Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
An hour later, Tiffanie emerged appearing completely drained. Phineas stood and walked to her side. He wrapped an arm around her as he guided her to a chair. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“They wanted to do another scan. I’m sorry you’re wasting so much time here with me,” she said. Her voice was quiet and slower than usual. Her free hand gripped her thigh as she studied the pattern of the carpet below her feet, avoiding his gaze.
Studying her drawn face, Phineas guessed, “You’re worried.” Her obvious discomfort put him on edge as well. He was obviously new to the regular procedure of a visit at this office.
“I wasn’t scheduled for a scan. Something must have shown up on the blood test.”
“Tiffanie, the doctor is ready to see you.”
Phineas stood immediately while Tiffanie hesitated for a brief second before rising to her feet. He let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her waist, guiding her after the nurse. To his surprise, she led them into an office rather than an exam room. The doctor was already there, reading information the from an open chart. A scan showed on the screen next to him.
“Hi, Tiffanie. I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long to see me. I’m sure you’re wondering what’s going on. Take a seat.”
The doctor extended his hand to Phineas. “Another brother?” he asked.
“No, I’m Tiffanie’s boyfriend. Phineas Green.”
“Nice to meet you, Phineas. I’m glad Tiffanie has great support.” The doctor waved Phineas into a seat before sitting himself.
“This has become an unusual appointment. Your bloodwork came back, and when I saw the numbers, I wanted a fresh scan to double-check the results.”
Phineas swallowed hard as he braced himself to support Tiffanie whatever the news would be. He reached out to link her fingers with his. She’s suffered enough. Please.
“The cancer has spread?” Tiffanie blurted out. Her voice sounded thready and panicked.
“No. I’m sorry. I should have met with you first, but I had an emergency to deal with, unfortunately. Your bloodwork showed you are low in a few things: iron and B12. What didn’t make an appearance was the cancer marker we’ve been fighting.”
The doctor paused to let her absorb that information before adding, “I ordered the scan to see what’s going on. Three radiologists reviewed the results, and not a single one found a speck of anything they deemed concerning.”
“That’s good news, right?” Phineas asked, as Tiffanie sat frozen. Hope flooded his mind as he squeezed her hand. He forced himself to squash the celebration in his mind to pay attention to the physician, so he didn’t miss something.
“The best news. Tiffanie’s levels have never come out this well. We need to address her low test results. That should help with the tiredness you’ve reported.”
“The cancer isn’t what’s making me weak?” she asked as if unable to believe what she had heard.
“At this point, I’m not finding any trace of cancer. I hadn’t encountered labs like your last ones before. I took them to a think tank of oncologists, and one reported findings like those in a patient who is now five years free of cancer. Your body has signaled to us it doesn’t need any safeguards now.”
As Tiffanie rocked back in her chair in shock, Phineas asked the question he guessed loomed in her mind, “What does this mean for the future?”
“You continue to come in for monitoring on a regular basis for twelve months. If everything remains the same, we’ll increase the time between your appointments. After five years, if nothing has cropped up, I will consider you cancer-free, and you’ll come to see me annually. Ten years from now, you’re likely out of danger of a recurrence.”
Tears cascaded down Tiffanie’s cheeks. “You’re not kidding?” Phineas grabbed some tissues from the desk and wiped them away as the doctor answered. He kept himself from lifting her into his arms until they were alone to celebrate.
“I would never joke about anything like this, Tiffanie. I’m beyond pleased for you to reach this status.”
The doctor looked at Phineas. “I’ve called in some medicine for Tiffanie to begin immediately. We want to rebuild her energy levels. Take her out and celebrate with something decadent.”
He stood and smiled at them. “When you’re ready, you can check out at the desk and make an appointment for six weeks from today.”
When the doctor left the room, Phineas scooped Tiffanie up onto his lap. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him every bit as hard as he squeezed her. Her muscles relaxed against him as Phineas rocked her gently.
“Want to get out of this office?” he asked.
“More than anything in my life.”
“Let’s go.”
Phineas boosted Tiffanie to her feet and walked with her to the checkout desk. When Tiffanie announced her name, the scheduler pulled up her information on the chart. An instant smile burst over the employee’s face.