On the 5th of September 2020, Shyla Fisher received a piece of alarming news out of the blue...
Doctor: "Mrs. Bernard, is your husband with you?"
Shyla: No, doctor.
Doctor: Is anyone accompanying you now?
Shyla: No, doctor.
Doctor: Hmm, ok. Can you make a call to any family member?
Shyla: "Why doctor?" she said with a puzzled tone.
Doctor: "I want to have a word with your family members," he said with a serious tone.
Shyla: "Why doctor? You can tell me.", she said, somewhat bewildered.
Doctor: "Mrs. Bernard, there are some things doctors can't tell patients directly," he said with seriousness in his tone.
Shyla: "Never mind doctor, you tell me. I can handle myself." she said with impatience.
Doctor: " Still, I prefer to have a word with your family members," he said without emotion in the tone.
Shyla: "But, they are not available now. So, I came alone. Doctor, I can understand my issue is serious, by the way of your words. So, don't worry, you tell," Shyla said in a calm tone. Yet, she was afraid to listen to what the doctor was going to say in his heart.
Doctor: but, Mrs. Bernard.....
Shyla: "Please doctor, I don't want to bother anyone, so, you may tell my situation to me." she said with a pleading.
After some thought, with hesitation, the doctor said OK.
Doctor: Mrs. Bernard, listen carefully, don't feel tense. There is a chance to get better. First, you have "gastric cancer", and your gastric cancer has reached the final stage. If you can start your treatment on time, there is a 90% chance of curing it.
Shyla was shocked to the core when she heard what the doctor was saying.
after calming herself, looking at the doctor, "What? am I a gastric cancer patient?" She laughed out loud.
Doctor: yes, nodded his head.
Shyla: Doctor, it's a bad joke, you know?
Doctor: Mrs. Bernard, what I am saying is true. Why would I joke with you? If you don't treat it on time, you may not live for more than ten months. Please be mentally prepared."
Looking at the doctor's serious face and confirming that the doctor was not kidding, Shyla could not believe it. She was bewildered. Her face turned pale. A mere medical examination pushed her to death's doorstep. There were only ten months left in her life. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing her reaction, the doctor felt sorry for her. So, he tried to encourage her.