The Transformation of Rod - Part 5

Rod spent the afternoon with his gaze focused on the doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dr. Rogers.  The nose comment troubled him deeply.  Nurse Rhonda spent the day popping in and out of the room, always smiling.  Rod asked her about his nose but she was either unable or unwilling to divulge anything.  She did remove the straps from his arms after cautioning him to be careful about not accidentally pulling out his I.V. or any of the myriad of sensors attached to him.  Rod felt the bandages around his nose but he could glean little information.  It seemed like there was still a nose on his face, so that was good.  He would have to wait until the doctor returned.

Rhonda turned on the television, ostensibly for his enjoyment but Rod suspected she had ulterior motives.  She tuned it to a soap opera that Rod had never heard of.  When she asked Rod if he was familiar with the program, he shook his head.  He hoped this revelation would cause her to change the channel, but instead she took it as an invitation to remedy the situation.  She began a detailed explanation of the current and past relationships of the various characters as they appeared on the screen.  She did this while flitting about the room, filling his water pitcher, adjusting monitors.  When the program ended, another one started.  It was so similar to the first that Rod was unaware there had been a change.  Rhonda was apparently an expert on this show as well and continued her drawling monologue.  Rod lay there, looking at the door not the television, hearing Rhonda but not listening to her.

It was late afternoon when Dr. Rogers finally stopped by.  Rhonda's shift was nearly over and she seemed happy that he'd come back before she left.  She greeted him with a big smile as she adjusted Rod's I.V..  After waiting so long for the doctor, Rod now felt sick to his stomach, not sure if he wanted to have the nose discussion the doctor alluded to earlier.  It didn't help any when Dr. Rogers asked Rhonda to leave so he could talk to Rod alone.  Rhonda left with a smile, waving goodbye to Rod.  Rod gave her a quick nod and turned his attention to the doctor.  Dr. Rogers waited for Rhonda to leave.  He closed the door behind her and sat down on the stool next to Rod.  He had a thick file with him which he opened.  He took a pen from his pocket and began
writing.  Rod waited.  Finally, Dr. Rogers looked up at Rod.

"So Rod, did you get some rest?" he asked cheerfully.

Rod wanted to give the good doctor an earful.  To tell him that, thanks to the nose comment, he hadn't rested at all.  Instead, he decided he'd better stay in the good graces of the guy tending to him.  He looked at the doctor and shrugged.

Dr. Rogers nodded.  "It can be hard to rest in a place like this, I'm sure.  But we'll have you home in no time," he said reassuringly.

Dr. Rogers' demeanor became more serious.  "Rod," he began, "I'd like to discuss the condition of your nose.  Actually, your nasal cavity and sinuses to be precise."  He paused and glanced at something in the file.  "When you were brought in, you presented with extreme damage to the inner lining of your nose and sinuses.  This was undoubtedly caused by the exposure however I've never
seen such damage to internal surfaces.  It's almost as if hot air was being blown on the membrane."

Rod recalled lying against the boulder, too tired to move.  The hot sun burning down on him.  No relief, just the hot sun and the sweet smell of purple.  He remembered breathing deeply, getting lost in the aroma.

Dr. Rogers continued, "It could be that you were susceptible to this sort of thing due to the previous damage you suffered as a child.  Your mother filled me in on your loss of olfactory discrimination.  Fascinating case, really.  I sent for your medical records, as a reference."

Rod sensed that Dr. Rogers rather enjoyed the fact that Rod was his patient.  This annoyed Rod a little.  Still, having an over-interested doctor caring for you was probably better than the reverse.  The doctor paused to look at something in the file again.

"How bad is it?" Rod asked.

The doctor looked up.  "Well, we don't know for sure.  I mean, it could have been really bad.  You see, Rod, all of your smell receptors were destroyed, wiped out, gone."

Rod thought about this.  It seemed so unfair.  He'd gone through most of life detecting just one aroma.  He'd learned to live with that, even enjoy it.  But nothing?  He was...he was...What was he?  If he'd lost his sight, he'd be blind.  His hearing, deaf.  What are you when you lose your ability to smell?  Just his luck to get a disability that didn't even have a decent name.  Good grief, as far as he knew even Helen Keller could smell.

"So I can't smell," Rod said with a sigh.

Dr. Rogers smiled at Rod.  "Oh Rod, don't give up so easily.  I've got more to tell you.  Much more."

Rod expected Dr. Rogers to continue, but instead the doctor went back to looking at the file, humming to himself.  After scribbling a few more notes, he got up and took Rod's chart from the foot of the bed.  He studied it for awhile, then scribbled something on it.  Next he opened the file again and scribbled something more.  This doctor sure likes to scribble, thought Rod.  Finally, Dr. Rogers sat down on the stool and looked at Rod.

"Okay, Rod," Dr. Rogers said at last, "everything on your chart and in your file looks great.  You're recovering well."

Rod nodded.  This was good news, but he could tell the doctor had more to say.

"As I said," Dr. Rogers continued, "your ability to smell was greatly compromised, destroyed really.  If we would have done nothing more then you would have completely lost your sense of smell, as you suggested.  However..."  The doctor paused and made sure Rod was attentive.  "We did something more."

Rod wondered what the 'something more' could be.  He didn't have to wonder long.

Dr. Rogers took a deep breath and began, "About the time you were brought in we had another fellow arrive in our emergency room.  Tragic story really, hit while walking his pet raccoon.  Apparently, he wasn't paying attention and the raccoon led him right into traffic.  Those creatures seem drawn to traffic, but I probably don't need to tell you that."

Indeed, he did not.  Rod had scooped up more raccoons than he could count.  The story was interesting, Rod didn't know people kept raccoons as pets, but he still wasn't seeing how this pertained to his nose.

"Well," Dr. Rogers said, "the fellow didn't make it.  He was just barely alive when he arrived at the hospital and there was little we could do for him."  Dr. Rogers looked intently at Rod.  "I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with you.  Well, you might say this fellow's misfortune was your salvation.  You see, Rod, we couldn't save him but he had signed a donor card and his nose was perfectly fine."  The doctor paused to let Rod comprehend what he was saying.

Rod was suddenly acutely aware of what the doctor was implying.  They'd taken part of a dead guy and stuck it to him!  A road kill no less!  He'd never live this down if the others at work found out.  Rod looked at the doctor.

"You gave me his nose?" he asked, somewhat upset.

"Oh no."  Dr. Rogers chuckled at the absurdity of it and then paused as if to consider the feasibility.  "You still have your nose," he assured Rod.  "We did, however, graft the donor's smell receptors to the inner lining of you nasal cavity and sinuses.  Pioneering work, really.  The procedure had never been done in a human before, only squirrels.  The receptors seem to have "taken root" quite nicely.  If all goes as planned, you should have a full and normal sense of smell.  Of course we won't know anything for sure until you test your sniffer."

"When can I try it?" Rod asked.

"Well, I think your nose is ready now, once we remove the bandages.  The thing is..." Dr. Rogers paused.  "Rod, how many smells do you remember from before you suffered your first accident?"

Rod thought back.  It was so long ago.  "I don't think I remember any," he said at last.

Dr. Rogers nodded.  "I was afraid of that," he said.  "Rod, the world is a smelly place.  If the graft worked, I'm worried that it might be a bit overwhelming for you.  I would like to take things very slowly until you adjust."  The doctor pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Rod.  "Here, take these, Rod.  They're nose plugs.  If the smells get to be too much, put the plugs on.  It should help a little bit."

Rod took the plugs.  He appreciated the doctor's concern although he didn't think the plugs were necessary.  Plus, he would have preferred a color other than neon pink.