Down The Wrong Rabbit Hole”, by Diane Maddox, October 2, 2017, word count: 520
It started with a cold. She coughs in hard spasms. A week passes with no improvement. She takes cough syrup, with no relief. Her concerned daughter suggests she gargle.
“You should gargle with apple cider vinegar. Try the Bragg’s Organic,” her daughter offers. “Want me to call the doctor? You should see the doctor, Mom.” “Mind your own business,” she croaks hoarsely. Harrumph! “Don’t mess with age, college girl. I’ve had my flu shot. It’s just a cold.” She resists her daughter’s suggestions. Her coughing persists into long, restless nights. She uses her blood pressure cuff. Higher today…must be the coughing. Another week passes, with no improvement. Or, is it …show more content…
Sharp pain! Radiating down through her lower back. She’s known pain before, it will pass. Watching TV, warm coffee sooths her throat. Morning Joe on MSNBC, and the coughing continues. Then, bloody mucus comes with chest pain! No, this is not right. She waits as the pain subsides. Will this pass…what to do? Her daughter comes in and she explains. “I’m having pains in my lower back. I’m coughing up blood, too. Maybe I should see the doctor?” She speaks calmly and without fear. “I’ll call for an appointment, Mom. You shouldn’t have waited three weeks. It’s not a cold, it’s not better. You’re really sick, Mom.” “It’s been three weeks? No, maybe two, not three. Are you …show more content…
Metastasized. Ugly words are recognized immediately. The devastating details paralyze them. Raw emotions, held within, seek release. In disbelief, they return home. The family gets the anguishing news. Their lives crumple into a gloomy abyss. Numerous specialists are consulted. Medical jargon replaces normal conversation. Multiple plans of treatment are proposed. Hurry and wait, worry and wait. College girl quits her job. Her positive façade veils her premonitions. “Was she prescribed an antibiotic?” One specialist queries an unexpected question. “No, would it help?” The family contemplates. An antibiotic? For cancer?
She receives the prescription antibiotic. She feels better the next day. She quits coughing. She continues to recover…her health returns. Next month, the new CT scan is normal. Prayers are answered, it’s miraculous.
“Where is the cancer? What happened? How could this be?” The family is astonished. The specialists merely say, “It was an anomaly.” “An ANOMALY?! It’s a damn misdiagnosis!” the family rails.
She is awash with relief. Her family breathes unfetter. Their nightmare is over.
She emerged from the wrong rabbit
It started with a cold. She coughs in hard spasms. A week passes with no improvement. She takes cough syrup, with no relief. Her concerned daughter suggests she gargle.
“You should gargle with apple cider vinegar. Try the Bragg’s Organic,” her daughter offers. “Want me to call the doctor? You should see the doctor, Mom.” “Mind your own business,” she croaks hoarsely. Harrumph! “Don’t mess with age, college girl. I’ve had my flu shot. It’s just a cold.” She resists her daughter’s suggestions. Her coughing persists into long, restless nights. She uses her blood pressure cuff. Higher today…must be the coughing. Another week passes, with no improvement. Or, is it …show more content…
Sharp pain! Radiating down through her lower back. She’s known pain before, it will pass. Watching TV, warm coffee sooths her throat. Morning Joe on MSNBC, and the coughing continues. Then, bloody mucus comes with chest pain! No, this is not right. She waits as the pain subsides. Will this pass…what to do? Her daughter comes in and she explains. “I’m having pains in my lower back. I’m coughing up blood, too. Maybe I should see the doctor?” She speaks calmly and without fear. “I’ll call for an appointment, Mom. You shouldn’t have waited three weeks. It’s not a cold, it’s not better. You’re really sick, Mom.” “It’s been three weeks? No, maybe two, not three. Are you …show more content…
Metastasized. Ugly words are recognized immediately. The devastating details paralyze them. Raw emotions, held within, seek release. In disbelief, they return home. The family gets the anguishing news. Their lives crumple into a gloomy abyss. Numerous specialists are consulted. Medical jargon replaces normal conversation. Multiple plans of treatment are proposed. Hurry and wait, worry and wait. College girl quits her job. Her positive façade veils her premonitions. “Was she prescribed an antibiotic?” One specialist queries an unexpected question. “No, would it help?” The family contemplates. An antibiotic? For cancer?
She receives the prescription antibiotic. She feels better the next day. She quits coughing. She continues to recover…her health returns. Next month, the new CT scan is normal. Prayers are answered, it’s miraculous.
“Where is the cancer? What happened? How could this be?” The family is astonished. The specialists merely say, “It was an anomaly.” “An ANOMALY?! It’s a damn misdiagnosis!” the family rails.
She is awash with relief. Her family breathes unfetter. Their nightmare is over.
She emerged from the wrong rabbit