Gregory Patrick

01/27/2022

Jaiden – Chapter 150

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Greg Patrick

 

"Good morning, Dr. Jaiden; did you have a better night last night?" "I did, Janet; the first thing I did when I got home was to get the Beano out of the cabinet and put some on the first spoon of food the children ate, and that solved the problems from the previous night."

 

"My child is the same age as your children; do you have problems getting the children to try new foods?" "Not really, Janet. Most of the children watch Alaina Noelle to see what she tries. Then, if she eats or tries a new food, the others follow suit. And there's Nathan Robert, our mischievous child; if he protects his plate from his brothers and sister, they know the food has to be good."

 

"One of the children's favorite meals is, of all things, stewed calve's liver with sauteed onions, creamed potatoes, and English peas. I also have a recipe from the wife of the former Chinese Ambassador to the US; she cuts liver into small cubes and drops it into boiling water."

 

"The water stops boiling, and as soon as it returns to a rolling boil, she pours the liver into a colander and rinses it under cold water to stop the cooking process. She then sets it aside while she sautees onions until they're opaque."

 

"That's the point where the liver goes back into the pan and gets covered with Terriyaki sauce. Then, she serves it over vermicelli noodles, and the children who get it eat it like it is going out of style – as long as you don't tell them what it is."

 

"I know someone who cooked it for scouts at a Cub Scout campout. They had been told it was a special beef dish, and most of the boys ate three plates full until a mother told her son what it really was. The boy pushed the plate back and never touched the food again, and it was his third plate of food."

 

"It's kind of weird, Dr. Jaiden, that he liked and ate so much of the dish and then pushed it away when his mother said what it was; I wonder why he did that." "That's simple, Janet; the parents talk about what they don't like, and the child never sees them try it. Thus the child decides momma and daddy don't like something, so by default, the child doesn't like the food. So, therefore, they don't like it either – and they never try the food to find out if they would enjoy it."

 

"One thing we never do at the house is to say we don't like something; instead, we let the children try it, and if they don't like it, they don't have to eat it."

 

"Has there ever been something that the children really didn't like?" "One thing, Janet: chitlins. We were at B. B. Kings, and Charley wondered how the children would react to chitlins, so he ordered one for each of the children. It was funny that the only nose those things got past was Nathan Robert's. He put his in his mouth and immediately removed it, yelled no very loudly, and then threw the chitlin at me." "That's funny!" "Yeah, all the adults at the table, including me, laughed at Nathan Robert's reaction. The look on his face and his disgust were more like `OH, HELL NO' rather than just no." "I would love to have seen that!" "It was funny, Janet."

 

"What a day, Peyton. JJ was sick on his stomach from the chemo, and I walked into Tonny's room and caught his significant other in the bed with him." "Where were his parents, Jaiden?" "They apparently had gone to lunch. When I walked into Tonny's room, his boyfriend was in bed with him, and neither one of them had a stitch of clothes on – no mask, no sanitary gown, no nothing. I took Jake into the hall, read him the riot act, and explained what a single viral germ could do to Tonny. He is not allowed in the room unless one of Tonny's parents is in the room with them." "Are you going to tell the parents?" "No, Tonny and Jake are, and when they do, they are supposed to tell the parent(s) to have the nurses page me so I can talk to them – and they have until this afternoon to do that."

 

"Babe, isn't that being a bit harsh on those boys?" "Not if you think about what a virus or some other germ can do to Tonny. The boy isn't going to get sick on my watch if I can do anything to stop that from happening."

 

"Well, the day is over, so we can go home and talk to Ginny and Granny about what they are working on with the children when it comes to eating. Do me a favor right quick if you don't mind; go to Tonny's room and see if Jake is in there by himself and call and let me know."

 

"Jaiden, when I got to the room, Jake and Tonny were in the room alone. Jake got up to leave, and I made him sit down. Just as he sat in the chair, Tonny's mom came in, and I told her Tonny and Jake had something they needed to talk to her about. Tonny started crying, so Jake told Tonny's mom they got caught alone together in the bed, and he didn't have the precautionary gear on." "Did Jake tell her they didn't have anything on?" "Not yet; I think he is afraid to." "Tell Jake and Tonny I am on the way to the room and see if that will do the trick." "OK, see you shortly."

 

"Tonny, Jake, Dr. Jaiden is on the way to the room to talk to you two and your mom, Tonny. If you have something else to tell your mom, I suggest you do that before Dr. Jaiden walks in."

 

"Mom, when Dr. Jaiden caught Jake and me, we were in bed together, and we didn't have any clothes on. All we were doing was hugging, and I kissed Jake."

 

"Tonny, do you understand what can happen if you get any germs from Jake? Jake, do you understand what can happen to Tonny? It's bad enough that you were naked in bed together, but under the circumstances for Tonny right now, that is not something I will excuse. I have to do something to make sure it doesn't happen again."

 

When Tonny's mother said that, Jaiden walked into Tonny's room. "Tonny, by the look on your mom's face, I suspect you told her what I told you to discuss with her; am I correct?" "Yes, sir."

 

"Mrs. Fitzgibbons, what did Tonny and Jake tell you?" "They were in bed together with nothing on, and when I say nothing on, I mean nothing – not even a mask." "That is correct. I told Jake he's not to be in the room with Tonny unless you or his dad is in the room. But then, I understood when Dr. Peyton came to check on the situation for me before we went home that they were in the room alone after I told them not to be. Jake was sitting in the chair, and nothing was going on, so I didn't get too angry."

 

"So, Jake, you disobeyed Dr. Jaiden and were in the room alone with Tonny?" "Yes, mam." "OK, when we go home, I'm going to have a talk with your mom. You can't come back to the hospital to see Tonny, but you can call him on the telephone and talk to him if he isn't sick from his chemo."

 

"When he gets home, you still can't come to see him until the doctor says it is OK, understand?" "Yes, mam, I do. I`m sorry; I didn't mean to get Tonny in trouble."

 

"Jake, you and Tonny aren't in trouble; it's just that you are too young to understand how sick Tonny is. If he gets a cold from you, he could die, and I know you don't want that to happen." "No, mam, I don't."

 

Jake started crying, not weeping, but gutturally crying. Mrs. Fitzgibbons went to him, put her arms around him, and held him until he calmed down. "Jake, when I talk to your mom, I'm not going to tell her how Dr. Jaiden found the two of you in the room. Instead, I'll just say to her that Tonny is restricted from having visitors for a while until he adjusts to his chemo. That way, you won't get into any more trouble, and you'll still be able to call Tonny on the phone."

 

"Now, about being naked in bed together, is there something the two of you want or need to tell me?" "Mom, I wanted to tell you, but I have been afraid of how you and dad would react." "React about what, Tonny?" "Mom, I'm gay. Please don't be angry with me."

 

"Be angry with you...about being gay? Son, your Dad and I have suspected that for a while now. As long as you are happy and well adjusted as a teenager, we could not care less if you are gay or straight. That is your choice, not ours, so don't worry about that."

 

"And while we are on the subject: it's nobody's business but yours and Jake's, so neither of you have to say anything to anybody about your relationship, except to your parents if they ask; I suspect they already know anyway."

 

"Mrs. Fitzgibbons, does Tonny have a laptop at home?" "He does, Dr. Jaiden." "Then why don't we set up Skype so they can see and talk to each other on the computer?" "You know, that's a good idea, but I don't know anything about Skype." "Bring the computer to the hospital tomorrow. Engineering will need to make sure it is safe to be in the room with the oxygen, but that should be a quick check; Dr. Peyton or I can set up Skype on Tonny's computer. Jake, can you set up Skype on your computer?" "Yes, sir. Dad already set it up for me to talk to my grandparents." "Good, make sure it is OK with your mom and him for you to talk to Tonny and tell them I said it was OK."

 

"Dr. Jaiden, you'd do that for me after I disobeyed you?" "All is forgiven, son, and, yes, I'll do that for you – and I won't say anything about today."

 

"Tonny, your Dad and I need to find someone to talk to you about how to be safe in your relationships, so you don't do or catch something you'll regret.

 

"Mrs. Fitzgibbons, I think Dr. Peyton and I can take care of that talk." "You wouldn't mind doing that?" "No, man, we wouldn't; Dr. Peyton and I are experts on the subject." "Experts, Dr. Jaiden?" "Experts, Tonny. Have you noticed that Dr. Peyton's and my last name are the same?"

 

"Yes, sir. I thought you were brothers." "Son, we're more than brothers. Dr. Peyton is my husband. We've been married for seven years this June, and we have five sons; one set of twins and one set of triplets, all born on the same day."

 

"Dr. Jaiden, you have five sons? How old are they?" "Yes, mam, we have five sons, and they are two years old. They'll be three this June. Our brothers who live with us have four sons and a daughter, and we all live in the same house. All ten children were born on the same day, and we have raised them like nine brothers with a sister." "Ten two-year-olds in one house! How do you men cope?"

 

"They're well-behaved children; very smart, love to read and be read to, play well together, and don't miss a word which sometimes causes us embarrassment - especially when they repeat something we didn't know they heard the dads say."

 

"Let's clear up something right now for you and Jake. No sexual intercourse until you are 18 and you have seen a doctor first to find out what you need to do to be safe and avoid injury to each other. Do you understand what I'm talking about?" "Yes, sir, no booty bouncing." "Precisely."

 

"Oral sex isn't harmful unless one of you has any kind of infection, or if Tonny is still on any type of chemo, even if it is only a pill. Medicine in Tonny's system can be transferred to your system, Jake, and make you very sick. So for now, don't do it!"

 

"When the danger is over, a hug and a kiss are OK, but be private about it, so nobody gets uncomfortable if they see you. Then, when the two of you are old enough to carry things to the next level, talk to a doctor first and listen to his or her advice."

 

"We have a doctor here whom we think is very good, but the problem is that my husband's job is transferring him, and we'll have to find a doctor we feel we can trust once we relocate."

 

"So, when do you expect to move?" "Dr. Jaiden, if everything goes OK, we are supposed to be there on June 01." "That could be tough since that date is approaching. Where are y'all moving to, Mrs. Fitzgibbons?" "Erie, Pennsylvania." "Really!" "Yes, sir."

 

"I can recommend an excellent pediatrician there, and there are two pediatric oncologists who will be opening a northeast branch of St. Jude's on the first of June. I understand all three doctors have gotten excellent reviews while at St. Judes here in Memphis."

 

"The Pediatric oncologists there are also pediatric surgeons with experience in general and oncological surgery. I think you'll like them; what do you say, Dr. Peyton?" "I would think so, too."

 

"Hang on just a second." Jaiden took his phone out and called Richard. "Dr. Riley, could you please come to room 357 for about 5 minutes?" "I'm on the way."

 

When Richard walked into Tonny's room, Jaiden said, "Mrs. Fitzgibbons, this is Dr. Richard Riley, my brother-in-law and Dr. Peyton's brother. Dr. Richard will be the pediatrician in Erie that I mentioned to you." "Dr. Jaiden, who are the oncologists and surgeons you mentioned?" "Mrs. Fitzgibbons, meet Dr. Peyton Riley-Reynolds; you already know me well."

 

"There will be another pediatrician on staff, Dr. Peter Andrews. We know him well since he used to be here at St. Judes. When the branch of St. Jude's gets started in Erie, he will be joining us there. We're probably legally obligated to let you know that he is Dr. Peyton's and my brother-in-law. You can verify his credentials here at St. Jude's."

 

"How will I find you guys in Erie?" "That will be easy. The four of us will be the chief pediatricians and pediatric oncologists in our fields at Erie's branch of St. Judes."

 

"The clinic's name will be Riley-Reynolds-Andrews Pediatrics. Also, we already have a staff in place whom we worked with for a year before coming to Memphis. Additionally, the two surgeons who trained us and whom we worked for for three years will be associated with us for general orthopedic needs. As soon as Dr. Peyton's brother, Leon, completes his doctorate in counseling psychology, he will join our practice as well."

 

"I don't know how we could be more fortunate, blessed even." "Mrs. Fitzgibbons, Hashem has a way of doing that for His children." "Does your family have a faith you participate in? We are Jewish, so we'll have to find a temple in the Erie area." "Dr. Peyton and I can recommend our temple, Temple Anshe Hesed. It's a medium-sized temple with many young couples and youth in the membership. I say medium; it may be a large temple the way it was growing when we came to Memphis. The Rabbis are Rabbi Rob Kravitz, my next-door neighbor, and Rabbi Jacob Belson, who currently lives in our home in Erie. You will love the men and their families, especially the Kravitz boys and their sister. Here is Rabbi Kravit's telephone number; give him a call and tell him I made you promise to call."

 

"Rabbi Kravitz's residence." "Hello, this is Margarete Fitzgibbons; is Rabbi Kravitz in?" He is, one moment, please."

 

"This is Rabbi Kravitz; with whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" "Rabbi, this is Margarete Fitzgibbons. My son's doctor here in Memphis gave me your name and made me promise to call you. My family will be moving to Erie around the first of June if my son's cancer treatment goes according to plan. His doctors couldn't say enough good about you and Temple Anshe Hesed and said we would love the temple and its members."

 

"Mrs. Fitzgibbons, I am so happy you called. The members of Temple Anshe Hesed are the most loving people I have ever ministered to. The temple has grown leaps and bounds because of four members we had and will regain here. Did you say your family is in Memphis?" "I did, Rabbi."

 

"Perhaps you have had the pleasure of meeting Drs. Jaiden and Peyton Riley-Reynolds and their brothers by choice, Dale and Charley Leonard-Anderson. As we speak, they're all in Memphis and are scheduled to return to Erie in June."

 

"Rabbi, Drs. Jaiden and Peyton are my son's doctors, and they are sitting in front of me." Mrs. Fitzgibbons, you couldn't be in the company of more exemplary people, I promise you that. So when you go home tonight, Google their names on your computer." "I'll do that, Rabbi; I wanted to let you know we'll be moving to Erie in June and will be visiting the temple at the invitation of Drs. Riley-Reynolds." "Mrs. Fitzgibbons, would it be OK if I can speak with either of the doctors for a moment?"

 

"Dr. Jaiden, Rabbi Kravitz would like to speak with you for a moment."

 

"Rabbi, how are you and the family doing? It's fantastic to get to speak with you tonight." "The children and Nancy are doing well. The boys are chomping at the bits for you and the family to get back to Erie; they have really missed you, Peyton, and the children. Will Dale and Charley be returning with you?"

 

"Yes, sir, they will. We have an agreement not to separate the children. Besides, we are such a close family that there is no way we could live apart and survive after so many years together."

 

"Rabbi Belson has found a home, and with the pay rise he has received with the growth of the temple and his increased responsibilities, he bought the house to the right of yours, and he'll be in it when y'all get back to Erie."

 

"Mom's gonna love that; with my Rabbis living on both sides of me, I really can't get into mischief without her finding out about it." "Well, we'll be back in Erie around June 01. We're going to take a vacation drive back and take the children to Wellstone for Dale and Charley's graduation and let everybody at the university meet them."

 

Peyton's new brother is living between Brevard and Boone and attending Wellstone to get his degrees in Psychology so he can join the practice as our lead psychologist. His name is Leon, and his husband is a pediatric oncologist who will be joining our practice as soon as we get back and get the cancer clinic set up."

 

"Jaiden, you piqued my interest by saying, new brother. How did that come about?" "Rabbi, I'll call you from the house to explain that. I'm in a patient's room, so I won't talk about that right now."

 

"I understand completely. May I tell the temple members you'll be back around the first of June?" "You may. We can't wait to get home and back to our family there."

 

"Mrs. Fitzgibbons, Rabbi Kravitz is on cloud nine right now about us coming home and bringing friends to the temple with us. I didn't tell you that we have a unique air-conditioned room for individuals like Tonny so he can attend the temple services without exposure to germs."

 

"That is wonderful; I didn't know there was a temple anywhere that had such a facility. I'm really excited about going there now."

 

"Like I promised you: you're going to love the temple, the rabbis, and the members. You won't find more loving people anywhere."

 

"Douglas, I spoke to the Rabbi at Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie tonight. He seems like a wonderful man. They have a specially built filtered air-conditioned, germ-free room Tonny can sit in and participate in the services. In addition, they have a big youth group he can be a part of, and they're eager to meet Tonny. The Rabbi was excited that we were going to visit the temple." "Margarete, how did you find out about the temple and the Rabbi?"

 

"Douglas, you may want to sit down for this. I have also found two pediatric oncologists and two pediatric physicians. In addition, they're getting a psychologist who can work with Tonny if necessary, and the good thing is that we already know and have worked with all of them." "You've got to be kidding me, Margarete; who are these doctors?"

 

"Douglas, one is walking in the door right now!" "You mean Dr. Jaiden is one of the doctors?" "Yes, and his husband, Dr. Peyton, is the other oncologist and oncological surgeon."

 

"Dr. Peyton's brother, Dr. Richard Riley, whom we have seen, will be practicing with them in their Erie practice. Not only that, do you remember meeting Dr. Peter Andrews?" "I do; why?" He will be the other pediatric physician in practice with them."

 

"Every doctor we have here will be at the St. Jude's branch in Erie when we get there." Douglas sat down, put his face in his hands, and didn't say anything.

 

Finally, Jaiden asked, "Mr. Fitzgibbons, are you OK? Is there something I can do for you? "I'm OK, Dr. Jaiden; it's a bit hard for me to believe everything I have davened for has all of a sudden become a reality."

 

"I asked Hashem to reveal this news to me the way I have just received it as His way of telling me everything will be OK. Right now, all I want to do is cry."

 

"Mr. Fitzgibbons, it's perfectly OK if you have a good cry; it will help you feel better and lessen your stress." Douglas lost it when Jaiden said that to him. Jaiden sat in the room until Douglas calmed down to ensure he didn't have blood pressure or other problems from the stress he had been carrying.

 

When he calmed down, Jaiden walked with him to the cafeteria and bought him a cup of coffee. Since Douglas had been so upset, Jaiden made him drink decaff coffee to avoid getting jumpier.

 

"So, Mr. Fitzgibbons, are you feeling a bit better now?" I am; I have been a bundle of nerves since Tonny has been going through the treatments. The diagnosis was bad enough, but the problems he's had with the chemo...."

 

"I understand, believe me. But, if you think you need something mild for your anxiety, I'll be happy to prescribe some medication to help you relax when you go to bed. I think a good night's sleep will do wonders for you." "I think you are right, Dr. Jaiden."

 

"Let's go back to Tonny's room, and I'll get you a prescription for low dose Escitalopram; it will help get your anxiety under control. Usually, I'd tell you to take it in the mornings, but a low dose at night should do the trick for you."

 

"Dr. Jaiden, may I ask you a question about Tonny?" "You may, but depending on what it is, I may tell you to talk to your wife instead of answering your question."

 

"I was wondering if you knew whether or not Tonny is gay. Margarete and I have talked about it, and he shows signs he is, but he won't talk to us about it."

 

"Mr. Fitzgibbons, he is scared to death of how you will react if he talks to you about his sexuality." "So that's why he won't talk to us. But, you know, as long as Tonny is happy and well adjusted psychologically, I could not care less if he is gay or straight."

 

"Maybe you need to say that to Tonny so he will open up to you. Your wife talked to Dr. Peyton and me about that this afternoon, and we had a safety talk with Tonny and laid down some rules for him. So if you start the conversation, he will probably talk to you, and you both can clear the air, so to speak."

 

"I've wondered if Jake is his boyfriend; they're incredibly close." "Mr. Fitzgibbons, that's really none of my business, so you'll need to talk with Tonny about that. I'm going to stay out of that aspect of his life."

 

"I'm going back to his room and see if he will talk to me." "Mr. Fitzgibbons, gently start the conversation with Tonny and let him know up front that you aren't and won't be angry if he is gay. That should reassure him and make him comfortable enough to talk with you." "Thanks, Dr. Jaiden." "You're welcome, sir."

 

"Hey, buddy, are you feeling better tonight?" "Yes, sir, I am, but I got into a bit of trouble with Dr. Jaiden today, but he gave me some rules I have to follow and restricted my visitation. He's going to set up my laptop so I can Skype with my friends instead of them coming to the hospital."

 

"What kind of trouble did you get into with Dr. Jaiden?" "Dad, I need to tell you something, but I'm scared you're going to get angry with me when I tell you."

 

"Tonny, let me make this easier for you: I could not care less if you are gay or straight as long as you are a happy and well-adjusted young man."

 

"Dad, do you mean that?" "Tonny, I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it." "Dad, I have been so scared to talk to you."

 

"Tonny, you can talk to me about anything. I can't promise I will like what it is sometimes, but you need to understand that you can speak to your mom and me about anything bothering you. So I am going to go out on a limb and ask if the problem you had with Dr. Jaiden concerned Jake." "Yes, sir, it did." "How so, son?"

 

"Mom, can I talk to Dad alone for a minute." "Sure, son, I'll step into the hallway. Let me know when I can come back into the room."

 

"Dad, I have been in this stupid gown since I have been in the hospital. I can't even get up without someone seeing my fanny. So anyway, Jake's mom brought him to see me, and she and Mom went to the cafeteria to have lunch and talk with each other. Jake had on his sweats and didn't have any underclothes on under them. He slipped the shirt and sweatpants off and climbed into bed with me. I threw this gown to the side, and we just held each other."

 

"We weren't doing anything but holding each other when Dr. Jaiden came in and got upset. He gave us both a lecture and told Mom he didn't want my friends coming to the room for a visit. He didn't tell Mom why; he just said that I could get a virus from a friend that could make me extremely sick or worse. Dad, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen, and I didn't mean to upset Dr. Jaiden."

 

"Tonny, I want to laugh so bad right now. You were only doing something that came naturally to you. Of course, it would be different if you were a girl and Jake got into bed naked with you, but you, son, you can't get pregnant, so what's the problem?"

 

"I bet Jake was warm when he snuggled up to you in this cold room. And I bet feeling his naked skin felt warmly unique to you. Not only that, I bet Jake helped you relax and feel better in ways your Mom and I can't. So what's the big problem?"

 

"Yes, indeed, you shouldn't have done what the two of you did in the hospital, but what did it hurt? Not one thing, so relax and enjoy the memory. When you get home and are off the chemo, you and Jake can get undressed and snuggle in your room. Just hang a sock on the doorknob outside so your Mom and I won't walk into your room and embarrass Jake and you."

 

Tonny was so surprised at what his dad told him that he broke down and cried his heart out. His dad crawled up on the bed and held his son to comfort him. "Tonny, I love you more than anything in this world; son, if you are gay, it is nobody's business but yours and whomever you wish to share that fact with. But there is one thing you must understand: If anybody starts bullying you – or Jake – for being gay, I will step in and put a stop to that bullying; understand?" "Yes, sir."

 

"Dad, can I have a hug?"