Chapter 4: Nightmare
Lolly hugged Elizabeth in the hospital room where Skylar was admitted. Not wanting to have another spat with her boss or request for a day off work so soon after yesterday event, she had called Lizzie, her BFF, over to watch Skylar for her so she can go to work today.
"I owe you big time, Lizzie! Thank you so much. You are a lifesaver!"
"Oh, cut it out, Lolly. You and Sky are like family to me. You know I'd do anything for him." Elizabeth waved her hands dismissively.
"How is he?" Lolly asked, glancing at Skylar, who slept peacefully on the thin hospital bed. The paleness of his face has improved than it looked yesterday.
"Better. No vomiting since you left. It's almost time for the doctor to check up on him again. You can ask him about his stats because the annoying man refused to tell me anything. Said I wasn't immediate family. How infuriating!" Lizzie finished, looking pissed.
Lolly laughed at the face she made. "Someone is cranky."
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
"I'm –"
A knock at the door and Lizzie's phone ringing at the same time distracted them both. Mrs Martins walked in carrying a medium food pack with a small fruit basket.
"I brought dinner," She told, nodding to Lolly and Lizzie in greeting. Lizzie acknowledged with a nod of her own but quickly stepped aside to the corner to take her call.
"Thank you, Mrs Martins, but you shouldn't have. You've done a lot for me and Skylar already," Lolly protested.
"Nonsense!" Mrs Martins retorted. "I have only done what any normal human being would do in my place," She turned to Skylar, bending down to caress his cheeks gently. "Have you spoken to the doctor yet? How's he doing?" She asked all at once.
"Not yet. I just got here a while ago. But Lizzie said he's better. He looks better too."
"Yes, he does," Mrs Martins agreed.
They stood watching Skylar as he slept. He stirred a little, mumbling incoherently in his sleep. Just then Lizzie ended her call and said her goodbyes. Her mother needed her to drop by the grocery shop to get her some necessities. As Elizabeth opened the door to walk out, she almost collided with Mark Cooper, the young handsome doctor attending to Skylar.
Lizzie glared at him. "Mr Annoying." She called under her breath.
"Ms Grumpy," the doctor responded in kind, walking past her into the room. She tossed her hair with a huff and walked away as Lolly and Mrs Martins exchanged looks of amusement. They stood to the side as the doctor did his routine check. Skylar's eyes fluttered open.
"Hey, Champ," the doctor called. "How're you feeling?"
The boy tried to stretch but winced at the slight pinch of the needle fixed to his left hand for his intravenous fluids.
"I feel groggy, Doctor Mark."
The doctor laughed. "Well, you do look groggy but you'll be okay." He took a pen from his medical coat to note down his diagnosis on his writing pad.
Seeing him awake, Lolly quickly came to him. "Hi, Sky. Missed my superman so much!" she said, giving him a bear hug
"Miss you too sis. Uhm-m-m, can't breath, too-o ti-ght," he mumbled making everyone laugh.
The doctor requested to have a moment with Lolly in his office and she followed him out whilst Mrs Martins sat in the empty seat by Skylar's bed to keep him company till she returns from the doctor's.
In the doctor's office, Lolly sat opposite the doctor at his work table "Ms Lolly, I'd love to know. Are you the only family Skylar has?"
"Why?" she asked guardedly. Although she's off age, she still fears her rotten drunk of a father will look for her and try to take Skylar away from her. The man had made their life a living hell such that as soon as she had the means and opportunity, she took off with Skylar. Since then, they had been on their own. That sad part of their life should remain buried and never mentioned.
"Relax Ms Lolly. I'm only asking for good. I'm not trying to get you into any trouble if that's..."
"Yes!" she answered, cutting the doctor off. "I'm his only family, "
"Okay then. Maybe you can answer these questions for me."
Lolly nodded for him to go on.
"Do you know if anyone in your family - may be your Mum or Dad, anyone who had this kind of health challenge as Skylar?"
"Uhmm, not that I know of. My mum was quite healthy. Well apart from being brutally beaten and left for dead every other day till death really claimed her," she added sarcastically. The doctor didn't know what to say to that, so he remained silent.
"As for the man known as my father, the only illness I know he has was drowning in bottles of booze."
"Alright, I get it, Ms Lolly." Doctor Mark raised a hand to hush her. "I asked because I want to be certain of what brought about Skylar's constant vomiting. What of history of severe headaches or migraines?"
Lolly shook her head indicating a no. Well, technically, she did always have headaches from dealing with her father who happened to be a big, fat pain-in-the-butt who gave them no moment respite... Figuratively speaking anyway.
Doctor Mark looked down and scanned through his notepad, his brow furrowed in a frown. Noticing that, Lolly's heart became uneasy.
"What is it, doctor? Please tell me no matter how bad it is."
"Well, Lolly. The good news is Skylar is okay at the moment." he paused.
"And...?" Lolly prodded with a frown.
"The bad news is that we need to run some test just to be clear. The prognosis doesn't look good."
"What does that even mean, Doctor?" Lolly sat up and lean towards Doctor Mark's table, confusion showing all over her features.
"I may be wrong which is why we need to run more test. But there are indications that Skylar may have an anatomical challenge..."
"Wooh, Doctor Mark, Englishhh... Please say it in plain English," Lolly interjected, holding up her hands and shifting nervously in her seat.
"It means Skylar may have intestinal twisting or blockage, or probably kidney obstruction."
"What!"
"Hold your horse, Lolly. I said 'may' because of my prognosis. I've dealt with similar cases in the past and it's looking the same. But we are not certain yet until we run some test. So don't get ahead of yourself. Alright?" the young doctor counselled to which Lolly gave a slight nod. She twiddled with her hands on her lap as she waited for the doctor to continue.
"There are two tests we need to run. One is the Upper GI series through which we'll examine the organs of his upper digestive. And the second is the Abdominal Ultrasound to diagnose pain or distention - uhm, enlargement. In simple term, we need to evaluate his kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen and abdominal aorta." Doctor Mark paused to check if Lolly was paying attention. The young lady looks a little lost but her ocean blue eyes were focused unblinkingly on him.
"It is important we run these test as soon as possible so we can treat the root cause of Skylar's constant vomiting appropriately than the symptoms alone. So I suggest we run the test tomorrow at 1 pm. Is that okay by you, Ms Lolly?
"Do I have a choice, Doctor?" Lolly sighed deeply. "Skylar is my only family. His health matters most to me. Are there associated risk with these test," she enquired.
Dr Mark was impressed with her question. Seems this lady has a good head on her shoulder.
"Yes."
He is not one of those doctors that sugarcoat words for patients. Based on discretion, he prefer to lay the options out on the table so his clients holds the freedom of sound decision on their own. Observing the young lady's face, he went ahead to explain.
"There are usually no known effect with the Abdominal Ultrasound since it's more like taking a picture of the abdomen. But with the upper GI series, occasionally patients may be allergic to some flavoring added to barium - a mixture used during the test. There is also a slight chance that some barium could be retained, leading to a blockage of the digestive system, and of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk."
Lolly kept silent as she considers her options. Finally, she sighed and said, "I'd love to know if something is really wrong with my brother so I know what I'm up against."
What do you need me to do?" she quietly asked?
"Nothing much. Just ensure Skylar doesn't eat anything eight hours before the test."
"Alright, Doctor. If that's all, I'd love to go be with my brother now," she said standing up. The doctor nodded and waved her off. Lolly absent-mindedly ambled down the hallway leading to Skylar's room. The nightmare never seems to end.
I guess I'll have to pawn the golden earrings and bracelets my Mother left me to settle the hospital bills, she mused. They weren't ordinary jewellery, but a kind of family heirloom from her maternal family. She never met her maternal family because they disowned her mother when she ran off with a loser like her father. Blind love can be so damaging. See where it landed her mother - 6ft beneath the ground.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
iamStephanie
iamStephanie I apologize for this week's sparse updates.
I had 3 proposals this week to prepare at work that gave me no breathing space. But I promise - you'll have two chapters today. This is the first one.
The second chapter will follow soon.
Check out my other book too: SHACKLED: The Curse of Haddon.
Please rate, vote and comment as you read.
It'll be a great motivation for me.
Keep Safe!
Gracias!
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