Color Blind(44)
“Dr. Newton’s office, this is Samantha, how may I help you?” a polite young woman answered the phone.
“Hi, this is Kimberly Harris. My daughter Nevaeh Harris started seeing Dr. Newton a couple of months ago for AS. She’s having a flare-up so I wanted to call and see if it was necessary to make her an appointment.”
After the chipper woman had gathered all of Nevaeh’s information and symptoms, she asked me for a call-back number so the doctor could call me back. Shortly after hanging up, Lorraine was walking up the front steps when I spotted her.
“Come on in,” I called to my friend as she opened the front door.
A chilly gust of cold St. Louis air blew into the house, promising to instantly cool the heated room.
“Oh my goodness! It’s so cold outside,” Lorraine said, shivering as she took off her black goose down coat.
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed. “Nevaeh’s in her room. I called the doctor’s office as I was getting ready for work. I gave them the home number to call back on in case he calls while I’m busy at work. I figured you could keep the phone nearby and answer when he calls.”
“Sure. What do you want me to do?”
“Just answer any questions he has and see if she needs to be seen,” I said as I filled her in on Nevaeh’s most recent doses of medication and her latest symptoms.
“Will do. I’ll keep the little monster entertained, and I’ll call you once I hear from the doctor.”
“Thanks,” I said, slipping on my tan winter boots before heading to work.
Anxiously waiting while I served and bussed tables, I wondered how Nevaeh was doing and when the doctor would finally call back. Every chance I got, I pulled my cell phone out of my waitress apron to see if there were any missed calls. By the time my lunch break rolled around, I had called to check on Nevaeh and see if the doctor had called.
“How’s she doing?” I asked Lorraine.
“She’s been complaining a lot about how much pain she’s in and how stiff she is. I feel sorry that I can’t give her more medicine.”
“I know,” I agreed. “Has the doctor called back yet?”
“Nope, not yet. How’s work been?”
“Busy! But I’m glad. With Christmas right around the corner, I need to finish up my shopping for Nevaeh. I was actually hoping to get her at least one of her significant items on her wish list.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Listen, I have to get back out there. We’ve been so busy that I think every Christmas shopper from here to Cape is coming in for lunch today. I’ll talk to you later.”
That was the last time I would get to call Lorraine for the day. The lunch rush was overwhelming as guests waited in the front lobby to be seated at the next available table. I was relieved when I had a missed call on my phone from Lorraine. I checked to see if she had messaged me since I was unable to talk, and she had. Anxious to see what she had to say, I snuck into the bathroom to read the message.
“The doctor said that he will need to see her. He scheduled her an appointment for December 23rd and 11 AM. I hope that’s okay.”
Crap, that’s right in the middle of my work shift! I have to take her to that appointment. Kevin’s going to see red if I miss more work. Maybe I’ll see if Rachel will trade with me again so I don’t accrue any more points. I’ll have to ask her tomorrow.
On my way home, I called Lorraine to get the scoop on exactly what the doctor said.
“He said that he definitely wants to see her, especially when he learned how severe her pain, swelling, and stiffness was.”
“I figured he would,” I sighed.
“There’s more. He said that he wants to do more testing.”
“What kind of testing?” I interrupted her.
“Another MRI and more X-rays, as well as labs.”
“Good God, I can’t keep affording this. If they want a damn co-pay every time, there’s no way I can swing that.”
“Well, how are you on her other bills? It might not be so bad if you budget it in.” Lorraine suggested.
“Right. Let’s see. How am I on her other bills? Um, well, I owe the hospital around nineteen hundred dollars for her last MRI and set of X-rays and I still owe the lab for her original set of blood tests from when her pediatrician saw her. There’s also the two specialist visits that I owe for. That was only four hundred and fifty bucks, but thanks to my nifty insurance, I only have to pay three hundred.”
Lorraine could hear the frustration in Kimberly’s voice. She wished her and her husband could help her financially, but they couldn’t since Lorraine had bills of her own.