The Surgeon's Family Wish by Abigail Gordon Read Free Book Online Page B

Thomas was being prepared for his neurosurgery, which would hopefully reduce his convulsions.
    Charles Drury had come to join them as he would be in charge of the operation, with Annabel and Mark Lafferty assisting.
    When Aaron had suggested the operation to the boy’s parents he’d had to warn them that there would be no guarantee of success. Yet they’d still told him to go ahead as the frequency of the convulsions and Oliver’s violence towards anyone near him when they occurred was creating a situation that was unbearable for all concerned.
    And now it was the day of his operation and hismother and father would have many anxious hours of waiting ahead of them, which might end with an improvement in Oliver’s condition, or the boy being in a worse state than before...
    When they stopped at the next bed Aaron said in a low voice, ‘We have ALD here. It’s rare, genetic and often incurable, as we all know. The family are devastated, needless to say. I saw young Jack here in my clinic. His GP had sent him to me with severe vomiting, low blood-sugar levels and periods of unconsciousness. We did some tests, discovered that the adrenal glands weren’t working properly and diagnosed adrenoleukodystrophy.
    â€˜You’ll maybe remember the film Lorenzo’s Oil where the parents never gave up trying to find a cure for their son who had this same genetic disorder. Eventually they found a combination of oils that lowered the fatty acids in the blood, which is vital in delaying the progression of ALD.
    â€˜The medical profession has never been sure whether it works or not, but the couple in the film were adamant that their son did show some improvement, and though it was many years ago, as far as I know he’s still alive.
    â€˜When the illness has been diagnosed in its early stage, a bone-marrow transplant has been an option and I think we should consider it in Jack’s case, if we can find a suitable donor. In the meantime, I’m putting my faith in Lorenzo’s Oil.’
    Charles Drury nodded.
    â€˜We’re keeping him under close observation at the moment,’ Aaron told them, and with a smile for the boy and a gentle pat on the head, they moved on to the next bed.
    Aaron was aware of Annabel’s gaze on him and itwas softer than it had been during their earlier greeting. If he couldn’t get it right in their private lives, at least they were in tune here at Barnaby’s, he thought with spirits lifting.
    * * *
    As the day took its course Oliver was taken down to Theatre with a last hug for his anxious parents and then the waiting began.
    As the surgical team scrubbed up Annabel was tense and totally focused. She’d specialised in paediatric neurological problems, but the decision to operate had been made by Aaron and Charles Drury before she’d come to Barnaby’s and the main anxiety was going to rest on their shoulders.
    It was a no-choice situation if Oliver was going to have any quality of life, but what they were planning to do was dangerous. If he came through the operation successfully, they would discover in the days that followed if it had been worth taking the risk.
    On occasions such as this every other thought was put to one side. In their hands lay a child’s life. She knew only too well that there was nothing worse for a doctor to leave at the end of the day knowing that a life they’d tried to save had been lost.
    * * *
    It was evening. Oliver had come through the operation and was now in the recovery unit, but Aaron’s expression was still anxious as he stood beside his bed.
    â€˜So far so good, eh, Annabel?’ he said as she pushed a strand of hair back off her brow. ‘I’ll want to go and bang my head against the wall if there’s no improvement after this.’
    â€˜At least we’ve tried,’ she told him with a tired smile. ‘We’ve done all we can. Let’s hope that nature