The next day the pediatrician arranged for us to see a specialist in Worcester, MA. Although we were concerned as to what exactly was going on with Mr. James, we were not panicking. The ride in to the city was nothing more than light hearted conversation regarding James' condition.
We arrived at UMass and checked James into the clinic. We were then escorted into the exam room. Dr. Moriarty began by ordering tests on James' blood work. During the examination he seemed to be paying close attention to his abdomen and to the swollen areas in and around his neck and shoulders. We were both asked a series of unusual questions about our medical histories. Questions seemed to revolve around immune deficiency disorders, as well as HIV. Though there was nothing in our histories that was out of the ordinary, his line of questioning raised our level of concern. Dr. Moriarty completed the exam and excused himself from the room.
Kristen and I discussed our concerns regarding the questions he had asked. We began to wonder what kind of news Dr. Moriarty was going to give us when he returned. The news was devastating. "We are looking for a tumor" he said. My heart pounded, as I didn't want to believe what I had just heard. I felt as though I had just been hit with a baseball bat. My face went flush immediately and I responded with "Do you mean cancer"?!! The answer was a a resounding "yes". We both began to panic. Kristen began to ask several questions, as if she were trying to change his diagnosis or sway his decision.
The rest of the conversation was a blur, I just remember a feeling of utter helplessness. I made a phone call to my parents. I broke the news first to my mother. Her reaction was shock and disbelief, and she suggested that we get a second opinion. As anxious and upset as I was, I tried to calm her worries and remind her that we still didn't have all of the details. I asked her to pick the girls up that afternoon from the bus stop, and to have them pack an overnight bag to stay with them. James would not be going home that night.
The rest of the conversation was a blur, I just remember a feeling of utter helplessness. I made a phone call to my parents. I broke the news first to my mother. Her reaction was shock and disbelief, and she suggested that we get a second opinion. As anxious and upset as I was, I tried to calm her worries and remind her that we still didn't have all of the details. I asked her to pick the girls up that afternoon from the bus stop, and to have them pack an overnight bag to stay with them. James would not be going home that night.
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