"She's still in a coma. And as we've told you before the surgery, this can happen." Jam informed the family. They were all huddled up around Mrs. Wyatt's sickbed.
"When will she wake up?" one of the daughters asked.
Jam paused before telling her. "We can't say exactly. But she's in the best form for someone who went through the same procedure."
"So, we're not really sure?" there was a desperate sentiment from the daughter.
"Macy... Mom's gonna wake up." The elder sister assured her.
"And she's gonna need you when she does." Dr. Cranmer told them. "The cancer is out of her nervous system. When she's ready, we're gonna continue with chemo for her melanoma."
I could see that the family was somehow feeling relieved. I felt a rush of respect for Dr. Novy Cranmer. She was the best Oncologist in the hospital. Although the strain was showing in her eyes, she was hopeful. She had been battling cancer with this client from the moment she was diagnosed two months ago. The Wyatt's held her presence as a beacon of hope that their mother will get through the hellhole despite the rough treatments and feeble chances.
Mr. Wyatt kissed his wife's temples. Then he faced us.
"Dr. Cranmer, Dr. Aimes, Dr. Evans, thank you so much..."
We smiled. There were no words for us to convey.
"Hang on, Mr. Wyatt. Dorothy's strength comes from you. Don't let her lose it. If you excuse us..." Dr. Cranmer said to him.
"Her labs are coming good. Creatinine has hit 1.0" I reported.
"She's gonna relapse from this coma, Nov." Jam hypothesized.
"I'll pray for it. The probability of survival is high, I know. I've seen worst cases come out of it ok. But we all know there's no way of telling for sure." Novy said objectively.
"Doctor Cranmer." came a call behind us.
"Dr. Lee." Novy acknowledged the head of the surgical program: Dr. Viannese Lee."How's Mrs. Wyatt?" she addressed the three of us.
"Stable. We removed all metz. Dr. Aimes double checked the CT. She went to V-tach twice during the procedure but so far, her vital signs are holding up." Novy prompted.
"Its just the strain of the surgery and hypovolemia. Her former MVA hasn't caused problems yet. I'll get her on steroids after 24 hours." I added.
"I saw the scans myself. Looking good. In few days time, she could gain consciousness." Dr. Lee replied with infectious optimism.
"We will monitor her." Jam said.
We we're all hopeful. Mrs. Wyatt was one of our favorite patients on the floor. She was strong and somehow never run out of courage however rough the treatment regimen gets.
"Of course. Our patient is a fighter, and I expect you to be nothing less braver than she is." Dr. Lee said.
"Dr. Lee, Mr. Harrison is waiting for you at the board room." Dr. Phoebie Dare came in view.
"Thanks, Dr. Dare. I'll leave you to it, Doctors." She hurried to the elevator in a swish of robes.
Dr. Cranmer's pager beeped. "Gotta run along too. See you guys around." She was off.
"Everything okay, Pheobs?" I asked, cautiously.
"Never better. Don't look so suspicious, Jit. Give me the a break." Pheobie replied airily.
"Did the wind blow the wrong way today with you and Frank?" it was Jam's turn to interrogate.
"I met him outside the board room and he asked me to pass the message to Dr. Lee." She stared straight at Jam's face. "I'm perfectly capable of acting like a professional, Jam. Whatever me and Frank had is a thing of the past now. And I'm too damn good a dermatologist to let him mess with my work."
"About time. Its been three months since the split up, Pheobs. And I'm kinda tired of talking to you in the phone till 3 AM with you crying hysterically on the other end..." Jam told her bluntly.
"Gee, Jam. If i had known how you feel about me-" Phoebie started to reproach.
Jam cut through her, "Not what I meant. You should move on to acceptance, Pheobs. That's the healthy thing. And besides, I'm waiting on someone to take your drama queen title," I felt Jam's gaze on my face.
"Please, Jam..." I groaned.
"You are not dealing with your grief?" Phoebie took her turn to grill me.
"You," I pointed at Jam."...are a neurosurgeon. And you," I pointed at Pheobs."are a Dermatologist. So quit trying the psychiatry crap with me. I had the same units in college, I can see where this is going."
"Jit, you gotta crack up..." Jam started to say.
"Yeah, Jit. You don't have to soak up 20 rolls of tissues a week like me. You can eat Ferrero Rocher all day, yell at the newsboy, break your mom's yin dynasty china, or shove a trache tube down my Ex's throat."
"Phoebs," Jam chuckled. "In case you've got temporary amnesia, I'll remind you that Frank is the hospital director. Jitka will be fired before she can even unwrap the tube."
"Fine. Scratch that..But that's not my point. Jit, just do something. Don't bottle it up."
My phone rang. I saw the name on the screen. Like a reflex, I hit cancel.
"Hmm. Alex?" Jam mentioned my ex's name.
I gave her a confirmatory nod.
"Have you confronted him?" Jam asked.
I didn't answer.
"Typical of you to avoid confrontations. If it was me in your shoes, I'd probably be scheming diabolical plans of revenge, not hiding. from that arse like a criminal." Phoebs said indignantly.
"I'm not you, Phoebs. I dunno what to do. I'm still trying to think things over." I told them.
Jam approached the nearby vending machine. She bought three iced coffee in cans. "Here, this might help."
Phoebs took hers. "What's there to think about? He was cheating on you, and there ain't no way around it. You have to talk to him."
"She's right, Jit. You can't play hide and seek with Alex forever. He's bound to wonder why you haven't been answering his calls and seeing him." Jam agreed.
"I know. I'll figure this out soon, I promise." I said, admitting defeat.
Jam's beeper sounded.
"Its from the ER."
"I'm coming with you, I need a word with the new resident." Phoebs chimed.
"Me three. My clinic duty is due in 10 minutes." I said.
"Nurse Campbell, you got a patient for me?" Jam called on one of ER staff.
"Oh, its not about that Dr. Aimes. Its your sister."
Phoebie and I, standing a few feet from Jam, immediately rushed to her side.
"What about her?" Jam said sharply.
"She's in there with Doctor West." the nurse pointed at the one of the curtained beds. Jam crossed the distance in a heartbeat. she drew the curtains in haste.
"I told them there's no need to call you." I heard Jem groan.
"What happened?" Jam took her penlight and swiftly performed physical examination.
The intern, Doctor West obliged a quick briefing. "She was complaining of excruciating headaches, Dr. Aimes. I have scheduled her for neurochecks, and CT and MRI this afternoon."
"Thanks, Dr. West. I'll take it from here."
The intern walked past me.
"Will you cancel the tests he ordered? I don't need them." Jem declared.
"I won't. Maybe you do need them. These attacks are getting worst. You gotta stay until I've gone through your results." Jam said condescendingly.
"I've got an important lunch meeting, Jam."
"Then cancel it."
"No deal. He can only spare me an hour. He's flying back to China by 2 PM." Jem said, looking scandalized.
"Have it rescheduled. As your physician, I'm ordering you to stay confined."
"I'm fine, jam. All limbs intact. As my company's Vice-President for Operations, I gotta go. Right now." Jem insisted.
"As your older sister-"
"By 3 lousy minutes, remember?""Yeah. But doesn't change the fact that I am the older one. So suck it up."
"Won't do Jam. I really gotta get going."
"Uh, mind if I interrupt?" I spoke.
They both looked at me. "Why don't you try a compromise? Jem, no disrespect but you look terrible. Why don't you rest for a couple of minutes, then you can go to your meeting. Its still 10:20."
They both considered me.
"I'll agree if you promise to come straight back here soon as your meeting is over." Jam added.
Jem closed her eyes. She seemed to want the argument to be over. Massaging her temples, she replied. "Ok. Fine."
"Dr. Dare," a new intern I did not recognize beckoned Phoebs.
"Yes," she responded. She quickly winked at Jem. "Be back in a jiffy." She hurried away.
"You guys go. I'm not gonna keep you from your patients. I'll lie down for a while. Then I'll get going to Preston." Jem shooed us.
"Okay. I'll check on you before you do that, though." Jam told her.
"Jam, don't fuss. I swore I'll drop by here by afternoon, didn't I?" Nurse Campbell's head popped in curtains. "Dr. Aimes, you got a new admission."
"Coming." was Jam's reply. "Call me, later please."
"Yes, boss." Jem said dully.
When Jam was out of earshot, I laughed."How does it feel that she can control you like that when you have an empire to lord over outside?"
She grinned. "Weird. But you know she's not the bossy one,really. I hate to admit it but most of the time, I'm the manipulator."
I shook my head, then smiled. "She just doesn't know when to say no sometimes. That's why people take advantage of her."
"True."
"She's really worried about you, though. She's conferred to me that you are having these headaches more frequently than the usual. Got her concerned."
"Hmmm. Don't tell my sister but yeah. They're not worst, just more frequent I guess. Jam's explained that they're caused by stress. I'm a disciplined person; I eat, I jog in the morning. The only guilt I have is I don't sleep much. Jam's mentioned to you why, I reckon.." She gave me a meaningful look.
"That you're in the running for CEO at your company? Yeah, she did. Can't say I'm surprised." I said.
"I told her not to spill. Big mouth." she feigned sulking.
"Phoebs was wondering why you couldn't even join us for breakfast even on weekends." I elucidated.
"So much to do. I have to step up. Its a big leap for me, from the marketing to the administrative office. And they know I'm managing the hotel so my boss tells me I gotta prove that I can juggle all the work." Jem lamented.
"Wow. Dunno how you do it."
"Its cliche, I know but its just time management. I'm not saying its easy."
"Its written all over your face. You're dead on your feet. Tell you what, the ER isn't as comfortable as your own room. I'll get you one. What do you say?" I offered.
"Sounds great."
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