Page 87 of Rise Above

Dr. Bowie nudged my shoulder. “Aife, I’ve been

meaning to talk to you.”

I looked over at my favorite neurologist. Last week,

I left before we could talk about the interesting patient. It had been about two weeks since, and she had completely

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slipped my mind because of Talon and work and my PhD. program.

“Hey, Dr. Bowie.” I chugged my hot chocolate.

Caffeine wasn’t really my thing.

“Our patient is back.” He pulled a rolling computer

to me. “Look at her prolactin from last time.” Bowie pointed at the screen.

She had a ninety-five, very high. Her cortisol and

ATCH plasma were also high. Those were stress hormones; it was not a good thing that everything was super elevated.

My brow furrowed looking at those numbers. “Did

you ask my questions?”

“When she arrived the second time. She said she’s

lost her vision for a minute at a time. Aife, is there something you know? I’m usually not out of the neuro loop.” He crossed his arms over his chest, discontent clear on his face.

I gulped. There was, but I wasn’t a medical doctor. I

had no training or medical degree to back me up, only my own personal experience. There was a good chance Bowie would brush me off. Biting my lip, I decided to take a leap of faith.

“Let’s talk in your office, please.”

Bowie and I walked in silence before entering the

neurology office. Bowie shot me a look, and I could tell his patience was wearing thin. Clearing my throat, I sat and inhaled a much-needed breath. It was a long story.

“Six years ago, I was given a second chance at life.”

Goose bumps crawled their way onto my skin, the hair

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raising as shakes started in my hands. This story never got any easier to tell. “When I was twenty-three, I noticed red bumps all over my arms. Nothing made them go away. I changed my soap, laundry detergent, and diet. Steroid creams didn’t even help. It’s weird to look back and see that as the catalyst to my journey.

“A myriad of other symptoms factored in: insomnia

and being extremely hot or cold. I thought it was all related to being in grad school until an endocrinologist ran my blood. Cortisol, ATCH plasma, and prolactin all came back incredibly high. Then the migraines and vision loss began.” I skipped over the painful parts. Bowie only really needed the medical side.

“When I was twenty-one, they found a pineal cyst