COMPASSION
Chapter 17
Darren was in his clinic one morning after he'd dropped both boys off at school. To make life easier for transport, Katelyn had a specially adapted vehicle to take a wheelchair, and a spare was kept at school, so that Darren or Jack could drop the boys and Katelyn could pick them up.
The `phone rang and Darren was talking to Terrence Arnold.
"How is that boy of yours doing Darren?"
"He's good Terence. He has an impressive upper body and he rides again. He also has enough confidence to go back to school. We're pleased with him. His state of mind is all we can expect."
"No improvement in his lower body?"
"No unfortunately. We keep him in physio so the legs are still strong, but of course there is no feeling to allow him to even stand."
"That's what I wanted to hear. Darren, I have a machine here at Johns Hopkins. It's new, it's crude, but we are sure it will work. I need a human guinea pig to try it. All tests on animals have been successful so we know there will be no more damage to the individual, but we know nothing beyond that. I'd like to try it on Michael. We can't make anything worse but I'm truly confidant we can make it a whole lot better. Would you be willing to bring him to Baltimore for me to operate on him again?"
"I need to talk to Jack, and I need more details, but in principle yes."
"Good, details will be in your email box by the time we hang up. Please let me know quickly. If this is successful we are going to put wheelchair manufacturers out of business."
Being in his 50s didn't stop Darren behaving like a big kid. He saw his last patient and then called Jack.
"I need to talk to you lover, where are you?"
"I'm at the Clinton ranch."
"Good, I'll be there in ten."
He didn't wait for a reply, he just jumped into his car and true to his word he was talking to Brad and Jack a little over ten minutes later.
"We were just talking about this hellion Brad has raised," pointing to Brad Clinton III breaking in a bronco. "I was telling Brad, Michael would be like that if we allowed him to, even with his disability."
"Perhaps we'd better keep him in a wheelchair then, but Terence Arnold thinks he may be able to get Mike back on his feet."
Jack was shocked speechless. He just looked at Darren as though he was mad.
"He has a new machine that he thinks can join Mike's nerve ends again. I don't have details yet, but he says whatever happens Mike won't be worse off than he is now, and might be a whole lot better."
Jack thought about it.
"Great in principle but what will it do to Mike if they operate and there is no improvement, that would devastate him and possibly undo what we've achieved this last year."
"I thought about that on the way here. We have to take him to Baltimore if we go for it. We could just tell him Terence Arnold wanted to have a look at him to make sure everything internally was no worse."
"Mmm, I'm not sure that would fool him, he's a pretty canny kid."
"I don't see us having any other choice Jack."
More thought.
"Ok Darren, I trust your judgement, and we'll just have to sound convincing to Michael. Let's try to make a bit of a holiday out of it and take Paul with us. A few days out of school isn't going to hurt that much and I can leave techs in charge here."
Brad looked between his two friends and hoped beyond hope that the boy they both loved so much would walk again.
"I'll pray for Michael, Jack."
Jack nodded, too overcome to speak now that he was thinking about Michael walking again.
The family decamped to Baltimore taking a luxury three bedroomed suite at a premier hotel. They did the tourist bit for a couple of days while Terence set up the operation. He had checked Michael on his first day and professed pleasure at the state of his legs.
"You could take them off Doc. they aren't any use, just a load of extra weight for me to lug around."
Jack, Darren and Terence Arnold were quite shocked that Michael would even think it, never mind say it.
"Interesting thought Mike, but you would look all wrong without legs, so even if they are only window dressing I suggest you hang on to them for now."
Terence was laughing as he said it and Mike joined him as the two dads sighed with relief.
"Why you are here though is so that I can have a look inside. I just want to make sure the spinal sheaf I put in six years ago is still good, otherwise you could start getting a lot of pain just above the paralysed area."
`Nice lie Terence' was the same thought running through Darren and Jack's minds.
"Go and enjoy yourself for a couple of days then come to see me again on Wednesday morning at 0800. I'll open you up again at 1000, and probably release you again in time for dinner with your folks."
Terence Arnold had obviously used this approach before, it sounded so true.
By 1000 on Wednesday morning, Jack, Darren and Katelyn were like cats on a hot tin roof. Paul couldn't fail to pick up on it.
"Ok you three, what's going on that you haven't told me?"
Jack looked at Darren and gave the nod.
"Sit down son. We are hoping that when Mike rejoins us he will be well on the way to walking again. We daren't tell either of you before because if it doesn't work Mike would be devastated, and with you, we were sure you would bubble over and let the cat out of the bag. If it doesn't work you must never tell Mike, it could do so much psychological damage."
Paul was almost beside himself with joy at the thought of Mike walking again.
Just after lunch Terence joined the family in the restaurant. He was all smiles. The others all wanted to talk at once until laughing he told them all to calm down.
"We don't know how successful we've been, only that Michael reacts to touch on his legs. He's still unconscious, but I expect him to come round in another hour or two. Enjoy your lunch and join me in his room at, shall we say 1400."
They were over the moon, but Jack was the voice of caution.
"Some response doesn't mean he's going to walk. Let's remain calm. Under no circumstances are we to load Mike with too heavy expectations."
They could all see the sense in that and were a very sober foursome entering Mike's room at 1400. He was awake and looking oddly at his legs but not daring to touch.
Terence came in with some equipment and addressed Michael.
"Mike, I'm going to uncover your legs and run some tests, just tell me what you feel."
"Don't be silly Doc, I haven't felt anything there for six years."
Terence stuck a pin in his right thigh.
"Ouch, that hurt."
In quick succession he did the same thing in the calf and the bottom of the foot. Mike stopped yelling and looked round the room at all the grinning faces.
"Better do the left leg Terence, I don't want my boy walking lop sided."
Terence did with the same result. That was when Mike and Paul burst into tears.
"Am I really going to walk again?"
"Is he really going to walk again?"
Said simultaneously by Mike and Paul.
"Now, calm down and let me finish, but the short answer for now is, `probably'."
Terence checked the response in more detail, rolled Mike over to look at the back, and out of devilment and joy at his success pricked Mike in each cheek, getting the required response, a boyish squeal.
"Alright, this is the score. Nerve response is good. A little weaker in the left leg than the right, but not a lot. I think there is a very strong possibility that you will walk again Michael. At the moment I can't say how well, or how long it will take. You are going to need a huge amount of physiotherapy and for the first week I would like that to be here. I will show Dr. Michaels what is required and then if you have the equipment locally you can go home. Now the words of caution. You must follow the routine I am going to give your father. If you push too hard to speed things up you could end up back in a wheel chair. We have to give your spine time to strengthen again. Remember you haven't used the lower part of your body for six years. I will get regular reports on you but until I give the all clear, no horse riding, no sport, as much walking as you can manage, and all the daily exercises your physio will give you. Darren and Jack, I have a fully qualified physio that I could spare for a year. If you would like to take over his contract you can take him and I will employ him again when you no longer need him."
Darren looked at Jack, got the nod and agreed to take him.
When they left Michael, on the understanding they would be back and dinner would be served in his room, Paul regressed six years and bounced around like the eleven year old he had been when Mike last walked.
"Oh gosh Dad, Pa, isn't this awesome, my big brother is going to walk again."
It did sound too good to be true and Jack kept his scepticism to himself.
The family stayed for the first couple of days, long enough to see Michael take his first painful steps between the parallel walking bars. Katelyn would remain and bring Michael home when Dr. Arnold released him.
Jack saw him privately before they left.
"There is nothing I will not do to see you fit and well again. I love you so much Michael, take care."
Jack kissed his son and left before Mike could see the tears. Paul wanted to stay and had to be forcibly ejected and taken home. ********************************************************************************