Chapter 15

Dot looked at Doctor Markus. “what do you mean … they said there was some trouble and that’s why they started him on dialysis … he didn't explain exactly what he meant...” She explained to my doctor. “He just said this is what we are going to do....”

Doctor Markus looked at us both “did he just tell you or did he explain it to Jon?”

“uh he didn't explain it to me …. he just told Richie that there was problems with Jon's kidneys and then told me that he was going to have a lot of issues because of taking the steroids.” She grasped my hand in hers trying to give and receive support. Richie stood to the left of my bed. His hand resting on my shoulder.

Doctor Markus shook his head “that is not how you treat patients you have to explain things and especially with you Jon... I know what you're like you need to know..” When I nodded my head vehemently he grinned. He shook his head at me then sighed his face going somber once more. “do you want to wait till your parents get here Jon or do you want to talk about this now?” I looked at Dottie then lifted my eyes up to look at Richie. I knew that Richie would tell them whatever was needed and no matter how much I want to argue the point Dottie and Richie would be the ones helping me handle all of this. I motioned for my board.

I wrote on it slowly taking my time. “just tell me I can or rather Richie will fill them in when they get here.” I sighed showing him what I said. He nodded and put the folder in his lap.

“its not good news Jon the only good news we have right now is with the amount of fluids they ran through you the steroids are gone.” He shook his head “the other news isn't so great ….” He lifted his head to look right at me. “right now Jon your kidneys are not working the way they should. They aren't flushing the toxins out of your body which is why you were probably in pain..” I just nodded my hand going to my back again. They had to have given me something as it didn't hurt as much as it did at the other hospital. “I am going to run more tests but we are going to keep you on the dialysis but I am going to up it to every two hours ...and we are going to keep an eye on your catheter. Jon I am not going to lie to you … you have a long road ahead of you to recovery... not only are your kidneys malfunctioning but you are only one hundred and twenty pounds.”

“But the last doctor said he was at one hundred twenty five...” I could hear Richie sounding annoyed by me.

“Yes it said that in his chart but he's lost five more pounds Richie if he's not eating enough then the body takes away what it needs for energy. Right now Jon's body is trying to heal itself and he doesn't have a lot of fuel to do that so it does what it needs.”

I tapped on my board “what do I need to do to get better Doc?” I wrote and held it up. I know the other doctor probably told me all this before but I was too busy trying to get the hell out of that place to listen. That and treating me like a child tended to piss me off. Yes granted Doc here would but that’s an unfortunate side effect of him taking care of me so long.

“right now we need to run a couple tests and you need to start eating more than just broth and tea. Once we get you at a more acceptable weight that would be good.. we will also be running more tests on your heart, liver kidneys and other organs we want to catch anything before there is a problem...” I just nodded. He was talking to me letting me know the plans not just doing it and that gave me back some of the control I needed to get back on my feet. When my parents got there with Tico and Dave, Richie along with Dottie explained to them what the game plan was. My mom just leaned over and hugged me. I hated what this was doing to my family. My mom looked like she had been crying again and my dad looked like he'd aged a couple years.

The next few days were just the same tests and more tests. I was able to get rid of the oxygen finally and was able to sit up in a chair by the bed. The only downside is no matter where I sat I had to keep my bag with me. They started me on something a bit more substantial called mush okay that was what I called it but it looked like smooshed oatmeal but it was better than being stuck on a liquid diet. It tasted bland and disgusting but I ate it without complaint I had to gain weight back. I still was on pain killers cause my back was hurting like hell and Doc was worried about that. I could tell that he was right when he said something was up with my kidneys I had never had trouble taking a piss before but now it hurt like someone stabbing me in the back.

Another issue was I was not able to stand looking down at my legs were scary as my ankles and feet kept swelling which Doctor Markus said was a warning sign there was a problem with kidneys. He had set me down and explained to me that I have a couple options if it gets worse I had to keep up the dialysis because it was helping but if they didn't start to work the way they should the only option I had was something I really didn't want to think about.

I was setting in the chair by the window a week or two later as I was now in a private room in the hospital back out of the ICU. I had sent Dorothea to go home I promised and swore I was not going to leave the hospital now that I was at one that was actually listening to me and not treating me like I was some fuckin psych patient and doctors and nurses I knew. I was chilling in the chair by the window when the door opened and Richie walked in. No matter how many times I told him to go home he still wouldn’t. He stayed with me and we talked. Or rather he talked and I wrote on the stupid board. I waved at him then looked back out the window it was a nice sunny day and I ached to be out there riding my bike or just going for a run. It felt like I had been in the hospital for a long time when it had barely been a week or three.

“how you feelin today ...” Richie sat down in the chair by me. I just shrugged wincing as I moved my legs as they were elevated as they were swollen again. He lifted the blanket that covered them and winced “Swollen still..” I just nodded. “what Doctor say?”

I looked at the window I didn't want to tell them what Doctor had talked to me about last night. My kidneys were not fixing themselves I had to little urine in the stupid bag. My kidneys were failing and I didn't know what was going to happen next. How the fuck had this gotten so bad.