ways_infirmary | (no subject)

She takes a seat, as directed, looking at the equipment a bit apprehensively.

"It won't hurt", he assures her. "And if you're claustrophobic, we can work with that."

She doesn't answer,at first, just nods, her posture tense. "Still hurts. And no, I'm not claustrophobic."

"All right. If you just want to lie down in the scanner, then..."

She's already sitting on the end of it, where he directed her.

She complies, shutting her eyes reflexively. Feeling helpless is the part she hates, but she knows you don't argue with doctors.
, so soft it's barely audible before she goes quiet.

And he starts the machine running.

Overall, she's healthy; the Institute looked after her and the others. She has a few old scars and a (long since healed)old fractures to her ribs, and one shoulder, but nothing causing her acute problems.

Imaging of her brain will show something something (http://www.hmc.psu.edu/neurosurgery/services/images/MitraA.jpg), that Kevin would likely recognize. Small, but definitely there.

He's not really paying attention to the images of anything but her brain, though he does take absent note of the healed fractures.

What he sees in the brain scan makes him frown, but... it's small. That's good.

After helping her in, Muldoon's pacing back and forth over there in the corner. See him there?

Room's too small, this place is far too clean smelling and-

Fawkes's pause makes Muldoon stop short, expression darkening, "....What's up Doc?"

Sooraya has to reopen her eyes. She's tired, and part of her would just like to black out now, thanks, but she's not so muddleheaded not to know that that? Bad idea.
She speaks quietly. "What do you see?"

"There is a problem", he tells her. "It looks like an aneurysm, probably from a head injury - you might not even have noticed it if these symptoms hadn't come up. But we've caught it early, and it's treatable."

Sooraya stiffens. Yes, she knows what those are.
"I hadn't...realized they were treatable at all," she says after a long moment. "One of my family had this problem. He didn't--do well." Hospitals in Afghanistan aren't exactly cutting edge, sad to say.
"What is it that needs to be done?"

"I promise you, it is. And there's a couple of options. One is open surgery. The other is less invasive, but it doesn't work in every case. It involves putting in a catheter, and feeding a coil into the aneurysm to keep blood out of it."

She sits up carefully, a hand to her neck.
Painkillers haven't helped when she tried Tylenol earlier; she won't ask again.
Grits her teeth for a second.
"I think--but is the first option available here?" she pauses to let him answer.
"I can't leave. Not so far."

"It is. I can't do it alone, but there are other doctors here to help. And I'm a neurosurgeon. I can do it." He glances around. "Though I'd prefer a real operating theatre. Dr. Tam isn't Bound, though, I know, nor is Dr. Sandhu. They should have access to one."

"Is there anything I can do?"

The poor guy feels kind of helpless standing in the back. He turns his attention to Sooraya and then Kevin. His situation may not be the most optimal, but he could give it a try darn it. :D

Sooraya glances at him. She knows the feeling. "I wouldn't have gotten here if you hadn't found me, I think. Please don't start pacing again,Chr--Muldoon," not whining, but she sounds a bit ragged, "you're making the room go in circles when you do." She rubs at her forehead, drops her hand abruptly as she speaks to Kevin.
"The more certain of the two, I'd prefer...I had just as soon not have to do this again. And you said the catheterizing doesn't always--"

ouch...!
Okay, she's going to stop talking and just try to remember how to breathe without swearing here.

"Doesn't always work, yes", Kevin confirms, watching her with concern. "Surgery is often a better option with younger patients, and since you consent to it..."

Deep breath. She finally looks up. Her color's not good, and tension's noticeable.
"I do. I think...now, is the time to decide on it. I'm not going to feel better 'til this is treated, I'd assume."

"No, you aren't. And the longer it's left..." That sentence doesn't need to be finished. "As I said, I can't do it alone, but as soon as my colleagues are here, we will. I'd like you to stay here for observation."

"I understand..." or hopes she does.
"I think if I tried to walk, you'd wind up carrying me back in ..."

She looks up at Muldoon, another thought occurring to her. "Muldoon, would you ask Bar if she can get a copy of my records from the Xavier Institute? That should hold a copy of my medical history before I got to Milliways, if there's anything they need to ask. I can't think if...what would be there," she admits unhappily.

"It certainly can't hurt to have that", Kevin says with a nod. "Even if there's nothing relevant to this particular problem."

Abruptly, "If you could help me over to one of the beds...? Allah's mercy, but I'm tired," she whispers.

It's hard not to be tense. A werewolf only a few days from the full moon and now this-

Muldoon's gaze is almost paternal as he nods to Sooraya, "I'll go grab that stuff now."

Turning to Fawkes his tone turns serious, "How soon d'you think you can get this underway? I mean, would you need medical supplies or..."

He lets that hang, the words Whatever you think you'll need I'll find unspoken. She's a good kid.

Transference from his own kids? Never. Why do you ask?

"The infirmary's pretty well-stocked", Kevin tells him. "And the Bar will supply the rest - it's really just a matter of the others arriving. But thanks."

Sooraya meanwhile is lying down. She lifts her head, looking blearily at Kevin.
"Thank you," quietly. "Whatever happens.
Doctor, if...anything goes wrong, too, and you can't ask me what to do next--I trust him. Both not to give up and not to go too far." Meaning Muldoon.

Kevin nods, moving over to help her to a bed.

"I'll put him down as your next of kin in the bar."

Touched.

Muldoon draws in a deep breath before putting a hand on her shoulder for an instant before nodding to them both, "I'm going to get your stuff Sooraya and give um' to you to pass off to Doctor Fawkes."

Turning to Kevin, he nods, "Lieutenant Muldoon. I'll be around til' the moon. I'm a-a werewolf but I'll keep my eye on her best I can."

When Sooraya's settled in a bed, resting if not asleep, Kevin heads for the call button, to bring Simon and Guppy for the needed discussion.

The first to arrive is Simon.

"Dr. Fawkes," he says, glancing at the patient. "Do you need assistance?"

"Yes, I do", Kevin says sombrely, turning to the display board to put up Sooraya's scans. "She was brought in complaining of severe headaches, nausea, dizziness and blurred vision. The scan shows an aneurysm."

Once summonned Guppy arrives promptly, having only been in the main bar at the time. He frowns slightly worriedly, taking in both patient and who he was paged by.

"Hello Sooraya." giving her a reassuring smile before approaching Kevin. He catches the details and nods, the frown reappearing.

"I'm not qualified to do that myself." he says quietly, hoping one of the other two is. "But I have studied some of the details in theory."

Simon looks over the scans, and nods to Kevin. "Have you decided how to treat it?"

"I told her the options, and she decided she'd prefer surgery. I'm able to do it, but... obviously not alone."

His relief at someone being able to do the procedure if clear, and Guppy nods.

"I've performed brain surgery once under extreme circumstances, but nothing that intricate. I'm also not qualified to give general anaesthesia. Bearing in mind that important information, I'll try and do whatever you need."

"I can give anaesthesia. I ... don't think I'm qualified to perform the surgery itself, so ..." He gestures at Kevin. "At your decision, doctor."

Kevin nods, glancing at them both.

"I can perform the operation, then... Dr. Tam, if you'll act as anaesthesist and both of you assist."

Guppy nods in agreement, then moves to tie his hair back and scrub up.

He then awaits instructions.

The other two make the necessary preparations and, when Sooraya is safely under anaesthetic... the operation begins.