Page 103 of Every Last One

Olivia came over and stood close to Sandra. Eric stood on her other side. Dana was next to Olivia.

“That’s everyone?” the doctor asked, and Sandra nodded. “Your mother’s condition is serious but not critical. She has ableeding gastric ulcer, which we believe was exacerbated by her medication. Margo was taking a low-dose aspirin every day, a common recommendation for a woman her age. She was also on an NSAID for her arthritis. Both things are typically fine on their own, but they increase the risk of a peptic ulcer. The bleeding caused the anemia and resulted in her passing out. Her wrist only broke due to how it twisted when she fell. Her bone density is what one would expect of a healthy woman her age.”

Sandra took a few seconds to find her voice. “What does that mean? A peptic ulcer? Is it treatable?”

Eric took Sandra’s hand, and Olivia tucked into her side. Sandra wrapped her arm around her daughter.

“It is. We’d stop with the medication immediately and get her started with blood transfusions to build up the iron. Then we can do surgery to fix the ulcer.”

“And the associated risks with that?” Sandra was afraid to take a deep breath in case she somehow jinxed the diagnosis.

“Once we get her iron levels built up, the surgery is considered low risk. Do I have your permission to start her on a blood transfusion, Ms. Vos? I understand you are Mrs. Davenport’s medical proxy?”

“Yes, please, go ahead and do that.”

“Will do so immediately.” The doctor smiled at them and set off down the hall.

Sandra stood there, her head spinning. All that worry today for no real reason.

“Grandma’s going to be all right, Mom.” Olivia sniffled.

“That she is, sweetheart.”

Olivia left with Dana and went back into Margo’s room.

Sandra pinched her St. Michael pendant. “She’s going to be all right.” She parroted Olivia’s words, trying to get them to really sink in.

“More than all right.” Eric wrapped his arms around her, and she sank against his chest.

This had been one hell of a day, with all its twists and turns, but she got through it. She’d do so again tomorrow, too, if she could at all help it. And even better, she’d face the future with her family and Eric by her side.

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