“The basic problem is that the toxin seems to be destroying her platelets as fast as we give them,” Walter said.
“It’s true,” Sidney said. “There’s no way to know if this was an intracranial hemorrhage or a platelet embolus.”
“Or a combination of the two,” Walter suggested.
“That’s a possibility,” Sidney admitted.
“One way or another,” Walter added, “the rapid destruction of her platelets must be forming a sludge in her microcirculation. We’re into that cascading major organ failure situation that we hate to see.
“Kidney and liver function is definitely going down,” Arthur said. “The peritoneal dialysis is not keeping up.”
Kim had to steel himself to curtail his anger at this self-serving dialectic. It certainly wasn’t helping his daughter. He tried to think and remain rational.
“If the peritoneal dialysis is not working,” Kim said in a deceptively calm voice, “perhaps we should transfer her to the Suburban Hospital and get her on a dialysis machine.”
“That’s out of the question,” Claire said. “She’s too critical to be transferred.”
“Well, it seems to me we-have to do something,” Kim shot back, his anger bubbling to the surface.
“I think we are doing all we can,” Claire said. “We’re actively supporting her respiratory and kidney functions, and replacing her platelets.”
“What about plasmaphoresis?” Kim said.
Claire looked at Walter.
“AmeriCare is reluctant to authorize it,” Walter said.
“Screw AmeriCare,” Kim spat. “If there’s a chance you think it could help, let’s do it.”
“Hold on, Dr. Reggis,” Walter said. The gray-haired man shifted his weight. He was obviously uncomfortable about this issue. “AmeriCare owns this hospital. We can’t just go thumbing our noses at their rules. Plasmaphoresis is expensive and experimental. With lay families, I’m not even supposed to bring it up.”
“How do we go about getting them to authorize it?” Kim questioned. “I’ll pay for it myself if it can help.”
“I’d have to call Dr. Norman Shapiro,” Walter said. “He’s the chairman of the AmeriCare Review Board.”
“Call him!” Kim barked. “Right now!”
Walter looked at Claire. Claire shrugged. “I suppose a call can’t hurt.”
“Okay by me,” Walter said. He left the room to use the phone at the ICU desk.
“Dr. Reggis, plasmaphoresis is grasping at straws,” Claire said. “I think it’s only fair to tell you and your former wife that you should be preparing yourselves for all eventualities.”
Kim saw red. He was in no frame of mind to “prepare himself” as Claire euphemistically suggested. Instead he wanted to strike out at the people responsible for Becky’s sorry state, and at that moment his nearest targets were the doctors in that very room.
“You do understand what I’m saying, don’t you?” Claire asked gently.
Kim didn’t answer. In a suddenly clairvoyant moment, he comprehended the absurdity of blaming these doctors for Becky’s plight, especially when he knew where the fault lay.
Without warning, Kim broke away from Claire and rushed out of the ICU. He was beside himself with anger, frustration, and his humiliating sense of impotence. He started down the hall.
Tracy was still in the waiting room. She spotted Kim’s hasty exit and immediately knew he was in a rage. When he passed by without a glance, she ran to catch up to him. She was afraid of what he might do.
“Kim. stop! Where are you going?” She pulled on his sleeve.
“Out,” he said, breaking away.
“Where?”
Tracy had to run merely to keep up with Kim’s determined stride. The look on his face frightened her. For the moment she forgot her own grief.
“I’ve got to do something,” he said. “I can’t just sit here and wring my hands. Right now I can’t help Becky medically, but by God I’m going to find out how she got sick.”
“How are you going to find out?” Tracy asked. “Kim, you have to calm down.”
“Kathleen told me the E. coli problem is mainly a problem with ground meat,” Kim said.
“Everybody knows that,” Tracy said.
“Yeah, well, I guess I didn’t,” Kim said. “And remember when I told you that a week ago I took Becky to the Onion Ring on Prairie Highway? She had a burger, and it was rare. That had to have been when she got sick.”