Before 8:00 A.M., David and Angela called their respective offices to explain that they would be late. Bundling Nikki in multiple layers of clothing, they took her to see Dr. Pilsner. Initially their reception was not encouraging. The receptionist informed them that Dr. Pilsner had a full schedule. Nikki would have to return the following day.
Angela was not to be denied. She told the receptionist that she was Dr. Wilson from pathology and that she wanted to talk with Dr. Pilsner. The receptionist disappeared into the interior of the office. Dr. Pilsner himself appeared a moment later and apologized.
“My girl thought you folks were just the usual CMV subscriber,” Dr. Pilsner explained. “What’s the problem?”
Angela told the doctor how a sore throat had led to congestion overnight and that the congestion did not respond to the usual postural drainage. Dr. Pilsner took Nikki into one of the examining rooms and listened to her chest.
“Definitely clogged up,” he said, removing the stethoscope from his ears. Then, giving Nikki’s cheek a playful pinch, he asked her how she felt.
“I don’t feel good,” Nikki said. Her breathing was labored.
“She’s been doing so well,” Angela said.
“We’ll have her back to normal in a wink,” Dr. Pilsner said, stroking his white beard. “But I think we’d better admit her. I want to start intravenous antibiotics and some intensive respiratory therapy.”
“Whatever it takes,” David said. He stroked Nikki’s hair. He felt guilty for having insisted on the New Hampshire weekend.
Janice Sperling in admissions recognized both David and Angela. She commiserated with them about their daughter.
“We’ve got a nice room for you,” she said to Nikki. “It has a beautiful view of the mountains.”
Nikki nodded and allowed Janice to slip on a plastic identification bracelet. David checked it. The room was 204, one that indeed had a particularly pleasant view.
Thanks to Janice, the admitting procedure went smoothly. In only a few minutes they were on their way upstairs. Janice led them to room 204 and opened the door.
“Excuse me,” Janice said with confusion. Room 204 was already occupied; there was a patient in the bed.
“Mrs. Kleber,” Nikki said with surprise.
“Marjorie?” David questioned. “What on earth are you doing in here?”
“Just my luck,” Marjorie said. “The one weekend you go away, I have trouble. But Dr. Markham was very kind.”
“I’m so sorry to bother you,” Janice said to Marjorie. “I can’t understand why the computer gave me room 204 when it was already occupied.”
“No trouble,” Marjorie said. “I like the company.”
David told Marjorie he’d be back shortly. The Wilsons followed Janice to the nurses’ station where she phoned admitting.
“I want to apologize for the mix-up,” Janice said after the call. “We’ll put Nikki in room 212.”
Within minutes of their arrival in room 212, a team of nurses and technicians appeared and attended to Nikki. Antibiotics were started, and the respiratory therapist was paged.
When everything was under control, David told Nikki he’d be back to check on her periodically throughout the day. He also told her to do everything the nurses and the technicians asked her to do. He gave Angela a peck on the cheek, Nikki one on the forehead, and was on his way.
David returned directly to Marjorie’s room and gazed down at his patient. She’d become one of his favorites over the months. She appeared tiny in the large orthopedic bed. David thought that Nikki would have been dwarfed.
“Okay,” David said, feigning anger, “what’s the story here?”
“It started on Friday afternoon,” Marjorie said. “Problems always start on Friday when you are reluctant to call the doctor. I didn’t feel well at all. By Saturday morning my right leg started to hurt. When I called your office they switched me to Dr. Markham. He saw me right away. He said I had phlebitis and that I had to go into the hospital to get antibiotics.”
David examined Marjorie and confirmed the diagnosis.
“You think it was necessary for me to come into the hospital?” Marjorie asked.
“Absolutely,” David assured her. “We don’t like to take chances with phlebitis. Inflammation of veins goes hand in hand with blood clots. But it’s looking good. I’d guess it’s already improved.”