Chapter 52

I was eating my breakfast when Doctor Kohn came in with another folder. D was resting on the side of the bed now. I set my fork down watching her as she checked the bag at the side of the bed. “Doc ..”

She looked up at me. “yes Jon....” She lifted the clipboard off the end of my bed and started writing on it. I h ad no idea what she was writing but she didn't look happy about it. She folded her arms waiting for me to speak.

I swallowed looking at my wife who was watching me. I took a deep breath . “I talked with Dottie … I am sorry ...” I rested against my pillows I itched to pull that damn thing out it was uncomfortable even though I was used to it slightly from before. “I promised her no more fighting .. and just concentrating on getting well....”

“no matter what it takes?” She asked.

“No matter what it takes ...” I said reluctantly. I didn't know what that meant but I did know I wasn't going to like it. I shifted to sit up wincing putting my hand on my left side it really did hurt like hell there. I didn't say anything as Doctor Kohn moved over to help me sit up better. I rested my head back.

“Jon I am not going to lie to you … you could have seriously done damage to your body and to the kidney you received right now its very swollen … its NOT being rejected...” I took a breath of relief on that account. “But it is acting up .. so we will have to put you on dialysis to ease some of the struggle its going through right now … once the swelling goes down and your output picks up we will stop and you'll feel better...”

“can can' you do that here ?” I asked hoping and praying that she would be able to. I really didn't want to go back to the hospital. I had seen a few of the other patients on dialysis machines one of the patients I had done therapy with had the same issue I did only he was still doing it once every few weeks.

“If I agree to do this here Jon there will be rules you will have to follow one is you are going to be on bed rest till we can get this situation fixed and there will be no bitching about it no bellyaching that you want out of the bed or out of the room... or I will transfer you to Riverview so fast it will make your head spin....” I nodded my head “secondly Mike will come in and help you with therapy in the bed we will still work with your legs and arms slowly while you are resting just not out of the bed .. and I want you to rest … no arguments …. you over did it and that has set you back … we don't want you to end up doing more damage to your body... we are just getting you to the point where you were able to walk down the bars you were gaining the weight that you needed …. we don't want a relapse. We are not doing this to piss you off Jon we are doing this because we want you to be able to walk out of this center and get back to your life even with the challenges you'll face the rest of your life...” She turned to me “DO we have a deal?”

"sure doc.. we do." she smiled a wry smile as she returned the chart board to the end of my bed. Dot sat up as she left.

"did I hear right Jon?"

"What? not sure on what she had heard and what she hadn't?, "that 1. you agree to Docs demands and 2. that you seriously have risked your life for an award?"

I was starting to feel irked, "thought you already knew Dot, that's why you came here to see me, to tell me about the spotting and the baby and stuff...."

moving my food tray away, I had no appetite  right now, Looking me in the eyes dot answered, "I had a suspicion, but I was not one hundred percent sure of the seriousness of it all. now I know, Jon you gotta promise..."

"I already have Dot, you heard me."

"mmm but I've heard all that before too.... Jon I beg you, for the sake our child and for me, do everything your told..."

I was feeling scalded like a two year old and it didn't sit well with me, but swallowing hard I looked dot back, right in the eye and made her the very same promise I had made the doc.

Kissing me on the lips, she got off the bed, "time I was away, this lil one keeps me up most nights, if it aint acid, its feeling pukey... " she was smiling as she spoke

I smiled right back at D, "it will be so worth it when baby Bongiovi arrives D, and I promise you I will be the very best Dad I can be..."

She smiled again, and flipping her hair over her shoulders she lent down and gave me another kiss, before she walked to the door, turned and waved and blew me another kiss as she left.

 

With her gone, I was left with a plate of half eaten food, and a cold coffee, great, Terri walked in as I was pulling the table back towards me. " Jon, what's with the half left food?" "Doc came to see me, we got talking and its cold now."

"Want me to go reheat it?"

I nodded my head, "Can I have a fresh coffee too?"

"Sure"

taking the food tray and the cold beverage, I snapped the TV on and watched some old movie that was on. My mind was not focused on the movie though but on everything that had happened today. Why did I always over think things? Why couldn't I just listen and do as I was asked?, answering my own silent question, "because I am a stubborn dumbass." just as Terri came back in with my food and fresh coffee.

"I miss something? who's a stubborn dumbass?, not you surely?"

I flushed, but nodded my head in agreement, Terri placed the tray on the table and slid it closer to me,

"my, my we have progress, does that mean, your gonna be a model patient from now on?" again I nodded as I took a bite of my food.

"Looks that way, can you handle a good patient Terri?"

She laughed as she walked to the door, turning to look back she winked, " can you? "

I grinned as I replied.. "Just watch me."

 

 

 

 

Chapter 51

"well doc?" the suspense was killing me. She looked at me, her face set in a hard frown causing her mouth to form in a thin line and a deep burrowed frown in her forehead.
"honestly Jon, I really don't know."
"Doc I swear, I'll do anything you ask me too. Please, I'm begging you, don't send me back..."
"I'll think about it, you will have my answer by dinner time. with that she left my room.
"Rich, can you talk to her?, get her to see..."
"Hey tough call Jon, I aint no medical guru...."
"No but you know what going back there will do to me right?"
"But it aint my call bro, sorry nothing I can do."
"Wont more like...."
"Hey what's with the attitude?"
I turned my face away from him.... I knew it was my own fault, but none the less we were friends and friends looked out for each other. that's how I was brought up anyway.
"Jon, explain the attitude? cause right now bro you are giving out way more than I can take"
snapping my head back round I spat back at him....
"And having no control over my own fucking life is more than I can take too, everyone thinks they no better..."
"thinks they know better?, try they do Jon, they are trained professionals, they have a vested interest in you, but do you appreciate that? no sir, you seem hell bent on defying them to risk your life " Rich was mad and made no bones about it, when he paced it was a real bad sign.... he carried on, " they save your life, fuck man I helped them do that, are you grateful?, well are you?"
without me having a chance to answer he continued... "no fucking way, but what you are Jon is full of your own self fucking pity and I for one have had my belly full of it. when you grow up Jon, give me a call." rich spun on his hells and left my room.

I was left reeling and in a state of shock. where had that come from. Was I really that much of a diva, having spent most of life keeping my feet on the ground, how did I miss that then? I was thinking on it when Teri came in.

"no activity for you today then?" I sat silent just staring at the ceiling. "Jon?"
my eyes flicked to look at Teri, mumbling my reply she stood at the end of my bed her hands on her hips and a frown on her face too.
"What?, what is with everyone today?"
"What's with the attitude more like Jon? What's gotten into you today?"
"Nothing, I'm just outta sorts I guess, I can have an off day can't I?"
"hmmm nothing to do with having to return to hospital then?"
"I'm definitely going then?"
"I dunno know Jon, I've heard it being talked about. Doc really is pissed at you."
"Look Teri I fucked up, I know that, but I really don't wanna go back there, can you help me?"
"Jon, I wish I could, but this is serious bud, Doc will make the right choice, to help though I would change your mind set and prove to her she has backed the right horse, you hear what I'm saying?"
I nodded my head, "Right I'll be back with your tray shortly ok?"
"Yeah, ok."
As Teri left D walked in, I could not stop myself... "Great judging by your face your gonna have a go too...alright then out with it?"
"Well hello nice to see you too Jon. Actually I was coming to show you a picture of your baby.... I had our first scan today."
my temper dropped instantly, but I was alarmed,
"that's early aint it?"
"Doc says no, I had a little spotting and they just wanted to check everything was ok?"
"And?"
"Everything is fine..."
I brightened up immediately, "So you got the picture?"
"Sure," D came and sat on the bed, and pulled out the picture from her purse.
"Daddy meet your baby..."
I took the picture in my hands and looked at the grey fuzzy image in front on me, tears sprang to my eye's as I looked at the picture and then at Dot.
"Its a...."
"Miracle.... I know, so what do you say Jon?"
"Say?, I don't follow?"
"Oh you do, your attitude, being pig headed and a dumbass?"
"Oh that?"
"Yes Oh that?"
"I'm sorry babe, but it's hard for me, ya know, don't do this, don't do that..."
"But why do they say that to you Jon?"
"To piss me off...no forget that, I know why, and I will try harder.. I will"
D looked at me seriously,
"Jon, I'm gonna level with ya ok?"
she took my hand, "I had spotting...."
"Spotting? What's that mean?"
"Spots of blood, Dr thinks its because of stress, I need to be calm, ok?,  no more fights between you wanting to do your own thing,..... fighting the Dr's,....." her eye's were pleading with me, " I need, no your baby and me need you to focus on getting well, we need you home, Ok, can you do that for us.... Please?"
I swallowed hard, D's pleas sinking in, we nearly lost our baby because of me being an ass. I took no time in replying, as I brought her hand to my lips, and made my vow and promise,
"D I love you more than anything, and our baby, from this moment on whatever the Doc say's I'll do no arguments I promise, that's  from the bottom of my heart. "
"Even if it means you gotta go back to hospital?"
"even that..." I smiled at her, and I meant everything I said, from now on I was gonna be a model patient, I had to get home and see my child born. I was gonna be a daddy after all.