Chapter 119 Medical Checkup

Chapter 119 Medical Checkup
Daylan's POV

A few days later, there wasn't much improvement on Brie's side. Her breathing wasn't on par. I kept my hand on her lower back as we walked into the hospital for her follow-up appointment. She had recovered enough to be up and about, but the weight of what we were here for hung between us, unspoken yet heavy. Her breaths were shallow, and every step seemed like it took more energy than it should.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice soft, as we entered the waiting room. I knew I was annoying her with my questions all the time. But I needed to know that she was okay.

She looked over at me and smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m fine, just the usual," she said, looking ahead of her again, but the slight tremor in her voice told me otherwise. She was trying her best to be strong, and I wanted to be that strength for her. I squeezed her hand as I continued to hold it.

I guided her to a chair in the waiting area, making sure she was comfortable, and then I went to the nurse and checked in. After I had checked in, I went back to Brie and sat next to her, holding her hand in mine. As much as I wanted to believe everything would be fine, the fact that we were dealing with a potential blood clot in her lung had me on edge. I have seen it too many times. Pulmonary embolism, especially during pregnancy, is a dangerous game. And the stakes are even higher now.

We didn’t wait long before the nurse called us back. As we walked into the examination room, my mind raced with everything I knew about her condition. Brie's previous medication wasn’t working, and that was a concern we couldn’t afford to ignore. Brie and I sat down at the desk, next to each other.

The doctor entered the room, flipping through Brie’s chart as he sat down. He was a younger physician, perhaps a few years out of residency. I hadn't noticed him ever working here before when I was here as a doctor. I could sense his confidence, but there was something about his demeanor that already bothered me. Maybe it was just my overprotective instinct kicking in, or the fact that I knew exactly how critical this situation was. He sat down behind the desk.

"How have you been feeling?" Dr. Martin asked, not really looking at her, but rather still scanning her chart.

"Better," she replied, her voice light but shaky. "But… I have been having these chest pains again. It feels tight, like I can’t get enough air sometimes."

The doctor nodded, making a few notes. "That is not uncommon, especially with your previous condition."

I cleared my throat, trying to remain calm, but I couldn’t just sit and listen without adding context. “Actually, doctor, what concerns me isn’t just the chest pain. We need to talk about her pulmonary embolism and the risk factors during pregnancy.”

Dr. Martin glanced at me, his brow furrowing. "I’m aware, Mr Hart-"

"Dr Hart," I corrected, holding his gaze, my jaw clenching. "Pulmonology. I specialized in pulmonary embolisms during pregnancy too. I specialize in more than one thing. I have seen this more times than I would like to admit."

The tension in the room thickened, but I wasn’t here to play nice. I was here to make sure Brie and our baby were safe.

"With her history and the symptoms she is describing," I continued, "We are looking at more than just a minor recurrence. The possibility of multiple clots forming is significant, and that changes the treatment plan."

Dr. Martin’s jaw tightened, and I could tell he didn’t appreciate me stepping in. "I’m aware of her condition, Dr Hart," he said, emphasizing my title with a hint of disdain. "But I would like to handle this as her attending."

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to remain composed. "Look, I’m not trying to undermine you, but you and I both know that pulmonary embolism during pregnancy is a ticking time bomb. Her previous medication hasn’t worked, she may be forming new clots. This isn’t just about dissolving what is already there; it’s about preventing new ones from forming, and that means we need to be more aggressive." I continued to hold his gaze.

Brie shifted in her seat, her hand found mine, her fingers gripping my hand tightly. I could feel her anxiety rising, and the last thing I wanted was to make this harder on her. But I couldn’t stand by and watch her suffer because of a cautious approach. I wouldn’t let her or our baby be put at risk.

The doctor hesitated, clearly weighing his options. "We are monitoring her closely-"

"Monitoring isn’t enough," I interjected. "Her pregnancy complicates this, and you know that. Blood clots in the lung can restrict oxygen flow, putting both Brielle and the baby at risk. If the clots move into a major artery, it could be fatal. We need to increase her medication, but we also need to switch to something that is safe for both her and the baby."

He sighed, "You are not a doctor here, and I would appreciate it if you let me treat her and the baby as I see fit."

"I will not allow that. I have been in practice much longer than you ever have been. I know that you don't really know sh^t about this condition because you still have to study it thoroughly. So take my advice as an experienced doctor and save these two lives." I was desperate but he was making me fume. I wasn't going to stand by and let them catch on sh^t with Brie just because I'm no longer a doctor in this hospital.

Dr. Martin looked back at Brie, who looked pale and exhausted, but still strong in her own quiet way. He sighed, finally acknowledging that we weren’t here to be pushed aside. "What are you suggesting, Dr Hart?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Enoxaparin," I said, not missing a beat. "It’s a low-molecular-weight heparin that is safer during pregnancy and effective at dissolving clots while preventing new ones from forming. But you will need to adjust the dosage regularly, especially as the pregnancy progresses."

The doctor nodded slowly, clearly reluctant but unable to argue against the facts. “Alright,” he said. “I will write up the prescription. But I want to monitor her closely, and we will need to run regular scans.”

Brie exhaled softly, her fingers still entwined with mine. I could feel the tension slowly leaving her body, though she was still clearly worn out.

"We will do whatever it takes," I said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I just want her to be okay.” She smiled at me weakly before turning her attention back to the doctor.

Dr. Martin scribbled down some notes on his clipboard. "We will start her on the new medication today. You are right, the clotting could be serious if we don’t act now."

Relief washed over me, but I knew we weren’t out of the woods yet. The reality of her condition still weighed heavily on my mind. Pulmonary embolisms were nothing to take lightly, especially during pregnancy, and as much as I wanted to believe this new course of treatment would work, there was still so much that could go wrong.

"Thank you," Brie said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at me, her eyes filled with exhaustion and worry, but also trust. I could see it in the way she held onto me, as if she knew I would never let her face this alone.

Dr. Martin stood, giving us both a curt nod before exiting the room to finalize the prescriptions.

Once the door clicked shut, I turned to Brie, reaching out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Everything will work out as it's supposed to. I will fight for things to be done."

She smiled weakly, leaning into my touch. "I’m sorry that this is our reality."

"Stop apologizing. We were put on each other's paths for a reason." I said softly. "I can’t lose you. We will fight this together."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she leaned her head against my shoulder. "I’m trying to be strong."

"You are strong," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But that doesn’t mean you have to go through this alone. I’m here, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

We sat in the quiet of the examination room, the weight of the moment hanging over us as we waited for the doctor to return. Even though the doctors had a plan, I couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind. Brie’s health was fragile, and as much as I wanted to believe in the new medication, the reality was that every day was a battle. But one thing was certain, I wasn’t going to let her face this fight without me. No matter what it takes, I will make sure she and our baby come out of this safe and sound.