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Ms. Eldrich:
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Is this Doctor Balis?
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes, this is. Who's calling, please?
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Ms. Eldrich:
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This is Mary Eldrich, Sam Eldrich's mother. He wrote out something for me to tell you.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh really?
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Ms. Eldrich:
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Yes, and he insisted that I read it to you. He wrote, "Doctor Balis, right now I'm swollen up like a chipmunk. Since I can barely take in any nourishment for my body, I sincerely doubt that I can take in any nourishment for my mind today."
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Dr. Balis:
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So Sam hasn't taken well to having his wisdom teeth extracted?
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Ms. Eldrich:
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Well, now that they're out, he's not having any problems aside from the obvious. Oh, but he was so frightened to go into the oral surgeon's...oops.
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Dr. Balis:
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What is it?
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Ms. Eldrich:
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My son is making motions like he wants me to be quiet about all this. Okay, Sam, okay! Here, I'll go into another room. No, Sam, I won't talk about your surgery with the Doctor anymore.
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Dr. Balis:
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Ms. Eldrich...
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Ms. Eldrich:
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There; it's safer in here. Goodness knows that I won't have to put up with his gesticulating. Doctor, I was wondering if you couldn't possibly tell me how my boy was doing?
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm afraid that I really can't discuss that sort of information with you.
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Ms. Eldrich:
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I'm not looking for any sorts of details; I'm not trying to pry into his personal life, and I'm not looking to find out exactly what he's said. I just want to know if you think that he'll come out of this all right.
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Dr. Balis:
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Ma'am...
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Ms. Eldrich:
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Doctor, you have no idea how worried Sam's father and I have been about him ever since that day he came to see you. We've felt so helpless during all this. We know that there's nothing we can really do for him save being supportive and making sure that he takes his medication and keeps seeing you. That's why we'd like to just get some sort of idea as to how he's doing.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Eldrich:
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If you couldn't give us a general prognosis, could you at least just tell us what you think his prospects for recovery are? Do you think he can get better?
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Dr. Balis:
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I can tell you that other patients that I've seen who share Sam's problems have made excellent recoveries, if they were willing to work through their problems. I have similar hopes for Sam's prognosis.
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Ms. Eldrich:
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Thank you, Doctor. This will help my husband and me to sleep much easier. Sam should be in to see you next week at the same time.
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Dr. Balis:
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All right. Thank you for calling me today, Ms. Eldrich.
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Ms. Eldrich:
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No problem, Doctor. And again, thank you. Oh, my...my son's ringing his bell to tell me that he needs me. I really should be going. Again, thank you, Doctor Balis.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Ms. Eldrich.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Telephone Call
Transcripts of Samuel Eldrich's Communications
