Monday September 8th 2008

Derek has an appointment with Dr Gomez at 11:30 this morning.  This is the day we have been looking forward to and dreading in equal measure.  It has been a hard week on Derek and his second week without his cigarettes.  He had not realised how much it would take it out of him.  The anti-biotics are finished, but he is still reliant on the pain killers which are making him tired and listless; and apart from the operation site, the catheter is making him very uncomfortable and at times it is downright painful.  The weather is hot, but he has to wear trousers only adding to his overall discomfort.  Today we really hope that the catheter will be removed and hopefully the metal staples too.   We booked a taxi to pick us up at 10 past eleven, but it did not arrive until 11:25 – not an auspicious start for the day.  We arrived ten minutes late at the hospital and after queuing at the main desk to book in, arrived for our appointment nearly twenty minutes late.  No sign of Doctor Gomez, no queue outside his room and the room was empty, mild panic was setting in.  Gradually, other people joined the queue we had started, but it was three quarters of an hour, before an apologetic Doctor Gomez arrived.  I was so relieved to see him that I didn’t care how late he was or that he still managed to see three other patients before he got to us.  The wait was worth it.  Doctor Gomez is a very caring, patient man who always puts you at ease and takes the time and trouble to explain everything until he is quite sure that you understand.  Today he has good news for us.  The cancer has all been removed with the kidney and there are no secondary sites and the lymph nodes were all clear.  This means that Derek will not need chemotherapy or radiology.  Before Derek can say anything else the good doctor tells him to go to the treatment room so that he can remove the catheter.  The look of relief on Derek’s face is a picture as he makes his way up onto the couch in the treatment room.  Fascinated, I watch as he clips out the metal staples one by one, but leave before he gets around to the catheter – I don’t really want to hear a grown man cry.  However, I need not have worried, because according to Derek he was very gentle, unlike the nurse that removed the one he had after the biopsy, I suppose it is a man thing.  Doctor Gomez tells Derek that he has to return for regular check ups, every three months for the next five years.

That part over, we head to reception and book the next appointment for December 3rd 2008.  From reception we go to Administration to find out their intentions regarding Derek’s front teeth.  Carmen in admin remembers the incident and soon locates the file.  She disappears to the dental department and comes back with an appointment for Derek on Monday September 29th.  I can’t help wondering just what it was she said to the orthodontist.  I mean, was it, “Better do an excellent job on this one or he might sue the socks off us”, or was it, “Get away with it as cheap as possible, they’re only foreingners and won’t know any different how we do things over here”.  Cynical or what?

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