crampyabdominalpain,thennausea,andprogressedto
vomiting.Heroncologistsenthertothehospital.Ascan
showedher ovarian cancer had multiplied, grown,and
partlyobstructed herintestineagain.Her abdomenhad
alsofilledwithfluid,anewproblemforher.Thedeposits
of tumor had stuffed up her lymphatic system, which
servesasakindofstormdrainforthelubricatingfluids
thatthebody’sinternalliningssecrete.Whenthesystem
is blocked, the fluid has nowhere to go. When that
happens above the diaphragm, as it did with Sara
Monopoli’slungcancer,thechestfillsuplikearibbed
bottleuntilyouhavetroublebreathing.Ifthesystemgets
blockedupbelowthediaphragm,asitdidwithDouglass,
thebellyfillsuplikearubberballuntilyoufeelasifyou
will burst.
WalkingintoDouglass’s hospitalroom,I’d neverhave
knownshewasassick asshewasif Ihadn’tseenthe
scan. “Well,look who’s here!”she said, asif I’d just
arrived at a cocktail party. “How are you, doctor?”
“I think I’m supposed to ask you that,” I said.
Shesmiledbrightlyandpointedaroundtheroom.“This
ismy husband,Arthur, whomyouknow,and myson,
Brett.”Shegotmegrinning.Hereitwaseleveno’clockat
night,shecouldn’tholddownanounceofwater,andstill
shehadherlipstickon,hersilverhairbrushedstraight,
and she was insisting on making introductions. She
wasn’toblivioustoherpredicament.Shejusthatedbeing
a patient and the grimness of it all.
Italkedtoheraboutwhatthescanshowed.Shehadno
unwillingnesstofacethefacts.Butwhattodoaboutthem