There were a lot of things Doctor Joseph Murdoch had seen in his time as an MD. A lot of things that would gut a person, if they hadn't de-sensitised themselves, to some degree, to the pain and suffering they see every day. Allie Lachlan and her devoted father were one of those stories that tugged the heartstrings even of the most veteran doctor.
That was the only reason why he'd given in to having the tests. It had been as much for Barney's sake that he refused as for any financial reason. The man had lost his wife not all that long ago. Now he was going to lose his child. Some men, men like Barney who poured the entirety of their beings into the family, couldn't survive duel blows like that. The last thing he needed was false hope.
But Barney had somehow regained a spark of his old tenacity, and Joseph had eventually given in. Even though it put a twist in his stomach. Even though he knew what the results would be. Allie, fair or unfair, was a dying girl.
Which was why, when he received the test reports, he made them do it over again. And then again. And then went over each one with a fine-toothed comb himself, disbelieving, because this was simply ... well, impossible. Scientifically and medically so! Allie's heart was in too bad a condition to even consider surgery again. And yet, according to these reports, she was not only less severe than before--but operable.
For a long time he sat at his desk, stunned and wondering and mind buzzing with all the thoughts of how this could possibly happen before he finally rose and went to his door.
"Please send Barney Lachlan in," he said to the nurse on duty, and went back into his office. He was startled to find his hands shaking.
There were a lot of things Doctor Joseph Murdoch had seen in his time as an MD. Eventually, he supposed, he should have expected something that could only be classed as a miracle.
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That was the only reason why he'd given in to having the tests. It had been as much for Barney's sake that he refused as for any financial reason. The man had lost his wife not all that long ago. Now he was going to lose his child. Some men, men like Barney who poured the entirety of their beings into the family, couldn't survive duel blows like that. The last thing he needed was false hope.
But Barney had somehow regained a spark of his old tenacity, and Joseph had eventually given in. Even though it put a twist in his stomach. Even though he knew what the results would be. Allie, fair or unfair, was a dying girl.
Which was why, when he received the test reports, he made them do it over again. And then again. And then went over each one with a fine-toothed comb himself, disbelieving, because this was simply ... well, impossible. Scientifically and medically so! Allie's heart was in too bad a condition to even consider surgery again. And yet, according to these reports, she was not only less severe than before--but operable.
For a long time he sat at his desk, stunned and wondering and mind buzzing with all the thoughts of how this could possibly happen before he finally rose and went to his door.
"Please send Barney Lachlan in," he said to the nurse on duty, and went back into his office. He was startled to find his hands shaking.
There were a lot of things Doctor Joseph Murdoch had seen in his time as an MD. Eventually, he supposed, he should have expected something that could only be classed as a miracle.