The Assist Man

Excerpt from Chapter 1 Frank’s News: ...Suddenly, out the front door of his house, fifty-four-year old Frank emerges...He moves with quick coordinated purpose across the covered porch and starts down...But on the step down from the last stair, he catches, holding his mid abdomen and wincing a little. This is a sure sign of some deep pain in a fellow not outpouring with complaints. He gathers himself after the short pause, smoothly strolls across the walk, and leaves in the pickup. [After traveling to the doctor’s office and checking in]...he studied all the medical posters on the wall, the tongue sticks in their jar, the ear scope, the eye scope, and everything else in sight to calm his restless fidgeting and pesky butterflies, and a quick knock preceded Dr. Dixon walking in with a friendly greeting...There was no white coat and no tie. This suited Frank fine. Dr. Dixon sat down on the stool before Frank on the bench with his chart folder and said...“So how do you feel?” “Well, like I was telling the nurse, sometimes when I eat—or sometimes not—I get this pain through my middle... I eat a fair amount, I guess, but less than what I used to. She said I lost seven pounds. I get nauseous some but don't throw up. Do you know why I'd be havin’ all this?” “Actually—yes,” the doctor said...“I guess I don’t know any way to say it but to just say it. We did this ‘CAT’ scan of your abdomen and pelvis areas after your blood work for liver and pancreas was abnormal. Unfortunately, what it shows is not good.”... He went on, pointing on Frank's abdomen as he explained. “In your upper belly, right below your lungs, is your liver on the right and stomach on your left. Deep down under those, mainly on your stomach side, is your pancreas. It looks like there is a fairly large tumor there... It also looks like there are a lot of enlarged lymph nodes around it and in some nearby areas.” Frank said, “So, I don’t know much about medical stuff, but it sounds to me like that would be cancer.” “Yes, I’m afraid that is what it looks like. From where it is, it must be cancer of the pancreas. And unfortunately, that is a pretty bad cancer. It's really hard to get to, and being deep down like that, it has often spread before you feel anything or it is found—and that seems to be what has happened to you.” Frank stayed calm, blinked, and looked down in processing the news. A short, twisted butterfly of fear swept through his stomach—and left. He had one thought: Well, here it is— finally. He looked back up at the doctor, and the doctor continued. ”This, of course, is not confirmed yet, and you could have a surgery to remove it the best they can...There could be other treatments to try to help the areas that have spread, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy...” Frank said, “Doctor, I don’t think that is going to be necessary. That is pretty much all it could be, right?” “Yes, pretty much—but a biopsy procedure can confirm all this and treatment could be jumped on quickly...” “But these treatments you mention: they would really just be to try to buy time?” After a pause...the doctor replied, “Yes—most likely—that’s what it looks like.” “So, this is bad, and I will die from it? ...“Yes. All I could do, really, is give you medicine for pain and nausea and maybe some other things for symptoms that will come up.” “How long do you guess I have?” Dr. Dixon replied, “Untreated, just months...Are you sure you do not want to consider treatment?...You would have a chance to live at least a while longer.” “But not much longer, right? And the suffering is going to be there either way?” “Unfortunately, right. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst and most fatal cancers there is. It's course is very bad...” Frank cut in, “Oh, this is nothing. It is amazing what the good Lord has got me through in my life. Maybe I’ll get a chance to tell you about it sometime.” “I’d like that,” the doctor said. “So, you are not married, right?” “Not anymore.” “Do you have children?” “That never happened”... They went on a little longer with a few pleasantries. The doctor offered Frank a prescription for some pain medication, and he took that with more than a little appreciation. The doctor also asked Frank if he was absolutely sure he did not want to pursue further tests, confirmations, or treatment ideas...Frank declined in a warm, reassuring tone that clearly showed he understood his decision’s ramifications. “...You know something, Doc? I knew your father—grew up with him. He was a good friend of mine.” Frank did not miss the surprised downward gaze and quick look of deep sadness by the doctor. He said, ”I'll tell you some good stories about him. Best basketball player I ever saw...” “...I’d like to hear about my dad. Wish I could say he taught me all I know, but we didn’t have much time.” “Well, we will definitely talk more about him. There’s probably some things you need to know.” ...He checked out, scheduling to be seen again in under a month, because a lot might change quickly, given the grim findings in his pancreas. Returning to his pickup, a sharp pain caught him as he got in...As the wave passed, he drove...to a fork in the road. Right would take him home, but he...turned left, out the road in the direction toward the old homeplace where he grew up...and soon the old house was there off to the right... And as he...stepped out into his old yard, Frank stepped back into his childhood.