Page 14 of Someone Like You
Dialysis days were the worst for Louise Quinn.
The process was barbaric, one she had hoped to avoid ever since her doctor found disease in her kidneys. Her dirty blood would leave her body through a thick tube and pass through a machine. Once clean, her blood would circulate back to her body.
Each time here took about four hours. Larry drove her to the center, making sure she was hooked up and covered with her favorite blanket. Then he’d run errands and she’d read a book or watch TV. If she was lucky, she’d fall asleep and the time would pass more quickly. When it was done, Larry would be back, waiting for her.
Always waiting for her.
He had loved her since they were college freshmen, a week after meeting her at Portland State University’s back-to-school carnival. Now Larry was a pharmaceutical salesman and Louise ran London Coffee.
Their daughter was everything to them.
Louise leaned back in her recliner and pulled her blanket higher to her chest.
Her kidneys weren’t working at all, so dialysis was keeping her alive. At least until the transplant. The one she didn’t want. The surgery where her only daughter would give up a kidney to save Louise’s life.
Anxiety tightened its hold on her. If a cadaver kidney came up before the transplant, Louise would gladly welcome it as a very great gift, even though the success rate was lower than with a living donor. Because a cadaver kidney would mean London would get to keep hers.
Louise had been reading, but she was at the end of her treatment and too tired to turn the pages. She set the book down and sighed. For nearly a month she had come here three days a week and watched nurses connect her to a machine. Then she would sit in this chair, feet up, while the machine drained the fluid from her blood and body. Sometimes eight pounds of fluid.
The whole thing left her freezing cold.
When it was over, she always felt weak and faint. And every time she went through the procedure, her heart got a little more worn out. Some patients didn’t live past their first year on dialysis.
She tried to remember life just a year ago. When she would do Pilates every morning and run with Larry each evening. All their married lives they’d been active. The dream was to run the Portland Marathon this year. Instead—because of far too many over-the-counter pain meds, she was here. One thing was certain. When she was past this ordeal she would take up a cause greater than running a marathon.
People needed to know about the overuse of simple legal pain meds and what they could do to a body. Larry was going to help her start a nonprofit to raise awareness.
A nurse walked up and checked her machine. “Yes! Good work, Ms. Quinn.” She jotted a few numbers into Louise’s chart. “Just six pounds of fluid.” She smiled. “Thatmeans you’re consuming fewer liquids. Thirty-two ounces is the max per day. I’m sure you know.”
“Yes.” Louise managed a weak smile. “I’m trying.” She blew at a wisp of her grayish blond hair. “I used to drink that much coffee before eight in the morning.”
The nurse unhooked her and helped her to her feet. At the same time Louise spotted Larry in the lobby. He rose to meet her and with him at her side, five minutes later they were in their SUV.
Louise fell back against the seat and closed her eyes. “As much as I hate this, I’d do it the rest of my life if it meant sparing London the transplant.”
“I know.” Larry reached for her hand. “You’ve told her not to do this. We both have.”
“The girl’s been stubborn since before she could walk.” Louise blinked her eyes open and smiled at her husband. “I’m going to sleep for twelve hours tonight.”
“Here.” He handed her a paper bowl with a peeled hard-boiled egg. “Gotta get your protein.”
Larry had been her rock. Because of him, the hard-boiled egg had become part of the routine. She looked at him. “You love me so well.”
“As long as I live.” He turned his attention to the road. “Now let’s get you home. Dinner’s waiting.”
Protein was important for a dialysis patient, but Louise had no appetite. She took a steadying breath. “Have you heard from London?”
“She’s still with Dawson. As far as I know.” Larry’s smile came easily. “Every time they’re together I think this will be the day.”
“Mmm.” Louise sat a little straighter. “The day sherealizes how much that young man loves her.” She hesitated. “How much he’s in love with her.”
As they were pulling into their neighborhood Louise’s phone rang. Caller ID showed Dawson’s name.
Louise loved that young man like he was her own. She had filled in as a second mom for him since high school. But for some reason as she reached to answer the phone she hesitated. A flash of concern shot across her mind.
“Who is it?” Larry looked at her and then back at the road.
“Dawson.” Louise stared at the phone. She had to answer it. Her fears were completely irrational. Why would she be even the slightest bit concerned? Dawson was probably calling to see if he and London could stop by for dinner. Yes, that had to be it.
