Hope

The call came on the thirty first. The New Year’s turn and the X-Rays were back. The news was dire; she went in that day. Into the Hospital she went, meeting nurses about to burst Into tears. They carried news most black. Into her bones the cancer had spread. She had naught but one question to say, Where is he? She asked. Where is my doctor? My Physician? Where? Not here said they, He is unreachable on vacation. It struck first two weeks later. Panic began to set in As the car sped off to the Hospital. Calls were made and information and tears were exchanged. The room was teeming, chair after chair filled with the most impatiently waiting patients. She sat in a wheel chair. An hour passed. Another woman complained to the Nurses at the front. She was instantly brought to the back. She had only just arrived. Still in the corner of the room she sat in a wheel chair. The hours seemed to stretch on forever. Finally she was brought back. Awaiting her eyes was just another room filled with more people. Sittingwaitingsittingwaitingsittingwaitingsittingwaiting. Around two in the morning it ended; she was brought to her own room. She had waited seven hours. She had vomited nine times. A nurse came in, asking routine questions. Who is your medical insurance provider? What is the purpose of your visit today? Reply she did with a question of her own. My doctor told me he faxed all of my information over, didn't you get it? No. Time was wasted Explanations were re-explained No treatment was given She vomited 3 more times. For 6 days in the Hospital she stayed, frequented by doctors and nurses every 15 minutes. Her calcium said they, it had given them quite a scare. Each and every doctor told her this. And to Each and every doctor she asked this. Where is MY doctor? Each and every one answered, He doesn't see patients in the Hospital. Never? Never. Each and every one asked how she was doing, how her pain was. None asked her How her family was. Woe betide the brave doctor who came in last, who dared to be different. To the nearly emaciated pain wracked woman who Had earlier sat in a wheelchair, but now lay cowering in bed she asked, Has your doctor contacted you yet? No. Woe betide her, that young doctor for next to the woman she told, He should have. Woe betide her, for she turned to the side and looked upon the boy sitting on the couch. The boy who had slept little in the past days, and worried much, His mind wracked with anxiety and concern for the woman in the bed, Never daring to leave her side. The doctor turned. She asked, How are you? And for the first time since the turn of the New Year, the boy began to hope.