Page 5 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

Thank God he’d bought his weekend home a few years ago. Just a little cottage to retreat to and escape the daily grind of his job.

Now it was his home for a year.

“You’re right,” he said. “It’s not.”

Danica stopped him thirty minutes later, and he had to remind himself that not everyone has good things in their life.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Mills. I know you’ve got a patient waiting, but Kathryn is refusing chemo.”

He sighed, his shoulders dropping. “I just saw her five minutes ago and spent ten minutes boosting her up for it.”

“I know,” Danica said. “But she got to the chemo room and I went to put the IV in and she is freaking out. She asked if she could wait until she gets her port.”

He snorted over the conflicting responses. “She was adamant she didn’t want a port.” Which he tried to explain would make it easier, but she could get one in at any point if she changed her mind.

“Then she’s playing us both,” Danica said, shaking her head.

He opened the door to his next patient, popped his head in, and said, “I’ll be right back. I’m sorry but need to deal with an emergency.”

“No problem,” his patient said.

He followed Danica to the chemo room and saw Kathryn sitting with her husband in the corner by the window. Her husband was holding her hand and trying to talk to her.

Garrett took the seat next to Kathryn. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“I can’t do it,” Kathryn said. “I don’t want to lose my hair. I don’t want to feel sick. I don’t want to go throughanyof it.”

He looked at her husband. “I told my wife that hair grows back, but if she doesn’t do this, then I won’t have her in my life. I can’t get her past this.”

He’d been gentle with Kathryn in his office. He’d been her cheerleader and 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 which is why you can’t have anything for anxiety so we can monitor every reaction you might have,” he said, rubbing her hand. “I will not 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.

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