Chapter 21

“It means we have to go in and remove your appendix before it bursts.”

“Will you be the surgeon?”

“No. I’m more of a general practitioner these days, I leave the surgery to the younger doctors. I’ve called in one of the best of them to take care of you.”

“When can he fly home?” Tom said.

“Your home is in Florida, right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Is it a direct flight?”

“Yes, Sir, nonstop from Boston to Jacksonville, and we have first-class seats.”

“In that case, barring complications, you can plan on flying home Thursday morning,” Dr. Kohn said, “provided someone takes the patient to the plane in a wheelchair—and I mean all the way to the gate and down the Jetway to the door of the plane—and you use a wheelchair the same way at the end of your flight.”

“I’ll see to it that he does just that.”

“I’ll set the paperwork in motion to get you admitted, Mr. Webster,” Dr. Kohn said.

“I have his medical power of attorney. I can sign the necessary forms.”