Fiona McArthur

by The Surgeon's Special Gift

  That night Helen came to Ailee's room. 'I'm still not convinced you should do this, darling.'

  Ailee hugged her and sat her down on the bed beside her. 'Look, Mum, the only drawback I can see is no contact sport, and I was never that good at netball anyway.' She tried to lighten her mother's concerns.

  She ticked another concern off on her fingers. 'I will always have to wear a seat belt in the car in case of accidents but I would have anyway. Diet and exercise are not something I have a problem with, except for the occasional chocolate biscuit.'

  Both women smiled because Ailee's weakness for chocolate-covered biscuits was a joke in the family.

  Helen chewed her lip. 'What about childbearing? When you get married?'

  'If I get married! I'm nearly thirty and no knight on a charger has chatted me up yet.' She looked away.

  Now, that was the first lie she'd ever told her mother!

  Helen missed her daughter's lack of conviction. 'But he's out there somewhere. With one kidney there is some increase of risk if you became pregnant.'

  'Mother.' Ailee grasped Helen gently by the shoulders and looked into her worried eyes. 'We both want William well. Some people are born with one kidney and never have a moment's problem. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and lose a kidney or worse. Even someone who's had a kidney transplant can have a baby. We've been all through this and I'm sure this is what I want.'

  Helen couldn't hide the relief that warred with her worry. 'I'm so proud of you, Ailee.'

  'Fiddle.' Ailee thought little of that. 'If the roles were reversed, William would do the same for me like a shot. Stop worrying about it and let's concentrate on getting William well enough to undergo the transplant so we can all finally relax.'

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A week later Ailee looked round her temporary coordinator's office at Sydney West, one of the two major transplant hospitals in New South Wales, and then settled into the worn black swivel chair.

  Transplant co-ordinators didn't have much down time and when the transitory vacancy had been difficult to fill, Ailee had offered to fill the gap until the replacement sister arrived in two weeks.

  Ailee was way over-qualified but the experience would stand her in good stead when she gained her consultancy.

  She believed so passionately in the donor programme she could only benefit from access to another facet of the process and anticipated the day when she saw her brother William energetic and happy. That day wasn't far away.

  As temporary transplant co-ordinator, Ailee would not only be responsible for the care and preparation of the computer-chosen patients needing organ donation but also for the liaison with the families of donors who had died and, of course, with live donors themselves.

  She would be the one who interacted with their relatives in regard to any organ donation and the arrangement of the organ-donation procedure. Afterwards she would follow the families up and inform them of the progress of any of the recipients who had benefited from their relative's generous act.

  While incumbent she hoped to help raise the profile of people signing organ-donation cards.

  For the moment she needed to grab the patient list and head over to the kidney transplant unit for the morning's ward round.

  As well as the head of department, Dr Lewis Harry, she knew most of the team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dieticians who kept the recipients in optimum health.

  As Ailee entered the airy ward there was a vibrancy about the unit that made her pause so that she had a moment to study the group of professionals up ahead before they saw her. It was the tallest man who riveted her attention and caused the heat in her face.

  The last week had felt like a lifetime since she'd seen him, but one lingering look at Fergus McVicker brought back Singapore so poignantly her body shuddered as if he'd touched her again.

  What was he doing here?

  It hadn't been as easy as she'd hoped to go on and not think about Fergus, and he'd shared her dreams every night in her lonely bed.

  Now the real man confronted her and this was the last thing she needed on the first day of her new post.

  Ailee searched the rest of the team, all known to her from her visits here with William, but delightful Dr Harry was missing.

  The consultant who had recruited her for the job, and would care for both William and her, had promised to be here for her first morning.

  There wasn't time to dwell on this shock because Fergus had looked up and was staring across at her. There was no mercy in his look. He didn't look surprised, so at least one of them had known in advance about this meeting.

  Ailee lifted her chin and crossed the room. 'Good morning, everyone. For those who aren't aware, I'm the temporary transplant co-ordinator while Maureen's broken arm is mending and the replacement sister can start.'

  Ailee ignored the icy gaze fixed on her by Fergus as her colleagues murmured their congratulations. Fergus finally looked away and Ailee breathed a tiny sigh of relief. She would have to deal with him later, though she had no idea how, as he'd obviously taken her flight without telling him in the worst possible way.

  Hopefully she would be more prepared when the time for discussion came.

  'Now that Dr Green has arrived, we'll get on with the round, shall we?' There was no hesitation at the end of the sentence and Fergus set off and his entourage followed.

  The tiny note of censure in his comment made Ailee lift her brows in surprise but she shrugged it off. She'd been on time.

  Maurice, the new young pharmacist, walked beside Ailee and she quietly asked the question uppermost in her mind.

  'Where's Dr Harry?'

  'His wife had a stroke last night, and Mr McVicker has been seconded from Sydney West to cover for the next few weeks. We're very lucky as he's a leader in the field and just back from Britain, like you.'

  That kind of luck she could do without. 'Poor Mrs Harry.' Inwardly Ailee sighed. She seemed destined to come up against this man in her life at a time that wasn't at all convenient.

  'Are you with us, Dr Green?'

  This time the question was pointed and beside her she could feel the surprise emanating from Maurice. The young pharmacist raised his eyebrows at her in query. Ailee's usually placid temper began a slow burn. McVicker didn't need to make such an obvious point of his problem with her.

  'Of course, Mr McVicker,' she said calmly, at least on the surface.

  Ailee knew the patients they would see today because she'd come in yesterday to read all the notes and introduce herself to them. She'd ignore the consultant and concentrate on the important people in the room.

  The young woman in the first bed, Jody Withers, was unable to hide her excitement.

  Today was Jody's discharge day and she'd spent the last two weeks smiling since she'd woken up with her new kidney and pancreas. Jody had been on the waiting list for two years and the double-transplant call had come the day before her twenty-first birthday. She represented a bright star in a sometimes tragic area.

  Jody could now forgo the thrice-weekly dialysis for her renal failure, which she'd fitted in after work, and her newly donated pancreas meant she was no longer an insulin-dependent diabetic.

  The four insulin needles a day she'd lived with since she'd been ten were now a thing of the past.

  'So how do you feel, Jody?' It seemed Fergus had also done his homework because Jody was quite at ease with the great man.

  'Still blown away that somebody somewhere changed my life by doing this, Mr McVicker.' She closed her eyes briefly and shrugged, her young face suddenly troubled. 'I can't stop thinking about my donor's family giving permission while they dealt with losing someone they loved.'

  Ailee empathised with the young woman. This was part of her job. 'Your dilemma seems to be the thought uppermost in all recipients' minds, Jody. Other recipients have said a letter to the donor family sometimes helps. You could write down your feelings and when you're happy with how it sounds we can forward your letter
to your donor's family. I really believe it helps them as well to hear how much of a miracle their loved one has made possible.'

  Jody's smile was strained. 'That would be wonderful, Ailee. I'll try that and bring it back when I come in for my check-up next week.'

  Ailee sensed Fergus's attention on her again and she forced herself to ignore the sensations that fluttered over her skin, acknowledging it was going to be incredibly difficult to work with this man. She'd just have to keep her distance and ignore the way his presence affected her.

  Fergus seemed to be managing more easily than she was but he'd had prior warning and it was different for men. She'd probably been a pleasant interlude for him.

  His thoughts were where hers should be—on the patient. 'All your pathology results look perfect today, Jody.' Fergus said. 'Are you happy with your medications?'

  Jody nodded. 'I have a system for taking them. Maurice has helped me work out a schedule sol feel less sick, and won't forget any of the doses. I just don't want to get fat.'

  Fergus smiled at the girl. 'Some side-effects we can help a little with and Louise, the dietician, is here for you any time you need her.

  'You must contact us if you become unwell or you notice change or decrease in your urine output. Try the ward phone number and if what they suggest doesn't work, this is my card. While Dr Harry is away, you can ring me on my mobile any time if you're worried.'

  He passed over a small white card and Ailee was glad to see the relief on Jody's face. It was generous of Fergus to make the gesture.

  The round went on.

  In the next room, a young couple were scheduled for surgery the next day.

  Peter was donating one of his kidneys to Emma, his wife.

  Emma, blonde-haired and blue-eyed, had become extremely ill with pregnancy-induced hypertension during the birth of their twin daughters. Emma's blood pressure had been so high and uncontrollable that she had irretrievably damaged both her kidneys. Three months later she had reached end-stage kidney failure and the thrice- weekly dialysis had been a constant juggling act.

  If all went well, tomorrow's operation would return their shattered lives to some degree of normality and Emma and Peter were looking forward to more quality time with their daughters.

  'A final day of work-up and then the big day.' Fergus looked across at Emma who smiled back weakly. His voice lowered. 'How are you, Emma?'

  'Worried if anything happens to Peter.' Emma's eyes filled and she put her hand to her mouth so it was difficult to hear what she said.

  Fergus bent towards her and tipped her chin up so she could see his smile. 'We'll be taking special care of him. Your Peter has three women who need him and I know he can't wait to see some colour in the cheeks of the woman he loves. Now, save some sympathy for yourself. You'll be under the anaesthetic longer than Peter and I want you to rest as much as you can today.'

  Peter spoke from the next bed, where he was sitting fully dressed. He pointed to a picture of two chubby babies in matching pink outfits who grinned toothlessly out of the photo frame. 'My mum brought the girls in last night so they aren't coming in today.'

  Fergus shook hands with him. 'How are you feeling, Peter? Nervous?'

  Peter was dark-haired and serious. 'Perhaps a little, but I'm excited, too. Emma and I are a team and half the team is out on her feet. Normally I can't keep up with her. I want Emma well.'

  Ailee lowered her voice. 'Is your mum going to stay for a while to help with the children? You need to rest afterwards and you'll be pretty sore.'

  'Yes.' Peter also spoke quietly. 'And my dad's taken over running the store. I worry about his heart condition but we just can't afford to close until I get well enough to go back.'

  Fergus nodded and Ailee could see the frustration in his body language. 'That's where everything needs to change. Live donors save lives and save the government thousands of dollars in dialysis every year. Donors need their out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed. We're not talking about making a profit but to take away the hardship such a selfless act incurs.'

  Peter sighed. 'Wouldn't that make it easier? But if it costs us our home, it's still worth it. We have to have Emma well again.'

  'At least with the laparoscopic surgery that I use, your recovery time will be reduced by a few weeks. There will still be four small wounds, one for the laparoscopic camera on its cable to allow me vision for what I'm doing and two for the other instruments that will divide and separate your kidney from its bed. A fourth excision below the umbilicus will be made through which to remove the kidney.'

  'It sounds so easy.' Peter rolled his eyes. 'Not!'

  'There are still risks but we'll look after you and your wife.' Fergus rested his hand on Peter's shoulder.

  'I'll come back tonight and answer any final questions about tomorrow and look at the last lot of results.'

  'Maurice...' Fergus patted the pharmacist on the back '...is going to run through Emma's immunosuppressant regime again with you both so we're sure you understand how to help prevent her body rejecting your kidney and the side-effects she can expect. If there's anything else you don't understand, ask Ailee or any of the team, and we'll take some extra time to explain.'

  The group moved on and Fergus seemed to have a rapport with every patient—much like the man she'd spent time with in Singapore. A totally different person to the one who glanced indifferently across at her now.

  When the round was over, the team met in the foyer to discuss any further changes or additions that were needed, and then the group broke up.

  'Dr Green?' Fergus spoke quietly but his voice carried effortlessly to her. 'I'd like to speak to you in the office.'

  Ailee looked up at Fergus's request and met his eyes. Without saying a word she preceded him into the office and he closed the door behind them.

  He gestured for her to sit down and Ailee shook her head. A discussion that needed a seat, she wasn't ready for. 'I don't have the time to sit down. What can I do for you, Mr McVicker?'

  He stared at a point over her left shoulder. 'I apologise for being abrupt and only wish to make it clear you'll have no unwanted attention from me.'

  Ailee glanced at the door, eager to get out of there and away from his presence. 'Thank you. Is that all? I gather you were expecting me?'

  'Oh, I knew you were here. I won't single you out again—unless you're late. That will be all, thank you, Doctor.'

  Ally cast one puzzled look at him and left the room.

  Fergus watched her go, not sure he'd handled that well.

  When she'd walked into the ward that morning, her presence had punched him in the gut as it had the first time he'd seen her, but he'd just have to get over that.

  Listening to her talk to Jody and Peter had carried him back to the way she'd been supportive on the plane and in Singapore and, of course, later in his arms. He didn't understand the different sides to her.

  When Lionel Harry had asked him to cover him here, he'd been trapped as he wasn't scheduled back at his own hospital for a month and was the most likely replacement.

  If he'd known Ailee worked here, he would have flown a replacement in from overseas rather than come himself. Unfortunately by the time he'd found out he'd already agreed to come.

  To top that off, Sophie hadn't been impressed that he'd cancelled their holiday but he'd make it up to her. She seemed pleased to be back home as a day student again.

  His mind wandered back to Ailee, as it had several times a day and most of the nights over the last week. He was surprised their paths hadn't crossed before, considering how close their work was. Apparently she was a gifted surgeon. He wouldn't have forgotten a previous meeting.

  He'd since discovered she was well liked and respected for her dedication to the renal transplant unit.

  He didn't understand why she was temping in a transplant co-ordinator's job instead of getting on with resuming her position—but he would find out. Not that he'd be a fool again with this woman.

  Ailee's day
got steadily busier. She had a lecture on donor liaison with medical students at ten and it was five to the hour now.

  All medical professionals needed to be skilled and em- pathetic when approaching bereaved families and learn how to discuss organ and tissue donation and her brain couldn't be distracted by thoughts of Fergus McVicker.

  The lecture went well and her plug for all who attended to sign donor cards was well received, as was her point that anyone considering such a pledge should also make their family aware of it. This was one of the most common stumbling blocks between the original intent of the donor and the recipient life being saved.

  Lunch was a snatched sandwich and just enough time to ask Rita, the charge nurse of the renal transplant unit, the burning question, 'How long is Fergus McVicker staying?'

  'What's the story with you two?' Rita's bright blue eyes stared straight at Ailee and avoided Ailee's question.

  Ailee raised her eyebrows and stared right back—a trick she'd learned from her brother when he was cornered. 'There's no story. He must have taken an instant dislike to me.'

  Rita laughed. 'Nobody takes an instant dislike to you. Look at you! Care and empathy shine out of every gorgeous pore.'

  'Please, Rita. Give me the good news.'

  Rita shrugged and gave up. 'He's here for two weeks, maybe four. It all depends on Mrs Harry. She's improving well and she may visit their daughter for her convalescence, in which case Dr Harry will be back sooner.'

  'So how could our Mr McVicker drop everything at Sydney West?'

  'He was on holiday. Apparently he's got a daughter who isn't happy Daddy's taken on the job, though. He's a widower and unattached. He could be just your type, Ailee, when all this is over.'

  Rita smiled and then her smile faded. 'How is William today? He must be pretty disappointed he got sick when you were due home. Is he psyched up for the op?'

  'He's due in this afternoon for the assessment clinic. He's improved a lot and we'll both be glad when he's well again.'

  The transplant assessment clinic was held every afternoon at one o'clock. The renal team reviewed the suitability of end-stage renal patients for transplantation.