In Sickness and in Death by Jaye P. Marshall Read Free Book Online Page B

go home and put some things together.”
    Brian drove home, his mind awhirl. What would his life be like from now on? He was just beginning to live; just beginning to make his way in the world. What did he have to look forward to when he had a date with a machine several times a week?
    When he entered the apartment, Adrienne met him in the hallway. “Where have you been? I don’t know how many times I called your office and left you voice mails.”
    “Sorry, I left about four. Dr. Harris’ nurse called and asked me to come into the Doctor’s office at four-thirty.”
    “What for?”
    “It seems I’m having kidney problems. I have to start going for dialysis. I don’t know how often yet, but I’m to check into the hospital tonight.”
    “That is ridiculous! There’s no need for you to have to go to some stupid clinic where it’s hard to tell what kind of treatment you’ll get. I am an RN after all. There’s no reason why I can’t do it right here in the comfort of our own home.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “It’s simple really. There’s no need to be hooked up to a machine. If we do it here, we can even do it while you’re sleeping.”
    “And they won’t have to slit my jugular vein open?”
    “No way. I’ll speak to Dr. Harris first thing in the morning.”
    Brian went into the bedroom, packed a small bag with a pair of pajamas and his toiletries and then, taking his briefcase, drove to the hospital. When he had completed the registration paperwork, he was escorted to a room containing two empty beds. A nononsense nurse insisted that he forego his pajamas and put on the hospital gown she provided. Finding it useless to protest he put on the gown and climbed into bed. Later in the evening, Brian was sitting in bed reading a report. A nurse came into the room.
    “You need to take these,” she said, holding out the small pill container.
    “What are they?”
    “Something to help you sleep.”
    “I don’t need anything.”
    “Doctor Harris wants you to get a good night’s rest. Now, take them.”
    With a sigh of resignation, Brian took the pills and the glass of water from the bedside stand that she offered.
    “Better put that away,” she said, nodding to the paper in his hand. “It’s lights out now.”
    Brian slipped the report back into his briefcase just as she flipped off the light. He lay back and punched on the television.

    Brian awoke to a tremendous clatter in the hallway outside his room. What was going on? Were they bringing breakfast? Or was it just a shift change of the nurses? He waited patiently for a breakfast tray, but none was forthcoming.
    When a nurse came in with a pill container, Brian asked rather petulantly. “Where’s my breakfast?”
    “Sorry, no breakfast for you this morning. You’re going into surgery.”
    A few minutes later Dr. Harris came into the room. “How do you feel this morning?”
    “I’m okay, but I’d really like some coffee.”
    “Later. I’ve just spoken with Adrienne and she tells me that she would like to do your dialysis at home. How do you feel about that?”
    Brian shrugged, and then smiled. “I guess it’s okay, especially if it keeps you from slitting my throat.” He paused. “How would it work? Would I have to get one of those machines?”
    The Doctor laughed. “Not unless you’re a millionaire and just have to have a new toy. It’s rather simple really. It’s called peritoneal dialysis and what happens is that, instead of reworking the vein and artery in your arm, we would insert a permanent external catheter in your abdomen. Adrienne would slowly introduce the dialysis solution into the site through a tube. During the next two hours or so the fluid would absorb the impurities from your body. Then it’s drained out and discarded. You would need two exchanges a day but there’s nothing to prevent you from doing something else while it’s doing its thing.”
    “That sounds a lot easier than the alternative you’ve