Chapter
12
Around two that afternoon, Dr. Fergeson came into Nick’s room,
where Howie and AJ still sat.
“Hello there, Mr. Carter,” Dr. Fergeson said. “It’s good to have you awake. My name’s Maggie Fergeson, and I’ve been your
doctor since you were brought here last night.”
Nick shook her hand.
“I have the results of the tests we ran on you this morning,” Dr.
Fergeson continued, clearing her throat.
“And?” Nick asked. He was
just waiting for her to tell him that he was fine and could go home that
evening. But she said nothing like that.
“I’m afraid the tests show cirrhosis of the liver,” Dr. Fergeson said.
Nick stared blankly at her.
“In English?” he asked.
Dr. Fergeson didn’t smile.
“That means there’s been irreversible damage done to your liver, Mr.
Carter.”
Nick’s mouth dropped open.
“You’re serious?” he asked, aghast.
She nodded, gravely. Nick’s
gaze traveled to where AJ and Howie sat.
They both were looking at the floor, pained expressions on their faces.
“But… but don’t people need their livers to live?!” Nick
sputtered.
Dr. Fergeson nodded again. “That’s
why this is so serious,” she said.
“But then how will I-“
“You’ll need a liver transplant,” Dr. Fergeson injected. “You’ll go on the waiting list for one right
away.”
Nick’s mouth dropped open.
This couldn’t be happening to him!
“What happens if I don’t get one?” he asked, although he already knew
the answer, deep down.
“As time goes by, your liver will function less and less. Eventually, if you don’t receive a
transplant, you will die,” Dr. Fergeson said truthfully.
Nick felt suddenly sick to his stomach.
“You know, some people who are waiting for liver transplants
haven’t done anything wrong. Their liver
problems were caused naturally, but hepatitis, or a number of other
reasons. But yours could have been
prevented. It’s so sad when I see young
people like you come in in cardiac arrest because they’ve been binge drinking,”
Dr. Fergeson said, staring Nick in the eye.
“Many of them die. Some, like
you, have caused permanent damage to their bodies.”
Nick wadded his sheets in his fists and stared down at them, his
face hot with a mix of anger, humiliation, and fear. He said nothing.
“Could we have some time alone now?” AJ asked the doctor, none too
kindly. He didn’t like this doctor’s way
of dealing with her patients. She was
just making poor Nick feel worse than he already did!
“Certainly,” Dr. Fergeson replied crisply. “I’ll see you later, Mr. Carter.” With that, she left the room.
Nick watched as she disappeared from the room, and then the
floodgates opened, allowing hot, salty tears to spill uncontrollably down his
cheeks.
***
