Julio – The Growing Years

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I was on call that night and I had a couple of calls about my surgical patients. I checked with Matt’s nurse before turning in for the night and everything was fine. About 3 in the morning I was awakened by the phone. “Dr. Sanchez, Matt’s curled up in severe pain.”

Chapter 39 

I had them give him 1mg of morphine IV then got dressed and hurried to the hospital. When I got there, his mother had arrived and was yelling at the nurses. “Get out of my way, I’m his mother and I know what’s good for him.”

I walked over and gently took Ms. Davis by the arm and led her to a chair out of the way. “Ms. Davis, please control yourself; now Matt, where do you hurt son?”

Matt rolled onto his back and lifted his gown. “Right here Dr. Sanchez. Oh God it hurts.”

I palpated his abdomen and as before, he was hard as a rock. I looked at his chart and dietary had brought him is new dinner. I knew that could not possibly do this but I was at a total loss to figure out why. The fruit he had should have helped him to move his bowels. Then it dawned on me. His mother brought the fruit in from home. I looked in the trash can and there were the remains of several oranges Matt had consumed. I lifted the liner out and took a clean one that was in the bottom of the can and put the orange peels in it. “W what are you doing Doctor?” Ms. Davis stuttered.

I looked at her and smiled. “I’m just playing a hunch ma’am. I think your son might be allergic to the oranges.”

She relaxed at that point. “That would explain things.”

The nurse and I stepped into the hall. “Who filled his water pitcher last?”

She stood there thinking for several minutes. “I think she did, why?”

I went back in and took the pitcher then brought it out into the hall. I went to the supply room and found a sterile cup and poured some of the water into it then resealed it. “I’m not sure, to be honest. My associate told me about some people who make their children sick just so they can make them better. He seems to think Ms. Davis is doing this to her son. The only things he has had not from the hospital are the oranges and the water.”

The nurse looked at me like I was totally crazy. “But Doctor, the water is from the hospital.”

I nodded my head in agreement. “Yes I know but who filled the pitcher?”

She covered her mouth as it sank in. “That poor child.”

I handed her the items then returned to Matt’s room. “Get those to the lab immediately. I want them analyzed STAT.”

I felt Matt’s belly again then he let go with huge load of gas. I wrinkled my nose at the odor. “Feel better now son?”

He giggled then waved his hand in front of his face. “Sorry Dr. Sanchez but yes I do.”

“That was a quite a load of trapped gas you had there,” I said giggling. “No wonder you were in pain.”

Ms. Davis was just sitting there quietly. “Would you like some water son?”

I had forgotten to dump that old stuff out so I pretended to reach for the pitcher then I knocked it onto the floor. “I’m so sorry. Here, let me get that for you.”

I picked the pitcher up and went into the bathroom to refill it. I poured Matt a glass of water and he chugged it down asking for more. I had the nurse come in and mop up the water I spilled while I chatted with Matt. About 15 minutes later, I had a phone call at the nurse’s station.

I went out and took the call. It was the lab with the results of their analysis. What they told me left me totally speech less. The sample of water I sent them was loaded with loperamide and it was the same thing with the oranges. I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Matt’s mother was in fact hurting him. I was going to have to notify Child Services and the Police. It was 3:30 in the morning and nothing I could do until after about 9. I wrote orders making Matt NPO until I returned. When I went back into Matt’s room he was in the bathroom and his mother was knocking on the door. “Matt, open the door honey.”

I was about to say something when a voice said, “Will you leave me alone. I’m quite capable of using the bathroom by myself.”

Just then I heard the toilet flush. The door opened and Matt walked past her and got back into bed. “Are you alright Matt?”

Ms. Davis stuck her head from around the door when I spoke. The look on her face was priceless because she didn’t know I’d been standing there when she was trying to get Matt to open the door. “Dr. Sanchez, I didn’t hear you come in.”

I went over to Matt and felt his stomach. I was a little firm but with a stool softener and no more loperamide he would be fine. When I finished feeling his belly, Matt was pleading with me with his eyes again. “I’m feeling better now Dr. Sanchez. I just want to get some sleep.”

I nodded my head and covered him up. “I want some special blood work done on you in the morning. Now, for these tests, you’re going to have to be NPO. That means as of right now, you’re not to have anything to eat or drink until the lab comes up.”

Ms. Davis almost jumped out of her chair. “Nothing to eat or drink Doctor?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry but he can’t have anything. Then depending on what the blood work shows, I might need to have that CT scan I first ordered done.”

I took his water pitcher and cups out to the nurse’s station. I checked on Matt before leaving. “Are you alright Matt?”

He yawned a couple of times. “Yeah, I’m fine doc, just sleepy.”

I checked his IV then turned towards the door. “Get some sleep kiddo and I’ll see you in the morning. Ms. Davis, he’s going to need his rest and will probably sleep through the night. I think you should head home yourself.”

I left the hospital and returned home for some more sleep. I was about to lay down when I saw the clock. It was 5am and I was mentally exhausted but yet wide awake. I set the alarm for 7 then tried to get a couple hours of sleep but it wasn’t happening. I tossed and turned for almost an hour then decided to get up. I put the coffee on then my mind went to Matt. I had a hard time believing a mother could do such things to a child.

I sat there lost in thought drinking my coffee deciding on how best to handle things then I felt someone kiss me on the cheek. “Morning Daddy. Penny for your thoughts.”

Of all my children, Angel could read me the best. I guess it’s true what they say about a woman’s intuition because she sure had it. “I think you’d have some change coming back sweetie.”

She refilled my cup then fixed herself one. “What’s going on Daddy? The last time I saw you like this was after you got back from Receife.”

I felt like I was about to explode if I didn’t talk with someone about this but there was my obligation as a doctor to maintain confidentiality. “I just was hit with something I can’t understand baby. A patient’s mother is making her child sick.”

Angel almost gave me a coffee shower. “What? How could someone do that to someone they loved?”

I shook my head. I really didn’t have an answer for her. “I don’t know love. I didn’t want to believe it until I got a lab report back on fruit she’d given to him.”

“Where is the child’s father?”

Again I shook my head. “That I don’t know love. From what I gather, he’s not in the picture. What really worries me is what will happen to the child. The mother will be charged and the child will go into foster care.”

Angel’s eyes got big when I mentioned foster care. “Daddy,”

“Oh no Angel,” I said shaking my head. “I’m not at home like I was when you all were younger. After Marco takes his oath, I’m needed back in Receife.”

Angel’s face sunk when I laid out my plans. “It was a thought Daddy. I guess Social Services will find him a family eventually.”

God she had a way to make me feel guilty. “Alright darling, you win. I’ll talk with the child and see if there is any other family. Social Services will want blood relatives to care for the child rather than fostering. If there is family out there, I’ll foster until they’re notified.”

Angel ran over and hugged me tightly. “Thank you Daddy.”

“Thank you for what?” a voice said behind me.

I had to giggle when I saw his standing there in his undies with his morning wood. “Daddy’s going to be a foster parent again.”

Steven ran in and hugged me tight. “Maybe son, it all depends.”

Angel started explaining things to Steven and I started make phone calls. I still had my card from Social Services. I got the on call worker because the office wasn’t open yet. I explained the situation to her and agreed the mother should be prosecuted. I explained that I would like to foster Matt if there was family out of the area. She thought it best if I talked with him because I had a rapport established.

I got a shower and shaved then returned to the hospital. I was on my way up to the second floor when I heard my name paged over the loudspeaker. “Dr. Sanchez, 2^nd floor nurse’s station STAT. Dr. Sanchez, 2^nd floor nurse’s station STAT.”

As soon as the elevator doors opened I ran down there to see what was going on. The nurse from the CCTV room met him in the hall. “Hurry Dr. Sanchez. Matt’s mother is screaming at him calling him all kinds of names.”

I quietly opened the door to Matt’s room and wasn’t prepared for what I was seeing and hearing. Matt’s mother was yelling at him trying to pull the covers off his body. “I saw you playing with it you pervert.”

“It was itching,” Matt yelled back trying to hold onto his covers. “Dr. Sanchez said it would from time to time.”

“Oh yeah that’s right,” she continued her banter. “Listen to some man and not your mother. I know what’s best for you. How many times have I told you that touching that thing is filthy and disgusting?”

Matt put his other hand on the covers and was hold on for dear life. “It’s my penis and if it itches I’ll scratch it. Now leave me alone.”

After hearing that, Ms. Davis was infuriated. “So you do play with it do you. I’ll teach you, you little faggot.”

Just then I thought Matt was going to explode. He sat up and had a clenched fist made, ready to strike. “THAT’S ENOUGH! Matt, calm down right now and Ms. Davis, let go of the sheets.”

I saw the nurse standing behind me. I leaned back and whispered softly, “Call security here STAT.”

Ms. Davis backed away from the bed and sat down. “Now just what in the hell is going on in here?”

I walked over and stood in between Matt and his mother. Just then, Matt jumped into my arms. “Damn it Dr. Sanchez, why can’t she EVER listen to a doctor. I told her what you said after we talked but she says that SHE knows best.”

Just then security came in. “Please escort Ms. Davis to the conference room and stay with her.”

The nodded their heads. “Escort me to the conference room? Why?”

Matt let go of me so then I went over to the security guards. “One of you notify the police too.”

I then turned my attention back to Ms. Davis. “When I came in here you were verbally assaulting your son.”

I was about to go on when she interrupted me. “I was talking to him and for your information; I know what’s best for him. He was playing with that filthy thing down there. I’ve told him plenty of times to leave it alone, but can he listen to me, noooooooo.”

I saw the security guards shaking their heads. One of them stood beside me because it looked like Ms. Davis was going to jump into my face. What he did next surprised me. “Lady that’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard. I’ve stood here for the past 5 minutes and I’ve watched you scratch yourself between your legs no less than 6 times. Now, you’ve got the nerve to say your son can’t relieve an itch?”

She jumped up into the guard’s face. “That’s different, we’re built differently and besides, I’m an adult.”

Matt broke out into a sarcastic laugh. “You’re built differently? You’re an adult? An itch is an itch. What the hell is the difference?”

“Because I say it is,” she spat. “I know what you’re doing and it’s perverted.”

I’d heard just about enough at that point. “Please escort her out of here.”

They led that maniac out of the room then I called the nurses station and had them turn off the CCTV. I sat beside Matt and once again he threw himself into my arms. “Dr. Sanchez, what’s going on? I can’t believe the things my mother is saying.”

If Matt was confused at what his mother had said before, I knew he was going to be lost when I told him what I had to. “Matt, I don’t know why she is saying those things. Boys your age get erections and their penises itch so it’s natural to rub them.”

Matt reached under the covers and rubbed himself and I knew what he was doing. “Would you like me to step out for a couple of minutes?”

I turned my back then I heard him moan. I walked around his bed and went into the bathroom and brought him a wet washcloth. I handed the cloth and he just smiled as he blushed. “Thanks Dr. Sanchez, I couldn’t help it. Mom is so weird lately.”

I took the cloth, rinsed it out and hung it up then returned sitting beside Matt. “Matt, I know you’re confused about your mother and what I have to tell you will only make things worse.”

He looked at me totally confused. “Why Dr. Sanchez, what did she tell you now?”

I put my hand on his leg and patted it. “Well Matt, I’ve found the reason you’ve been getting sick. I know this is going to be very hard for you to understand but your mother has been doing it.”

“What?” he shouted. “No Dr. Sanchez, that’s impossible. I know she’s been acting strange lately but she wouldn’t do that.”

I could see his eyes start to water. “I’m afraid it is son. Do you know all the oranges you ate when you were here and the pitchers of water she got for you?”

“Yeah,” he replied weakly.

I took his hand and held it the got ready for him to lunge into my arms. “Well, all of that was loaded with loperamide. Now, I know you don’t know what that is by the name but it’s better known as Imodium. It’s a medicine for diarrhea. The fruit and water was loaded with it. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’d been feeding that to you at home too in your special diet.”

He just laid there stunned not saying a word. He was just staring at me as his eyes filled with tears. Tears then began to fall and he began to shake. I could see him open his mouth then the most sorrowful wail came out as he fell into my arms. “Why? Why did she do this?”

That was a question I didn’t have an answer to. “I don’t know kiddo but you’re not going to be going back home with her.”

Matt cried even harder when I said that. “What’s going to happen to me? I don’t know who my father is.”

I gently rubbed his hair. “Is there any other family?”

I felt him move his head. “Yeah, there is my Aunt and Uncle in New York. Mom has their address in a book at home. They’re older than Mom. I don’t know if they want me. There is something else I guess you should know because once they find out, no one will want me.”

I had a strange feeling I knew what he was going to say and if this was true, my kids would want me to foster him and maybe even adopt him. “What is it son?”

I felt his arms pull tighter around me. “I know you can’t tell anyone. I think I like boys. The friend I was with, he and I fooled around. I don’t know for sure if Mom knows but if she’s acting like this, she just might. It’s still not right though.”

He was right, nothing he could do or even be, could justify a parent making their child sick. Just then, there was a knock on the door. I get up and open it to see a woman in her mid 40’s standing there. “Dr. Sanchez, I’m Barbara Miller, I’m with Social Services. I got a call from the on call worker about a young man. Dr. Sanchez, do you have 2 sons?”

I was wondering how she knew this then it dawned on me. This was the mother of the two boys Jay and Ronnie helped when they were in Ft. Lauderdale about 3 years ago. “OMG, you’re Matt’s mother, right?”

She came in and put her briefcase on the night stand. “Yes, Dr. Sanchez and Matt and Joey are fine. They will be seniors this year. Is this the young man?”

Matt was watching the conversation between us. “Yes Barbara, this is Matt Davis. He’s going to need your help. His mother has been deliberately making him sick.”

Matt’s eyes started watering when I told her about his mother. I quickly sat beside him and he fell into my arms. “Dr. Sanchez, I still can’t believe she did this.”

Barbara came over and rubbed his back. “Matt, what ever happened, it wasn’t your fault. Is there some family who might be willing to take care of you?”

Matt just stayed there with his head against my chest. “Maybe, I have and Aunt and Uncle in New York. They’ve always liked me.”

Barbara pulled out some forms and started filling them out. “Matt, would you happen to know how we can get hold of them?”

Matt regained him composure and sat up. “Not right off hand but their address is in my Mom’s phonebook at home.”

Barbara got Matt’s personal information and finished filling out the forms. “Barbara since Matt has family I’d like to be his foster parent while the arrangements are being made.”

Matt sat up surprised. “You’d do that for me Dr. Sanchez?”

I put my hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Son, I was a foster parent then adopted the 3 boys I fostered. I then fostered a daughter until she turned 18 and she married my youngest son. I’d love to foster you while Mrs. Miller here makes arrangements to get you with your Aunt and Uncle.”

Barbara smiled when she heard me tell Matt I’d foster him. She pulled out some more papers and filled those out. “I’ll need to talk with his mother now, if I may.”

I saw Matt get a worried look on his face. “Mrs. Miller, there is something you should know. I told Dr. Sanchez but I know he can’t say anything. I think I like boys.”

When Matt said that, he fell back into my arms and broke down. Barbara came over and gently rubbed his hair. “Matt that doesn’t bother me at all and I know it doesn’t bother Dr. Sanchez. I know Dr. Sanchez, well not personally, and his sons helped my son Matt. Several years ago, he and his boyfriend Joey ran away. They went to Florida and bumped into Miguel’s 2 sons. Well, Miguel’s boys talked Matt and Joey into calling home. We ended up adopting Joey and they’re still together.”

Matt had sat up and was listening intently to what Barbara was telling him. “That’s great, now I hope my Aunt and Uncle are as understanding as you. I’ve never said anything around my mother but when she uses words like pervert and fag, it makes me so mad.”

I lifted his chin up and looked him in the eyes. “You won’t ever hear those words from her again. You’re not going back to her. Now, you just relax while Mrs. Miller and I talk with your mother. I’ll tell you now, she is going to be arrested and charged for what she did to you.”

Matt’s expression didn’t change when I told him that. “Good, she deserves it.”

To be continued...

Posted: 07/04/08