Page 148 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

He’d been gentle with Kathryn in his office. He’d been her cheerleader. He could do it again, but he was positive it might not work.

It was time to be firm.

“How many grandchildren do you have, Kathryn?”

“Five,” Kathryn said.

“And their ages?” he asked.

“Two, three, six, seven and ten.”

“Do you want to see them for their next birthdays?” he asked softly.

“Yes,” Kathryn said, sniffling.

“Well,” he said. “You have a great prognosis to see them for decades of their birthdays if you have this treatment. Nothing is guaranteed in life. We all know it. As for your hair falling out. It might not happen. This chemo isn’t as harsh as others. When you were given the side effects they were just whatcould happen, not that you would experience all of it.”

“Really?” Kathryn asked.

“Dr. Mills explained this to you. So did Dr. Colin in Boston,” her husband said. “You’ve got this. I know you do. I’ll be here with you. It’s only four treatments. We’ll count them down together. You can do this. You know it too, but it’s normal to feel this way.”

“It is normal,” Garrett said, nodding to her husband. “Has anyone talked to you about some anxiety medication during this time? It can help.”

“Can I get something to relax me today?” Kathryn asked. “I’m just scared with the first one. What if I have a reaction?”

“It’s very possible,” he said, rubbing her hand. “I’m not going to lie to you. That is why you’ll be here so long. We are going to monitor you closely. I’m here the whole day also.”

“Will you come check on me too?” Kathryn asked, her eyes not quite as wide as they were when he walked in.

“Of course,” he said. “And if you need me or want me to come out and give you a word of encouragement, you tell Danica that and she’ll come get me. I promise.”

Kathryn was nodding her head. “Thank you.”

He stood up and waved Danica over. “Are we ready for this?”

“Yes,” Kathryn said.

“Good,” he said. “You’ve got this. I know you do.”

He started to move back down the hall but stopped when Kathryn’s husband called his name.

“Thank you. You were so good with her. I know she’ll be fine. It’s the fear of the unknown. I’ll make sure she isn’t bugging you too much.”’

“She can call me as much as she wants today,” he said. “I mean it. Anything I can do to get her to start. She’s strong and in good health. She should tolerate the drugs well.”

Not that it meant it would happen. Statistics were there for a reason.

He returned to his other patient’s room and opened the door. “Everything okay, Dr. Mills?”

“Yes, Sharon. It’s all good. Some first-day jitters.”

Sharon had been cancer-free for ten years. It was her annual visit and he’d met her once last year when he was filling in here.

“I remember it as if it was yesterday,” Sharon said. “Glad to not have to deal with it again. They don’t know how lucky they are to have a treatment center here and not have to go off the island for it like I did.”

“I know,” he said. “But I don’t think she is thinking anything along those lines.”

“I wouldn’t want your job,” Sharon said, smiling. “Day in and day out of it. It’s depressing, I’ve got to imagine.”

---