Page 6 of Loving Lizzy

The physician smiled and shook his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you. I know this feels like an uncertain time for both of you. Hopefully, today will relieve some of your concerns.”

Picking up Lizzy’s hand, he gripped it tightly as Dr. Safder slid out the slides of the ultrasound and placed them on the wall.

“From your history, I know you previously had a lumpectomy. The biopsy report shows the tumor on your left breast measured at 5 centimeters. It’s grade one, which means it’s slowly growing.” She waited, giving Lizzy time to absorb the information.

Michael pulled Lizzy closer to him to shield her from the news. “What treatment plan do you suggest?” Michael stared at the doctor as he steeled his voice to take charge.

For once, she happily let him because she struggled to find her voice or gather her thoughts to ask the questions she had been mulling over all morning.

“Due to your history, I recommend you consider a mastectomy of the left breast, or both. It’s a personal preference. There’s no indication of anything on the right side. It’s a precautionary method. While you’re in surgery, we’ll remove the lymph nodes on the left side. When we get the results, we’ll determine the necessity of chemo or radiation. I can give you the name of an excellent plastic surgeon if you’re interested in breast reconstruction. You don’t need to decide this minute, but we’ll want to move soon. What questions can I answer for you?”

Lizzy raised her fear-filled eyes to Michael. “What’s the survival rate?” she asked quietly.

“Stage two breast cancer is highly treatable. The five-year survival rate remains around the ninety-five-percentile range with multiple therapy treatments,” Dr. Safder answered patiently.

Releasing the breath she didn’t realize she held, she asked, “Can I take a day or two to process this? I don’t want to rush my decision.”

“Yes, take a day or two to decide how you want to proceed. Elizabeth, as always, there are risks with procedures. I’ll send you home some pamphlets. I’m sure you’ll think of more questions once you leave the office, call anytime. If I can’t reply, my nurses will reach out. I know this seems like a ton of information and it’s overwhelming. You may want to get a second opinion. We’ll help you get everything set up.” Dr. Safder handed Michael a stack of brochures while Lizzy clung to his hand. He never let it go as he took the paperwork.

They walked down the hallway and checked out with the receptionist. Escorting her to the car, he opened the door, and waited until she settled. Entering on the driver’s side, he then drove out of the parking lot. Silently making their way through Seattle, he held her hand in his lap. He pulled up to her condo and helped her out. Lizzy numbly strode through the door as Michael held it open.

“What do we want for lunch? I put some flyers in the kitchen for the new Italian restaurant on the corner. There’s a coupon somewhere…” her voice faltered as she opened the drawers and shut them, frantically searching for a menu.

Setting the paperwork on the table, he ambled into the room. “I’ll take care of our meal. Why don’t we discuss the options Dr. Safder provided us with and weigh the pros and cons? The receptionist gave us the number to the scheduler who’ll contact the surgical center to make your appointment once we decide.” He cautiously approached her.

“I’m fine. The doctor said I can take time to browse over the information. I’ll read it over this evening and review my options,” she answered cheerfully.

Michael’s forehead wrinkled as he studied her, confused by her reaction.

“I thought we might go over the material together. There’re risks to consider. If you require chemo and radiation, do we want to see an OBGYN to discuss harvesting your eggs? How do you feel about a mastectomy?” Michael shot off questions, not realizing how each one pierced her chest like a bullet. She needed time to absorb all of this in her head.

“Last time I checked, this is still my body. Therefore, it’s my decision on how I want to handle this. I don’t need you to direct me on what to research and who I should contact,” she gritted out.

Michael’s brow rose at her response to his queries. “I’ll go check in at the office. If you want me to grab anything for dinner on my way back or go to the grocery store, call me.” He turned and exited the door.

Lizzy watched as he left. As if her body became hypersensitive, she heard the ticking of the hand on the clock above the kitchen door, the refrigerator kicked on and the hum seemed to run throughout her core. She opened the fridge door and took out a wrapped package of deli meat, a tomato, lettuce, and an avocado. She rinsed everything off and grabbed the cutting board to slice the fruit. Why did this happen to her? She jogged three times a week, she ate healthy, rarely drank, and didn’t smoke. She never ate fast food. She prepared meals in advance of a heavy workload to avoid getting tempted by junk food. Then why did she get this horrible disease? What about Michael? If she thought the scar from a lumpectomy might scare him off, what happened when she returned with an entire breast completely missing, or both?

She slammed the knife onto the counter and slid to the floor. It wasn’t fair. She survived her childhood going from foster home to foster home. Lizzy made her way through college while working two jobs and landed the position at Seattle Health and poured her heart and soul into it. When Chase approached her about taking on his military hospital, she felt excited at the new challenge. Now she had already called out more than she did at her last employer. Chase and Kassie required someone consistent to handle the requirements and codes for the medical institution. They couldn’t hold her job forever. She pounded against the cabinets letting her rage take over at the unfairness of it all. Hot tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed out her frustration. She never even heard Michael enter the kitchen.

Strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her into his chest. “Shhh, Lizzy. I’m right here.” Sitting on the floor, they shed the tears they’d hid from each other. He kissed her hair and locked her body in with his legs. The fear for their future hung in the air.

CHAPTER FOUR

Michael walked down the hall toward Chase’s office. He knocked on the door and waited. When no one answered, he continued to Kassie’s. Kassie sat at her desk, tapping a pencil impatiently while she listened to the person on the other end of the line. Her lips pursed as she tried her best to refrain from saying what she felt about the topic in discussion.

Noticing Michael at the door, she smiled and waved him in to take a seat.

“Dr. Hendricks, I understand your position. I want him here. If he’s failing to thrive under your care, what good will you accomplish by throwing him into a state-run facility? By sending him our way, he might stand a chance at getting on the right path.” She rolled her eyes at Michael, making him chuckle. “Once you release the patient to the state, your obligation ends. Why not give him a break here? We’ll take full responsibility and if it doesn’t work, we can make the transfer on our end.” She nodded and held her finger up, indicating for him to wait a minute. “Thank you, Dr. Hendricks, I can have transportation arranged by this afternoon. Please start discharge proceedings and my nurses will call for a report and provide you with an estimated time of arrival.” She hung up the phone.

“Thanks for your patience. I’ve made calls all morning to get a patient here and I’ve kept cutting red tape the entire way. How’s Lizzy? I’ve tried calling and she’s not picking up. Chase told me you took time off to stay with her, and I didn’t want to bother you.” Kassie moved from behind her desk to sit in the chair beside him.

“I came to discuss the position with both of you. Do you happen to know where your husband is?” Michael scanned her office noticing photos of his best friend and Emma everywhere.

“Yes, he’s attending one of Claire’s PTSD meetings. We have a couple of reluctant patients and Chase volunteered to talk about his and your abduction to break the ice.” She checked her watch. “The meeting will wrap up in about ten minutes. Do you have time to get breakfast with me in the cafeteria? I ran out of the house in a rush, my daughter forgot her class treats, Rollo decided today made an exciting time for a roll in the mud, and Catherine’s suffering from morning sickness.”

“I’ll grab a cup of coffee,” he told her as she stood and led her way to the kitchen.

“Did you render any thoughts to our proposal? We hired two pediatricians to cover the floor and it’s going smoothly. I want to bring in five total. Chase wants you to head the unit. May I give you a quick tour of your office if you decide to accept?” Kassie greeted people by name as she continued heading toward the cafeteria.

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