‘Well, no, actually, they’re not, but I can see why you’re worried.’ Ally chose her words carefully. ‘The first big difference is that Kelly’s steroids are inhaled, and there are fewer side effects when the drugs are taken that way.’
‘But they could still affect her growth, couldn’t they?’
‘It’s possible,’ Ally said honestly, ‘although I doubt it at the doses that Kelly takes. Studies have shown that untreated asthma can also affect children’s growth patterns.’
Mrs Watson frowned. ‘What, you mean it could affect her growth if she doesn’t take them?’
Ally nodded. ‘That’s right. But on top of that there’s the stress and fear every time she has an attack. It’s frightening for all of you.’
‘And you don’t think the drugs will make her like my nephew?’
‘No, I don’t. I think what’s essential here is to find just the right level of drugs to control Kelly’s asthma and give her that and no more. That’s the principle of good asthma management.’
Mrs Watson stared at her and then nodded slowly. ‘Yes. I see that now. I’ve been very silly, haven’t I?’
‘You were worrying about Kelly and I understand that, but next time you have a fear like that come and talk it through with me.’ Ally stood up and picked up her bag. ‘Now, why don’t you bring Kelly to our next asthma clinic and we’ll start from scratch again.’
Mrs Watson nodded. ‘I’ll do that. Thanks, Dr McGuire.’
Ally climbed back into her car, feeling a sense of relief. Maybe now little Kelly could start living a normal life again.
After seeing a man with chest pains, whom she admitted to hospital, and a toddler with an ear infection she called in on the Thompsons.
Mary answered the door and her face brightened. ‘Oh, hello, Dr McGuire. We weren’t expecting you.’
‘I was in the area so I thought I’d call.’ Ally followed her through into the kitchen.
‘Geoff’s out, actually.’
Something about Mary’s overly casual tone made Ally’s eyes narrow. ‘Anywhere nice?’
‘Oh, you know…’ Mary giggled nervously and flicked the switch on the kettle. ‘Would you join me for a coffee?’
‘I’d love one,’ Ally said honestly. She’d skipped having one at the surgery because she hadn’t wanted to bump into Sean. ‘So how are things?’
‘Fine,’ Mary said with a bright smile, and then she met Ally’s eyes and her smile faded. ‘No, they’re not fine, actually.’
‘Is he drinking again?’ Ally’s voice was gentle but Mary shook her head.
‘No. Well, at least he certainly isn’t at home.’ She frowned and thought for a moment. ‘No, I know he isn’t. I’ve lived with it for long enough. I’d recognise the signs.’
‘So what’s worrying you?’ Ally took the mug of coffee Mary offered but declined a biscuit. ‘Thanks.’
Mary sagged onto one of the kitchen stools, her face tired and pale. ‘He just doesn’t seem himself.’
‘In what way?’
Mary stared into her coffee. ‘Well, he’s very flat. My Geoff’s always the life and soul of the party, you know? Even through all this he’s managed to put a brave face on it for most of the time. We’ll sort all this out, Mary, he keeps saying, but the last few days…’
‘Is he sleeping?’
Mary shook her head. ‘No. He waits until he thinks I’m asleep and then he gets up and comes down here. I’ve heard him pacing around at four in the morning, but he always denies it when I try and talk to him.’
Ally took a sip of coffee. ‘Does he seem depressed to you?’
‘Yes, I suppose he does.’ Mary stared at her bleakly. ‘He’s a very proud man, Dr McGuire, and this has wrecked his confidence in himself. He thinks that everyone is talking about him, laughing—you know? It was that wretched newspaper article that did it. Before then it was our private problem but now the whole world knows.’
Ally reached across the kitchen table and squeezed her hand. ‘Well, you know as well as I do that the world isn’t interested for more than a day. He’s yesterday’s news, Mary—but I don’t suppose that’s any consolation to him.’
‘No.’
‘He’s due to come and see me this week—do you think he will?’
Mary shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He’s very independent. Doesn’t like asking for help. It was different when he was so badly affected by the alcohol, but now he thinks it’s up to him to snap out of it.’