Both Meghan and Kelsey had appointments on Friday, so Mitch drove everyone to the hospital in the morning. Meghan and Kelsey wound up being called back to their appointments at the same time, so separated in the hallway, each following their own nurse. Meghan was directed down the hall to the X-ray room, where another set of radiographs were taken of her left leg. Once done, her nurse directed her into a casting room. “Meghan, you can wait in here. It’ll be a few minutes for Dr. Brant to look over your x-rays, and then he’ll be in with a tech to look at your incision and decide about whether to do another splint or put on a cast.”

Meghan nodded and settled in one of the chairs in the room, choosing not to clamor up onto the exam table just yet. She let her mind wander back to the events of the previous evening. What a turn of events! Meghan had never dreamed that she would give someone an enema, and especially not be on the receiving end of one!

Yet, she mused, they weren’t that bad. The cramps weren’t her favorite, but Kelsey had been right to say that they weren’t as bad as some she’d experienced with her cycles. She supposed that she wouldn’t say no if offered one to help with bad constipation issues, but hoped that she wouldn’t need to have the experience again soon. And yet she remembered that she was supposed to do one of those Fleets bottles Wednesday night. I need to ask Kelsey about that, she thought. I wonder if the Fleets are easier to take than that big bag last night?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Dr. Brant came in, along with a tech she didn’t know. “Hi, Meghan! How are you feeling?”

She smiled. “Hey there, Dr. Rick. I’m doing pretty well.”

“Good! I just looked at your x-rays, and everything is healing nicely. Let’s get you on the table so I can look at those stitches.” He gave her a hand up and assisted her up onto the table, pulling out the extension for her leg to rest on. As he pulled on gloves, the tech cut the wrapping of the splint, exposing the bandaged incisions. She removed the bandages.

Rick touched Meghan’s leg and inspected the wound. “Good news – these stitches are coming out today. Sara, hand me some scissors and a pair of forceps, please.” She handed him the instruments and he snipped each suture, removing it from Meghan’s leg with the forceps. Twenty sutures later, he removed the last one. “Done! And now you get to graduate from a splint to an actual cast. Could you bring Brad in to assist, Sara?”

She nodded and left the room. “By the way, Meghan, I heard about your upcoming surgery next week. You’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Dr. Rick. I’m looking forward to getting everything behind me, you know?” He nodded. Sara returned with Brad, and they started pulling out supplies for the cast.

“Meghan, do you have a color preference?” Rick asked.

She grinned. “I see you have all kinds of options, but I think I’ll settle for the navy. I’m not much for garish colors.”

He nodded. “Navy it is, then!”

They proceeded to cast her leg, making sure to keep a slight bend in her knee and position her foot in such a way that she should be able to actually walk in the cast. She had to wait a bit for everything to dry appropriately, but was fitted with another cast shoe and helped to take her first steps with the cast.

“There you go! You’re allowed to bear weight on your leg, but I would recommend continuing to use the crutches. Let’s go show off your cast to your sister. By the way, what’s the latest on Kelsey?” Rick followed Meghan out to the waiting room.

“I’m not sure. She was supposed to be seeing Dr. Rothman while I was in with you.” She saw Kelsey and Mitch waiting. She approached them.

“You’re walking, and the new cast! Yay!” Kelsey was pleased for her sister. “Hey there Rick! Meghan keeping in line?”

He chuckled. “Yes, I think she is. How did your appointment go with Dr. Rothman?”

“Pretty well, I think. I’ve got another couple of weeks before we start occupational therapy, but the incision looks good and I should get the staples out next week.”

“Good to hear!” Rick heard a nurse calling his name. “Well, I need to get back to my patients, but good to see you. Let me know if you need anything.” He waved goodbye and headed back into the clinic.

The weekend was quiet for the Branstons and Meghan. Kelsey and Meghan spent a lot of time watching TV and old movies. Sunday morning was a quiet morning as well, with them enjoying breakfast and settling down with books and coffee.

The phone rang. Mitch snagged it. “Hello, Branston residence.”

Dr. Branston, this is Steve Shultz. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need an urgent favor.

“No problem, Steve. What’s up?” Mitch took the phone and headed for his office.

I just got off the phone with Mom’s nursing home and she’s having issues. I need to get her to the hospital over in Walter’s Grove. Could you cover for me today in the ER? I’m supposed to be on until 7 pm.

“Absolutely, Steve, I’ll come in and cover. You should go see to your Mom. I can be there within the hour.” Mitch glanced at his watch.

I appreciate it, Mitch. I’ll wait for you to get here and head out to care for Mom.

Mitch ended the phone call, ran his hand through his hair, and started rounding up his supplies for the shift. He carried his briefcase through to the bedroom and changed into scrubs and his work shoes. As he came out of the bedroom to the kitchen Kelsey noticed the clothing immediately.

“Did you get called into work?” she asked.

He came over and kissed her forehead. “Yes, Steve Shultz’s mom isn’t doing well and he needs to go see to her. I’ll be working until 7 tonight. Think you gals can behave and not get into trouble.”

She chuckled. “We’ll do our best. I think there’s some leftovers in the fridge if that’s what you’re looking for.”

He shook his head. “I’ll just grab something from the café if I need it. Your meds…”

“Are on the counter, along with the chart, as are Meghan’s meds. We’ll nurse each other while you’re gone.” Kelsey smiled.

“We’re not that big of invalids,” Meghan protested.

Mitch fixed the two of them with a look. “Uh, huh. Well, I need to go. Be good. Page if you need anything.” He gave Kelsey one last kiss goodbye and left.

Kelsey and Meghan had a quiet afternoon. Meghan fixed them lunch, making sandwiches from the deli meat in the fridge and sharing a can of Pringles. As they ate, Kelsey brought up Meghan’s upcoming surgery.

“Are you nervous about getting that cyst out?” Kelsey asked.

“Kind of,” Meghan admitted. “Although I’m mostly relieved to be getting it taken care of and out of my hair.”

“Did you have any questions about it, before, during, or after? I know that the pre-op appointments wind up being a whirlwind of tests, exams, and too much paperwork and information.”

Meghan nodded. “Actually, I had a couple of people the other day ask how long I’d be in the hospital.”

Kelsey nodded. “If everything goes smoothly, you’ll probably be just overnight for a laparoscopic removal, but open surgery usually winds up with the patient staying 4-5 days. I would pack for the longer stay, just in case,” Kelsey recommended. “Did they say anything about how you’re to prep for the surgery?”

“Nothing after midnight, and a shower the night before and the morning of. Course, that will probably be a bed bath, with the splint.” Meghan hesitated.

Kelsey looked at her. “Did they recommend a bowel prep as well?”

Meghan nodded. “Yeah. I’m to get a prescription filled for laxative pills, drink a bottle of mag citrate, and do a Fleets enema.”

Kelsey grimaced. “Yeah, that’s what I thought they’d order for you. It’s not the most pleasant way, but it is effective.”

Meghan groaned. “Oh, goody, something to look forward to… not.”

Kelsey smiled sympathetically. “Now, there is an alternative.”

“Oh really? What?”

“Hospitals used to recommend a change to a liquid diet for two days and do an enema series.”

Meghan raised her eyebrows. “Enemas? Really?”

“Oh, yes. The enema protocol is similar to the ones we did the other night, but usually, a couple more, depending on how well the bowels empty. Basically enough enemas to make sure that everything is coming out clear. Liquids for two days is the hardest part, at least it was for me when Mitch did this for me before my gallbladder surgery.” Kelsey smiled.

Meghan took a few minutes to think about what Kelsey had just told her. “Overall it sounds better than the laxatives and stuff. Think Mitch would be willing to help me with this?”

Kelsey smiled widely. “Oh, sis! Mitch wouldn’t mind a bit. Talk to him tonight – I’m sure he’ll readily agree.”

“Okay, I will,” Meghan agreed.