left and placed it in front of me. He pointed to a part of the model as he explained further, "The type of HCM is obstructive, this means that the walls of the bottom chambers of your heart are thickening."

My jaw slacked and I started to tremble in my seat. I stared at him in disbelief of what he just told me. I gripped the edge of the seat with so much force that my knuckles turned white.

Dr. Gi pushed his glasses up his nose before he continued, "This prevents your heart from functioning properly and it has difficulty pumping blood to the rest of your body.

"Normally, HCM can be managed if discovered early but since in your case it was not, it has progressed considerably." With a solemn expression, he clasped his hands together and placed them on the desk. "What you experienced during your hike and ski trips as well as what you've been struggling with these days are symptoms of HCM, heart failure, and arrhythmia. We have to be careful because HCM can also cause sudden cardiac arrests."

My mouth went dry and cold sweat formed above my brow. I found myself struggling to focus as his voice faded in the background momentarily. I lowered my gaze to his lips and watched them move, but the words weren't registering. My trance was broken when I saw him remove his glasses and drop them beside his pen.

"...heart is working overtime to compensate and this would most likely develop to HCM-LVSD or HCM Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction if not treated. When that happens, you would need a new heart."

I stared at him blankly unable to process the information. Heart failure? Arrhythmia? That doesn't sound right. Me. Kim Jennie. Not even out of university and he says my heart was failing. There must be some kind of mistake. It just doesn't make any sense. I started to ramble my thoughts out loud.

"What do you mean?" I slammed my palms on the desk but he just looked at me with sad eyes. "I don't understand how this could happen just like that. Wasn't I just physically tired? The most I expected from this appointment was for you to prescribe me something, but now you're telling me that I'm sick and my heart is failing?!" Something bubbled up within me and my voice rose as I continued.

"How is that even possible? I eat relatively healthily. I dance as a form of exercise. I rarely even get the flu!" I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.

The doctor unclasped his hands and stood up. My eyes followed his movements as he strode towards the watercooler at the corner of his office and grabbed a cup of water. After setting it down on his desk, he gestured for me to have it. I reached for it slowly, running my nails on the thin material.

I took a sip and he started to speak, "HCM is caused by a mutation in genetics. Most people with HCM go about their lives undiagnosed because the symptoms can be mild, but sometimes it progresses depending on a person's lifestyle." Dr. Gi cleared his throat. "Athletes such as yourself are more susceptible to it's progression due to your extraneous physical activities."

"Then what do I do now? I mean to prevent that from progressing further? Is it too late?" I said in a hushed tone and with a slight quiver in my voice. He returned to his chair and pulled out brochures from a drawer. I read the titles as he laid them out on the desk. There was one for a cardiac rehabilitation facility, one for the basic information on HCM, and another for the usual treatment plans on HCM. I looked up and gave him a questioning look.

"For the treatment plan, I would be prescribing some medication. Cardiac rehabilitation is also a must but I recommend surgery." He leaned over his desk to point out the brochure on the treatment plans. Listed were different surgical interventions for patients of HCM, usual medications with their side effects, and basic lifestyle changes recommended.