birthmural: (Default)
Daimon Hellstrom ([personal profile] birthmural) wrote in [community profile] trans_92011-08-02 05:02 pm

Dying is easy [Closed]

Daimon fought with himself the entire walk to Medbay. He had put this off long enough- too long, really. If there was anything that could be done for him then his delay only hurt his chances. But if, as he felt in his heart, there was nothing...

It was easier, in a way, not knowing for certain. He could ignore the failings of his body, rationalize them away. He could continue his relationship with Patsy without fearing how it might end. He could make plans for the future. But inside he knew the truth, he knew what was happening, and he couldn't pretend anymore.

And so Daimon Hellstrom arrived in Medbay not early for his appointment but on time- or as close as you could come to it on Stacy.
couldputitback: (Smile)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Faiza looked up from her paperwork (well, holographic work, but it never sounded quite the same) and smiled, pushing herself to her feet. "Mr. Hellstrom? At least, I'd assume so if you have an appointment."
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course." Faiza motioned toward one of the beds. "The results will have to be entered into your file, of course, though I should be able to lock it to doctors rather than regular staff."
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
She took a moment, keying in a few commands on the current file before nodding. "Well, for one, I'd like to know what's prompted you to make the appointment. It has something to do with magic or the supernatural?"
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
She frowned. "Chest pains aren't anything to ignore, Mr. Hellstrom," Faiza noted, picking up a stethoscope. Even with all the fancy equipment on the ship, she preferred to use what she knew for this. "Especially when you start including fatigue. Are you experiencing any other symptoms? Shortness of breath? Sweating or nausea?"
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, no. But chest pains can be indicative of more than just heart attacks." Faiza frowned slightly. "This may sound like an odd question, but have your feet been swollen lately?"
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
The heartbeat definitely made her frown more. "That doesn't entirely rule out congestive heart failure, but it goes a long way." She pulled the earpieces down around her neck. "Do you have a family history of low blood pressure?" This wasn't normal. And she really didn't like this at all.
couldputitback: (I'm A Doctor)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-02 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right." Which...made this more difficult.

She came back to his front, hands going into her lab coat pockets. "Well. I'm not entirely certain what's going on. But your heart is definitely weakened. I'll have to run some more tests, see if there's something else there. It could be viral."
couldputitback: (Serious)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-03 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
At least the advanced equipment in the medbay sped up the tests. Though Faiza did her best to make sure they were exhaustive. She didn't want to leave a stone unturned, especially when the first results started coming back. She kept looking for an answer, not willing to take the first one that came along.

Unfortunately, as the tests went on, the first answer became the second, third, fourth...all the answers.

She took a moment to digest the final results, pressing her forehead against a wall before returning to Daimon in the other room, looking over his chart. "I wish this was one of those 'good news, bad news' things, but I'm afraid it's all bad news." She flipped through the chart, then shook her head. "I'm afraid, Mr. Hellstrom, that your heart is failing. Though that's only the beginning of it, as there are other systems in your body that are following the same route. Your heart may well beat them to the punch, but it might be a near enough thing."

It wasn't easy news to deliver. "Point of fact, Mr. Hellstrom, is that you are dying. But I can't find a reason for any of it to be happening. There's no viral cause, no genetic cause that I can find. It's like somebody's fixed a dimmer switch to your internal organs and is slowly turning it down."
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-03 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Faiza settled back to listen, not entirely certain what to make of it. She chewed on the inside of her lip, considering it for a moment. "If that's your choice, then I'll make note of it in your file. And, of course, look into any ways we can to making that life as long as possible. But this may well mean taking on modified duties and being exempted from away missions."

Which didn't mean much to some people. But it was a warning she needed to give. "For the moment, I'll need to do some research and see if we have anything in the pharmacy to deal with the chest pains or make your heart any stronger."
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-03 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
She looked at the file again, tilting her head back and forth for a moment. "A few months. I don't have anything firmer than that. We might be able to stretch that out, but I'd wager it at less than six months even then."
couldputitback: (Determined)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-03 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
It was never easy information to impart. But it was one reason why the Hippocratic Oath covered these sorts of situations. When there was nothing more that the doctor could do but offer less pain and maybe a little more time.

"I don't think it's something the Captain needs to know at the moment," Faiza replied. "Though I will keep that in mind should it become necessary. The information is already keyed to doctors only, though I think it may be best for me to stay on as your primary care giver unless I find somebody better suited." She gave him a wry smile. "I'm afraid I'm not very well versed in magic or the supernatural. That was coming up in my training."
couldputitback: (Default)

[personal profile] couldputitback 2011-08-03 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"You are welcome, but it's my job." Faiza closed the file and bowed her head. "Khuda hāfiz, Mr. Hellstrom." A moment, then, "Which translates as 'God be your guardian' in Urdu. At the moment, I believe any help would be welcome."