(Sobering Diagnosis: A Vintage Petrol Lighter Story Volume 17 is a work of fiction presented by DependableFlame.com)
Revelation Day
Elston’s head was spinning with confusion and fear. He wasn’t in his right mind at the moment which didn’t make absorbing this news any easier but it certainly may have made the catastrophic nature of his father’s diagnosis seem even more dire than it really was, if that was even possible because these tragic circumstances were overwhelming and infuriating.
He was overcome with sadness for his dad but there was another component to his diagnosis that hung over Elston and his progeny as heavy as his concern for the father who had poured so much into their lives and yet stood here today as a shadow of the man that they all knew and depended on.
Anna was circling the room, trying to console those who not only saw their father and grandfather going downhill rapidly but also wrestled with the consequences this could have for themselves. Huntington’s Disease was not only fatal but genetic and each child of an affected parent had a 50/50 chance of developing the disease.
Anna adored her father-in-law and must have been operating on adrenaline and will alone, Elston thought because he knew this news had shattered her and wondered about the ramifications this would have for their marriage and family moving forward. All these thoughts rushed at him in fragments, just a glimmer of a realization that was followed shortly and more abruptly by the next horrific consideration.
Elston hoped he could hold it all together and be the man his family needed him to be and from the outside he may have seemed to be doing a good job of that but on the inside his heart was racing, his nerves frayed and his hopes dashed with each wave of reality that washed upon him, careening around his head for the solution which he could not grasp. Elston had known he was different all his life and his father’s diagnosis felt like an unwelcome answer to long unspoken questions.
Charting A Path
“How’s your old man?” Shawn asked from the other end of the phone line as Elston fiddled with the curled up cord on his end. “Has he come to terms with his diagnosis and how does he seem to be taking it?” Elston heard the flick of the Zippo‘s file wheel on the other end as Shawn spoke through his effort to inhale the flame to ember at the tip of the fat, sticky joint he’d rolled up into the Raw brand paper and perched there between his lips.
“It’s strange man,” Elston explained while trying to analyze his father’s behavior in the moment, remembering responses and reactions he’d seen from him not only since the diagnosis but over the course of the last several years. “There has been so much behavior that was odd and out of character and Mom had been taking him to doctors for most of the last two years, only to be told it was age or some idiosyncratic physical malady or the early onset of Alzheimer’s…” Elston’s voice trailed off as he considered what he’d just said.
Early onset of Alzheimer’s was a terrible enough diagnosis and provided no positive prognosis for Elston’s father Seth who seemed to take it all in stride by blaming his wife Sara for making him go to the doctor in the first place. “He says he was fine until Mom made him go to the doctor. He actually seems to be following the logic that his ignorance meant he didn’t have the disease that has now befallen him.”
“I’m sorry brother,” Shawn offered in support as he took a slow, cinder crackling pull from the marijuana cigarette. “I know this is hard but I do have a little insight and can tell you that this too shall pass.” Elston kept his thoughts to himself as he wondered if Shawn, who had lost his own father several yrs earlier, had a full grasp himself of the disease that gripped Seth and the consequences that could have for all his offspring.
Caring In The Here And Now
There were rough days ahead and Elston struggled under the weight of it all. While Elston himself had hope, Seth did not, at least not where Huntington’s Disease was concerned. Elston was marching forward in helping take care of Seth but lost sight of his true hope and took solace more and more in the bottom of a bottle of whiskey which was no help at all!
He was there every time his mother needed help though or just a small break from her beloved husband to take him fishing for the day or to disappear into the woods for a weekend or the whole week if he was able. He had always spent quality time in the great outdoors with his father but even more so now, he didn’t want to miss a single moment that he might not later have.
As time drew on, everyone handled it the best they could figure how and Anna was no different, nor were her intentions any more mean-spirited than anyone else’s. She just couldn’t abide Elston’s need or fixation on being tested for Huntington’s Disease himself.
Through his alcoholic haze Elston discerned that a positive test would allow him to be better prepared for when the disease did hit and a negative result would give him the piece of mind to know that the disease would not affect him in the same way it had his father. Huntington’s Disease had absolutely left an indelible mark on his life by the way it had ravaged his dad but to know that he would not fall prey in the same way as evidenced by a negative result would surely be a weight off his shoulders.
But the wishes of the woman he loved more than any other held sway above his own inclinations, so the appointment never got made to speak with a genetic counselor who would help him be prepared for when he received his genetic results, positive or negative. No blood was ever drawn for the genetic test. Year after year, he buried his head in the bottle of booze and watched his father steadily go downhill from the results of Huntington’s Disease as Elston distracted himself, or fell victim to the lie or just felt comfort in the burn of the tonic as it slipped down the back of his throat.
(Please leave any comments, questions or suggestions in the comments section of this or any other page at DependableFlame.com. This is a work of fiction and any similarity of the characters or situations herein to those that have happened in real life should be seen as coincidental.)
The story “Sobering Diagnosis: A Vintage Petrol Lighter Story” takes us on an emotional journey alongside Elston as he grapples with his father’s Huntington’s Disease diagnosis. It delves deep into the complexities of relationships and the uncertainty that comes with a genetic condition. The author skillfully portrays the challenges faced by families dealing with this disease, offering a heartfelt glimpse into their experiences. It’s a thought-provoking piece that leaves a lasting impact, shedding light on the profound effects of Huntington’s Disease.
Hey Eric, thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you see the value in the story and cared to share your insights here in the comment section. Huntingston’s really is a horrible disease that robs a person of their soundness of mind, their physical control and even their very personality. Its impact on the families that are affected by it is amplified by the fact that the genetic component of the disease means that many families have do deal with it generation after generation.
This story touches on some heavy and emotional themes, exploring the devastating impact of Huntington’s Disease on a family. The way you vividly portray the turmoil and confusion experienced by Elston upon learning about his father’s diagnosis. The weight of the situation is further intensified by the genetic implications for Elston and his progeny.
Ya, it’s a really tough disease Anoth for many of the reasons that you have enumerated. The element of folks not wanting to be tested or in many cases, afraid to be tested because of the consequences of what a positive result could mean like the inability to acquire the kind of insurance that would be necessary to sustain someone who needed longterm care because of the disease. The are many hardships affected by this disease and that’s one good reason to support the charity Huntington’s Disease Society Of America.
I found “Sobering Diagnosis: A Vintage Petrol Lighter Story Volume 17” to be a gripping work! The overwhelming emotions and turmoil faced by Elston upon receiving his father’s diagnosis are portrayed well. It’s heartbreaking to see the impact of the disease on Elston’s family, and I couldn’t help but empathize with their struggles. The story raises important questions about coping mechanisms and the difficult choices individuals face when dealing with such tough situations.
Thank you Aly, I really appreciate you taking the time to read the story and also for leaving such a kind comment about it. The consequences of a disease like Huntington’s and what it does to the families that are affected by it is truly heartbreaking. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that many affected families act like it just doesn’t exist and ignore it until it affects them personally which results in generation after generation of the same family falling victim to this horrible disease.