Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Damien
I held her in my arms after we made love and her head rested peacefully on my chest. It was our fourth night in Paris, and we’d done a lot.
She was exhausted, and I could see the change in her every day.
As I was holding her, thinking about what to do, she had a seizure in her sleep.
Her eyes flew open, and her body started to jerk.
I rolled her onto her side and wrapped my arms tightly around her while I pressed my lips against her forehead.
The seizure stopped, and she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
This was too much for her, and I needed to get her back to New York so she could rest.
The next morning, while she slept, I got up and opened the laptop that was sitting on the desk.
I started researching brainstem tumors and the top neurosurgeons in the world.
There had to be something or someone that could help her.
I wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing for the woman I had fallen so deeply in love with.
She had helped me in ways I never thought possible, and now, I was going to help her.
I was looking at different countries, ones that were more medically advanced.
There had to be a goddamn trial study somewhere in the world for brainstem tumors.
Everywhere I looked, I kept seeing the same name over and over again: Dr. Jamieson Finn.
I googled him and came across numerous articles about his work and awards.
He worked out of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and consulted at Mount Sinai in New York.
It wouldn’t hurt to give him a call. I picked up my phone and dialed his office number.
“Dr. Finn’s office. How can I help you?”
“Umm. Yes. I need to make an appointment to see Dr. Finn, please.”
“His next available appointment is next month.”
“I don’t have a month. I need to get in to see him now.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but Dr. Finn is completely booked.”
I took in a deep breath to stop myself from losing my shit.
“I understand that, but this is an emergency. My girlfriend doesn’t have a month. It is imperative that we get in to see Dr. Finn immediately.”
“Sir. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. He can only take so many appointments because he has his other duties here at the hospital.”
I hung up on her and threw my phone across the desk.
There had to be a way to get in to see him.
I tried searching for his personal number and came to a dead end.
Then I ran across an article about his wife.
It seemed she was a trauma surgeon at the same hospital.
I dialed the emergency room, and a woman named Jackie answered.
“Hello, I need to speak with Dr. Grace Finn, please.”
“May I ask who’s calling?”
“Damien Prescott out of New York.”
“Let me see if I can find her. I’m going to put you on hold.”
I waited for approximately ten minutes, and then someone picked up.
“Hi, Mr. Prescott. This is Dr. Grace Finn. How can I help you?”
Thank God.
“Dr. Finn, I know this isn’t appropriate, but I desperately need your help. I tried calling your husband to get an appointment with him, but the utterly rude woman said his first appointment isn’t until next month. My girlfriend doesn’t have a month.”
“Okay, Mr. Prescott. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong with your girlfriend?”
“She’s been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in her brainstem.
She’s been to several neurosurgeons, and they’ve all said the same thing.
She’s been taking medication to try to control the tumor to buy her more time, but her symptoms are worsening.
She had a seizure last night in her sleep.
Please, Dr. Finn. I love this woman so much, and I need to get your husband’s opinion.
From what I’ve read, he’s the best neurosurgeon out there. ”
“He is the best, Mr. Prescott.”
“Please. I’m begging you for your help. I am not ready to lose her.”
“Okay. Are you in the Los Angeles area by any chance?”
“No. I’m from New York, but we’re in Paris. It was her last wish.”
“I see. What is your girlfriend’s name?”
“London Everly. She has a blog where she’s documented her journey. Let me give you the web address, and you and your husband can check it out.”
“What is it, and what is your phone number?”
I rattled off the web address to her as well as my number.
“Thank you, Mr. Prescott. I’ll talk to my husband, and I’ll be in touch. I promise.”
“Thank you, Dr. Finn.”