“Go get ready, have a cup of coffee. We have the Mickelsons coming in at half past,” Dr. Cobb told me before vanishing back into the storage room.
“And here’s the rest of the appointments,” Ani added, handing me a Post-It.
“Thanks.” I looked it over, making plans on how to approach the day.
The Mickelson family consisted of two dads and one kid, with another on the way. The dad who was pregnant had come across some horrible people in their previous clinic ever since he started to transition and then later found out he was pregnant with their second child.
They were raising their first child as gender neutrally as possible, and at three, they were presenting pretty much according to their gender assigned at birth. Apparently that fluctuated, because they had all kinds of toys and clothes at home, and nothing was off limits. Gender expression was what the kid wanted it to be, basically,ifhe wanted anything at all.
After seeing so many children stuck into pre-existing boxes whether they liked it or not, without regard to their wellbeing in some cases, I felt grateful for parents like the Mickelsons.
When everyone assumed I’d seen “all the things” during my year in the ER in New York, they were right. I’d seen things I never wanted to see again, and this clinic was a great step in the right direction when it came to LGBTQ healthcare.
I had my coffee, then made a note to ask another patient some follow up questions about their underlying health issues, and off I went.
The ultrasound of the Mickelsons’ baby looked perfect and I told them so.
“They’re going to be so happy being born to such an accepting family,” I told Sage, the pregnant dad, while his doting husband Clarke beamed on his other side.
“Daddies, look!” their kid who wanted to be called Otto today, ran in, holding a sticker. “Ani gots me a sticker!”
I smiled and started to print out the baby’s picture for them, listening to them chat among themselves.
They were lovely people, and I felt proud being able to provide such inclusive service for them.
“So, Otto, you want another sticker?” Dr. Cobb asked from the doorway after Sage finished righting his clothing.
Otto’s eyes widened into saucers, and we all chuckled. “Anotherone?”
“Yup, but it’s gonna be tricky,” Dr. Cobb warned. “You sure you can do it?”
“I can!” Otto turned to their parents for confirmation. They both nodded, so Otto nodded vigorously, then took in a deep breath as if to steel himself for battle. He held out the first sticker to Clarke. “Papa, you take care of dis; I gotta get another one.”
“All right, let’s go see what Dr. Cobb has in mind,” Sage encouraged the kid, and they moved to the examination room.
Dr. Cobb was going to look into Otto’s ears, because they’d had an infection the last time they came over. Getting a second sticker would surely be worth one more look into their ears?
Luckily, we’d been right; Otto braved the experience and got their second sticker. I cleaned the surfaces and made sure everything was in order while they made their next appointment with Ani, and went to say bye just in time for Mrs. Knight to step inside.
She was an elderly woman who had lived in a heterosexual relationship for fifty years, then tried to figure out her identity after her husband passed away.
“Mrs. Knight, how lovely to see you,” I said, beaming at her, because she was a delight.
“Ah, River, give me your arm and lead me to the closest seat, please,” she replied, her walking stick thumping on the ground with every step.
She didn’t need help, nor did she actually mean the closest seat. I went to give her my arm anyway and led her to the examination room.
“Dr. Cobb will be right with us with the blood test results,” I told her as I helped her sit on the edge of the table I’d lowered beforehand.
“Pshaw.” She waved her hand dismissively. “At my age, I know what they’re going to say.”
I widened my eyes dramatically. “At forty-five?”
Her cackle was music to my ears. She flushed with joy as she reached her wrinkly hand to pat my arm. “You’re a good egg, River.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Knight.”
As she’d said, her blood tests had nothing new on them. She’d changed clinics to us because she didn’t like the new doctor at her old one, and she’d wanted to be “among her people.”
