The moment the ICU doors swung open and Jack walked in, he spotted Marc at the nursing station with his head glued to one of the computer monitors. His conversation with Kaz was still on his mind. For some reason, the words of advice his mother had offered him popped into his head. He envisioned her knowing eyes as she suggested that sometimes studying patients without a disease can provide important information in finding its cure.
Instead of walking over to talk with Marc, he reached for his phone. He leaned against the desk and scrolled through his phone book until he found Kaz’s number. He checked the time. He still had plenty of time before Tess was scheduled for her C-Section.
“Kaz, it’s Dr. Wyatt. I’d like to speak with your daughter. Do you have her phone number?”
“It’s not necessary to call her.”
“It’s quite necessary. I’m not sure you understand,” he explained in a voice, thinning with patience. “What I want to speak with her about directly relates to helping Sherry.”
“I’m not sure you understand. What I’m saying is you don’t need to call her because she’s upstairs in the ICU visiting Sherry. That’s why I’m still down here in the lobby waiting for her to leave.”
“Thanks. I’ll speak with you later.” Jack replaced his phone, turned and started toward the other wing of the ICU.
“Where are you going?” Marc asked.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Jack walked past the nursing station and then down the corridor that led to Sherry’s room. Between lengthy strides, he couldn’t help but wonder if stumbling upon the fact that Sherry had an identical twin might turn out to be the twist of fate he’d been praying for. He was a few feet from Sherry’s room when he saw David step out in the hall followed by a woman.
“Excuse me,” Jack said to David. “I’m Dr. Wyatt, I’m one of the doctors looking after Sherry.”
“David Rosenfelt,” he answered, extending his hand to Jack. “I’m Sherry’s husband. This is Lisa, her sister. My father-in-law has told me a lot about you. We’re both very appreciative of everything you’ve done for Sherry.”
“Thank you,” Jack said. He turned to Lisa. “A few minutes ago, I spoke with your father. He mentioned to me you were here. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions about your health?”
“Not at all.”
“Have you had any difficulties with your pregnancy?”
“No. Everything’s gone very well,” she answered without hesitation.
“How far along are you?”
“I’m just finishing my sixth month.”
“I assume you’ve had obstetrical care the entire time.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Did you take the flu shot?”
“About two months ago. Sherry and I use the same OB. As a matter of fact, we both had the shot the same day. It was in his office.”
“Would you say your overall health is good?”
“I’d say it’s excellent.”
“Besides having your tonsils out, have you ever had any other surgery?”
She frowned. “As usual, my father’s a tad confused about the facts. It was Sherry who had her tonsils out, not me.”
“Are you presently taking any medications?” Jack inquired.
“I take a thyroid pill once a day.”
“When were you diagnosed with low thyroid?”
“Actually, I take it because I don’t have a thyroid gland,” she answered.
Jack looked at her neck with a quizzical expression. There was no scar indicating her thyroid gland had been removed.
“Were you born without a thyroid gland?”
“No. I had a very overactive thyroid as a teenager. I remember my mother taking me to see all kinds of doctors. My father was too busy. They tried a bunch of medications but none of them worked. Finally, one of the doctors gave me some kind of radioactive pills to destroy all of my thyroid gland. It worked. I’ve been fine ever since…except for having to take a thyroid pill once a day.”
“You probably had Graves’ disease,” Jack said, feeling the muscles and tendons in his neck tighten like a hangman’s noose.
“Yeah. I think that’s what they called it. I guess I should have mentioned it when you asked me about my prior health, but it was so many years ago…well, I’ve kind of forgotten about it.”
“Is there anything else at all about your general health that you haven’t mentioned?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
Jack extended his hand to Lisa, “I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me.”
Starting back toward Tess’s room, Jack practically broke into a sprint. He grabbed his cell phone and tapped in Madison’s number. His stomach was in a flutter. She answered on the first ring. Trying not to rush his words, he said, “I need you to do something for me right now.”