Free Heart Failure by Richard L. Mabry Page A

Professionally he was as competent as they came. She’d trust her life to Phil. Actually she’d trusted her husband’s life to him. She might have assigned some blame to Phil in John’s death, but now that some time had passed she realized he’d done all he could. The question that continued to plague her was whether she had done all she could as well.

SEVEN
    PHIL WAS RIGHT, OF COURSE. THE ANGIOGRAM SHOWED ALMOST total blockage of Mrs. Lambert’s left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. In layman’s terms, blood flow to the major portion of the heart muscle was cut off. “I’ll talk with Mrs. Lambert and her daughter,” Phil said.
    Carrie knew she’d been dismissed, but she couldn’t simply disappear. She’d cared for Mrs. Lambert through two other heart attacks and thought she’d formed a bond with the woman. Even if the daughter asked Phil Rushton to take over the case, Carrie felt an obligation to be there. “I want to go with you when you talk with them. She’s my patient too.” At least for now .
    She stood by as Phil explained the procedure to Mrs. Lambert and obtained her permission for the surgery. No problem, the woman said. She knew how close to death she’d come—how close she still was. If surgery was what was needed, she was ready.
    Carrie’s heart melted when Mrs. Lambert looked at her and said, “Dr. Markham, would you pray for me?” Carrie nodded her assent, afraid to speak. I’ll try, but my prayers haven’t been too successful lately . She squeezed Mrs. Lambert’s hand and followed Phil out of the room.
    They found the daughter, Mrs. Stinson, in the waiting room. Despite her earlier frustration about the call to Phil Rushton, Carrie sympathized with this harried, middle-aged woman who wore worry lines on her face like a combat badge. Mildred Lambert had lived with her daughter and son-in-law since her husband died over a year ago.
    Carrie and Phil took two vacant chairs that flanked Mrs. Stinson. There was no one else within earshot, so this was as good a place as any to have the talk. “Your mother has had another heart attack,” Carrie began. “And this was a big one—almost fatal. So Dr. Rushton needs to perform surgery.”
    Phil explained that Mrs. Lambert needed more blood flow to the heart, so he’d take a vein from her leg and hook it up to take the place of the clogged arteries. “We call it a bypass graft.”
    “Is it risky?” Mrs. Stinson’s voice was weak, and now tears flowed freely.
    “Of course,” Phil said, and went on to explain the potential risks. “But it’s necessary surgery. Without it, your mother would almost certainly die.”
    Mrs. Stinson turned for the first time to Carrie, an unspoken question in her eyes.
    Carrie nodded. “I agree.”
    A secretary came over to the group and handed Phil a clipboard. He glanced at it. “We have the op permit signed. Now I have to get ready.” He rose and hurried away.
    “Is Mother strong enough . . . ?” Mrs. Stinson let the words trail off.
    “We believe so. The anesthesiologist is excellent. Dr. Rushton is the best heart surgeon around. The whole team is extremely competent. Your mother is in good hands.” Carrie found herself reaching for Mrs. Stinson’s hand. “I have to get back to the clinic. Dr. Rushton will see you as soon as the surgery is over, and I’ll be back this evening. Is there anything I can do for you now?”
    Mrs. Stinson blinked away tears. “Just keep us in your prayers.”
    Carrie nodded and left the room. She looked at her watch and decided that if she hurried, she could finish seeing her patients and still be on time for lunch with Julie. In the hallway, she heard someone calling her name. Carrie turned to see Rob Cole trotting toward her. “Dr. Markham, I’m glad I caught you.”
    “Rob, I really have to get back to the clinic. What’s so important?”
    “I wondered about Mrs. Lambert.”
    “Did you and your partner have that call?”
    “Right.