Read Online A Simple Hope: A Lancaster Crossroads Novel by Rosalind Lauer - Free Book Online
Authors: Rosalind Lauer
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and Samuel has given us the nod of approval.”
James shook his head. Rachel had been asking him to go to those meetings, and he’d given it some thought until Dat had come down on him. “I can’t do that now.”
“Understood.” Dylan held up his hands. “You just keep me in the loop. Tell me to back off or step it up, whatever you need.”
The door opened and Doc returned, along with Jimmy.
“James!” Doc held up his cell phone, a twinkle in his eyes. “I just checked in with Alec Finley, the doctor doing the experimental spinal cord treatment—epidural stimulation, it’s called. He’s gone over your X-rays and scans, and he says it’s a go. He wants to see you in his office Monday morning.”
“That’s great news,” Haley said brightly.
Dylan grinned, and even Mamm seemed happy, her hands pressed to her lips in a gesture of prayer, as if she were silently thanking Gott.
“It’s good.” Warmed by hope, James nodded, trying to keep the excitement buried inside him. This study had helped previous patients learn to walk after similar injuries, and it didn’t require any medication or surgery. But he kept his hope hidden. He didn’t want to give Dat a reason to buck against yet another Englisher treatment.
“Let me give you Finley’s number right now.” Doc Trueherz tapped his cell phone. “Edna, can I trouble you for a pencil and paper?”
“Mmm.” Jimmy grumbled as the doctor wrote the information on a notepad Mamm produced. “We’ll take the number, but we must give this some thought before we rush into anything. James has already had two expensive surgeries. We can’t keep going back to the hospital, hoping for something that the Almighty has not willed.”
“I can’t speak for God,” Dr. Trueherz said, “but I can tell you that Dr. Finley’s study will not cost you any money. You just need to get James to the rehab center in Paradise.”
“That’s not too far,” Edna said, but her lips clamped tight when Dat turned stern eyes on her.
Jimmy’s broad, friendly face was tight with disapproval. “We’llsee. It’s a busy time in the orchard. It would be hard to spare James and someone to drive him.”
“How about if we hooked James up with some transportation?” Dylan suggested.
A flame of hope sparked in James’s chest, but Dat’s scowl snuffed it out. “No. Don’t need any more help. From now on, the Amish community will give James the support he needs.” And quick as a lightning bug’s flash, Dat had dismissed the Englishers.
James wanted to point out the good things about the study. The potential. The fact that they had accepted him. The fact that it was free. The hope of standing and walking on his own again. But he knew better than to argue with his father, especially in front of the Englishers.
Silence swallowed the group that only minutes ago had been joking and laughing. Clearly, the visit was over.
“I’ve got a few more house calls to make.” Doc Trueherz checked his watch. “Thank you for the pie, Edna. And I hope you folks give Alec Finley a shot. I’ve read up on this procedure. In one of the early trials back in 2011, the patient was able to stand on his own within three days of the treatment. It’s not often you see results that quickly.” He clapped James on the shoulder. “Think about the study, son. I think it’s worth giving it a try.”
James was a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. He looked to his parents, but they were miles away, no doubt concerned about what the bishop and others would think about their son trying yet another Englisher medical procedure.
Dylan rose from his chair, but then dropped down on one knee so that he was eye level with James. “I’d like to keep checking up on you, if that’s okay,” he said directly to James. “Haley and I want to keep the strong ties we’ve made here in your community.”
James nodded, aware of his father’s eyes burning a hole into hisback. “You’d best not come around
James shook his head. Rachel had been asking him to go to those meetings, and he’d given it some thought until Dat had come down on him. “I can’t do that now.”
“Understood.” Dylan held up his hands. “You just keep me in the loop. Tell me to back off or step it up, whatever you need.”
The door opened and Doc returned, along with Jimmy.
“James!” Doc held up his cell phone, a twinkle in his eyes. “I just checked in with Alec Finley, the doctor doing the experimental spinal cord treatment—epidural stimulation, it’s called. He’s gone over your X-rays and scans, and he says it’s a go. He wants to see you in his office Monday morning.”
“That’s great news,” Haley said brightly.
Dylan grinned, and even Mamm seemed happy, her hands pressed to her lips in a gesture of prayer, as if she were silently thanking Gott.
“It’s good.” Warmed by hope, James nodded, trying to keep the excitement buried inside him. This study had helped previous patients learn to walk after similar injuries, and it didn’t require any medication or surgery. But he kept his hope hidden. He didn’t want to give Dat a reason to buck against yet another Englisher treatment.
“Let me give you Finley’s number right now.” Doc Trueherz tapped his cell phone. “Edna, can I trouble you for a pencil and paper?”
“Mmm.” Jimmy grumbled as the doctor wrote the information on a notepad Mamm produced. “We’ll take the number, but we must give this some thought before we rush into anything. James has already had two expensive surgeries. We can’t keep going back to the hospital, hoping for something that the Almighty has not willed.”
“I can’t speak for God,” Dr. Trueherz said, “but I can tell you that Dr. Finley’s study will not cost you any money. You just need to get James to the rehab center in Paradise.”
“That’s not too far,” Edna said, but her lips clamped tight when Dat turned stern eyes on her.
Jimmy’s broad, friendly face was tight with disapproval. “We’llsee. It’s a busy time in the orchard. It would be hard to spare James and someone to drive him.”
“How about if we hooked James up with some transportation?” Dylan suggested.
A flame of hope sparked in James’s chest, but Dat’s scowl snuffed it out. “No. Don’t need any more help. From now on, the Amish community will give James the support he needs.” And quick as a lightning bug’s flash, Dat had dismissed the Englishers.
James wanted to point out the good things about the study. The potential. The fact that they had accepted him. The fact that it was free. The hope of standing and walking on his own again. But he knew better than to argue with his father, especially in front of the Englishers.
Silence swallowed the group that only minutes ago had been joking and laughing. Clearly, the visit was over.
“I’ve got a few more house calls to make.” Doc Trueherz checked his watch. “Thank you for the pie, Edna. And I hope you folks give Alec Finley a shot. I’ve read up on this procedure. In one of the early trials back in 2011, the patient was able to stand on his own within three days of the treatment. It’s not often you see results that quickly.” He clapped James on the shoulder. “Think about the study, son. I think it’s worth giving it a try.”
James was a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. He looked to his parents, but they were miles away, no doubt concerned about what the bishop and others would think about their son trying yet another Englisher medical procedure.
Dylan rose from his chair, but then dropped down on one knee so that he was eye level with James. “I’d like to keep checking up on you, if that’s okay,” he said directly to James. “Haley and I want to keep the strong ties we’ve made here in your community.”
James nodded, aware of his father’s eyes burning a hole into hisback. “You’d best not come around
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