spent a lot of time over here and I have Greek cousins who made fun of me so much when I was a child that I had no option but to pick up as much Greek as I could.”
Maria and Ariadne laughed and there was a good, friendly feel between all of them. Cathy always liked to break the ice when she was working. Tense patients were more difficult to take care of.
A young nurse came hurrying into the room, requesting the immediate attention of Sister Maria in the next cubicle. Maria excused herself.
“These are Ariadne’s notes, Cathy, and she understands everything that’s going on. She used to be a nurse before she started her family.”
“Would you like to tell me about your family, Ariadne?” Cathy asked, glancing briefly at the notes.
“These twins will be numbers four and five in the family,” Ariadne said, unable to hide the pride she was feeling as she patted her sizeable bump. “We intended to have four children but we were both delighted when I found out we were expecting twins. The more the merrier, my husband says. He wheeled me into hospital and then he went to do some shopping for me. He’ll be back soon. I’m not allowed to drive any more and I have to use a wheelchair outside home.”
Cathy glanced briefly at the case notes again. “Ariadne, tell me about the day you discovered you had symphysis pubis. It says in the notes that it was a sudden realisation. What actually happened?”
“I’d had a busy day, got the children to bed, cooked supper and then sat at the table with my husband, who’d just got back from a business meeting. He told me to sit still and let him wait on me during the meal. I suppose I was probably sitting for about half an hour. Then, as I stood up and tried to take a step I felt my pelvic bones split open. It was excrutiating. Thank goodness, Demetrius was with me! He got me straight into hospital and they gave me strong painkillers.”
“It’s a condition that’s not uncommon in women carrying more than one baby, Ariadne,” Cathy said in a sympathetic tone. “Especially among those who’ve had a number of births in a short period of time like you have with your first three children. So, I see you were referred to our orthopaedic specialist, who made the diagnosis.”
“It was such a relief to find out what was happening. I felt as if somebody had put a sword inside me. I will recover, won’t I, Cathy?”
“Yes, you will. Your ligaments, which stretch naturally during pregnancy and childbirth, have become too loose to hold the pelvis together. But you were given steroid injections, which tighten everything up, weren’t you? And I expect you were told to rest.”
“I didn’t move! I don’t go out any more except for my hospital appointment once a week. My mother lives nearby and my husband tries to work from home as much as possible.”
“Well, you seem to be doing all the right things. I see your twins are due in July.”
“It can’t come quick enough for any of us! I’ve been told I’ll be delivered by Caesarean section.”
“Yes. A natural birth would put too much strain on the pelvis. But the policy here at Ceres hospital is for operations of this nature to be transferred to the larger hospital on Rhodes. Minor operations are scheduled in for our hospital but most major ones are taken care of in Rhodes.”
“I’ve already discussed this with Dr Karavolis and requested that I have the Caesarean here, Cathy. I know it’s serious but he’s going to make an exception in my case. Because I’m a trained nurse and I know the risks, I also know the qualifications Dr Karavolis has in surgery and I’m sure I’ll be safe in his hands. This hospital is equipped with everything required, including an excellent surgical team. The specialist I’ve been seeing over on Rhodes has also agreed to this because he knows just how desperately I want my twins to be born on my beloved island.”
Cathy smiled as she secretly admired her patient’s positive attitude to her condition. “In that case, I’ll try to be with you at the birth.”
“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”
Sister Maria arrived back, saying she was going to take Ariadne for her scan.
Maria handed Cathy another set of case notes referring to the patient in the next cubicle. Cathy moved on, scanning the notes as she went. Tatiana, her next patient, was being treated by weekly injections of a new anti-miscarriage drug.
Before giving the injection Cathy asked her patient if she’d had any side effects.
Tatiana smiled. “Nothing at all to worry about. I was so pleased when the doctor suggested he would like to try this new drug. I’ve had three miscarriages and I’m so anxious not to lose this one.”
After giving the injection, Cathy turned round to put the kidney dish back on her trolley.
Yannis was standing in the doorway, watching her. “How are you getting on?”
No smile, no sign that they were anything but medical colleagues. Exactly how it should be, Cathy thought, ignoring the confused feelings inside her.
“Fine!”
“I’d like to take you up to Theatre before I start on my list. I may not have time to show you around before I need you to assist me some time in the near future so I’ve told Sister Maria I’d like to take you away from Outpatients for a short time.”
He moved into the cubicle and smiled down at the patient. “Looks like you’re going to be fourth time lucky with this baby, Tatiana. I had a word with your obstetrician over on Rhodes after your last appointment there and he’s very pleased with your progress.”
Tatiana beamed up at the handsome doctor. “I won’t have to go over to Rhodes for the birth, will I? I’d much prefer to be here.”
“Unless some complication develops, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be delivered here.”
“My husband’s already planning the celebration. You’re invited, of course, Dr Yannis. You were the one who suggested I should go over to Rhodes and see this doctor who specialises in women who’ve miscarried. I understand that he’s also a friend of yours.”
“Yes, he was at medical school with me…a long time ago.” Yannis swung round. “Must go. Take care of yourself and that precious baby, Tatiana.”
Cathy increased her speed to keep in step with Yannis as they went down the corridor together. His face was solemn again, but she was glad she’d noticed the easy, friendly manner he adopted with the patients.
Tatiana had been obviously delighted to see him. Patients and staff alike seemed to regard him as a heart-throb, from what Tanya had told her before she’d gone off to Australia. But Yannis seemed totally oblivious to the effect he had on the opposite sex.
“I thought it would be a good idea for you to familiarise yourself with our operating theatres before you’re called on to work there. I’ve checked up on your CV and found you’ve had considerable experience in surgery.”
“Yes, I was fortunate to have a lot of experience in my early career. I toyed with the idea of specialising at one point but decided to gain wider experience so that I could possibly train as a GP after I’d settled down and had a family.”
He turned to look
