Gwen got up to leave, but Troy grabbed for her hand. “No, if it’s alright with you, I want you to hear everything.” She kissed his hand and sat at his bedside.
“Troy, these are Drs. Elaine Chatfield and Morgan Peete, both from anesthesia,” Russ said. “Morgan and Jayden work together in our London office.”
The door opened again, and in walked the tiny and determined Elizabeth Reed Bailey. “Sorry I’m late, had to change the baby puke shirt.”
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at Julian’s being Mommy.”
“I’m here being Mommy. Marty is at Julian’s with the twins and Lola. We are staying until you’re on your way to recovery.” Elizabeth looked around the room.
The door opened again. Pat Hedges walked in.
“Hedges, you too?” Troy shook his head.
“What, after all that work, I wouldn’t be here for the finished product? Besides, I have the best stitching skills. I’ll make your stoma scar all pretty.” He laughed.
Elizabeth sat beside Troy. “We are all here to discuss improving the quality of your life. And we need to make sure we look at the risks and benefits. You are not a research project measuring stats. You are family. Tim, start us off.”
Troy looked away to gain his composure.
Tim opened his tablet. “This morning, vital signs within normal limits except temperature, which is holding at 101.2.” Tim rattled off all other pertinent information.
Elizabeth narrowed her gaze at Russ. “And?”
The family physician looked at Troy. “Troy has a realistic understanding of the situation. We specifically discussed there is no guarantee the colostomy will be able to be reversed. That the surgeons will do their best not to decrease current level of bladder or sexual function. We also discussed the current state of his sexual function. That will be a continued discussion whether or not the surgery occurs.
“In the event the surgery goes as expected, Dr. Personality Miller told Troy the average recovery time is six to eight weeks and that it might take longer. We also went over the possible results of the surgery, including the always-must-be-mentioned, death.” Russ squeezed Troy’s shoulder in reassurance.
Humphries repeated what he explained to Troy after his CT scan. Jack repeated the need to be careful post-op. “I’m creating a passive program, so Troy does not lose too much of what he’s gained in strength.”
Mac Novak blew out a breath. “Last night took us all by surprise. My plan is to leave the stent in place through the start of surgery. I was hoping to be able to do an angiogram and a rotor rooter of the ureters, and possibly the penile veins and arteries, after recovery. Now, I believe it’s a must-do. Doctors and Tim, we need to sit down again.”
Elizabeth nodded and turned to the anesthesiologists. Both doctors discussed the reality of his situation. “Troy, we don’t know what your lungs will do, increasing the risk. Both of us will be present in the OR to cover any possibility.
“That also brings us to table time. The more time under, the more risk. But putting you under multiple times to perform the to-do list would also be risky. We wish we could give you exact info, but we can’t. We can say you’re high risk, but if you were family, we’d take the risk,” Morgan spoke for both of them.
Beth looked into Troy’s eyes. “Hey, I ran your case with all the facility medical directors, including Hunt Montgomery, plus your team here. We all agree we should try. It’s a hard decision—and none of us can make it for you.”
Troy took Elizabeth’s hands.It took until that minute for him to realize how much these doctors were invested in him. His voice cracked. “Beth, these hands brought me to this spot. I’ve had all the conversations, and I may be pressing my luck. I’ve talked it through with my therapists and my God. I’ve heard the anesthesiologists’ concerns. I get that it may not work out, and I get that if it does, the quality of my life may be worse. I want to try.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Good.” She asked the anesthesiologists, “I’d like you to put in an epidural. It will be useful if we need to open. Also, Mac, with the epidural in place, you can perform the angiogram and remove the scar tissue, pre-anesthesia.”
“You mean so I don’t keep working like a Ken doll,”Troy joked.
“Ken doll?” Ethan Miller asked.
“Sheesh, Miller. You need to learn your pop culture references,” Sommerfeld said. “Troy, you do not have plastic genitalia.”
“Well, it feels like that sometimes,” Troy chuckled.
“Both of you. Troy, tomorrow we will send you home. I want that fever gone and the cultures back. After that, Tim will be able to handle your needs. I’m changing your diet. Today and Tuesday, light meals. Wednesday, start clear fluids. Thursday, clear fluids until you report here at 1930. Tim will explain the prep to you. Surgery, Friday at 0630.
“You can reach us around the clock. A question, fear, just to talk about fabric swatches, whatever. Depending on whether it’s a closed or open procedure, you will stay here between five to ten days. And, Troy, we will get you a laptop whenwethink you’re ready,” Hedges said.
Miller scoffed, “I don’t do swatches, but anything else is fine.”
Troy looked at every face in the room. “Thanks, everyone.”
Alone again with Gwen, Troy let out a harsh breath. “Did you get any of that?”
