Another Way, Another Day

Chapter 7

Fourth Visit – 5 Years Old (June 1st, 1994)

“Stay still for me, Amanda.  We’re almost done.”

Amanda stared straight ahead as Doctor Gembella raised the scale’s heigh measurement stick, extending the arm out and allowing it to rest on top of the little girl’s head.

“3 feet, 6 inches……48 pounds” she murmured to herself, writing on her chart.  “That’s it for now.  You can go back to your mother, Amanda.” 

Amanda stepped off the scale and climbed onto her mother, perched on her leg like a doll.  She sat and listened as the doctor sat down at her desk and began to read off questions from her chart.

“Ok.  So, I’m going to ask you some questions, Amanda.  If you don’t know, your mommy can jump in and help you, ok?”

“I can do it without Mommy!” she said, crossing her arms as if insulted.  The doctor proceeded to ask her a litany of questions, asking her to recite her address and phone number, describe her typical day and counting her fingers. She then had Amanda perform a drawing of a person, after which she tested her vision with an eye chart.

“Ok, Amanda.  Everything looks good so far.  Let’s get your clothes off and get you up on the exam table” she said as she began to put on her rubber gloves.

Amanda looked up at the table, then realized she wouldn’t be able to get up on her own like she did in the past.  Everything had become so big to her in the past few weeks.  Tasks that were formerly automatic now required a greater expenditure of physical effort.  Climbing into and out of bed, seating herself in a chair during her meals and even getting up and down from the toilet all proved to be much more difficult for her lately.  As her surroundings grew around her, so did her dependance on her mother.  As a result, she found herself asking for her help much more often.    

“Mommyyyyy……..” she whined.  “I can’t reach!”

Her mother walked over to her, picked her up and then placed her on the examination table.  She helped her out of her t-shirt, pulling it over her head.  Amanda began to unbutton her shorts, but when she showed signs of having trouble completing the task, her mother took over and removed the rest of her clothing. 

The doctor walked over and began performing various tests, taking her blood pressure and using her stethoscope to listen to her heartbeat and breathing.  Amanda shivered as the stethoscope’s cool surface made contact with her skin, inhaling and exhaling as the doctor instructed.  When she was done, her mother helped her put her clothes back on and then sat her on her lap while the doctor asked a few more questions.  When she was done, she took out a vile of clear liquid and a syringe. 

“Ok, Amanda.  I know you aren’t going to like this, but we have to give you a shot today,” the doctor said, taking the syringe and filling it from the vile.

“But I don’t wanna shot!  I hate shots!” Amanda protested, clinging to her mother, her eyes wide with fear.  Suddenly, her mother remembered a tactic that worked with Amanda the first time she was a child.  She winked at the doctor, the sat Amanda on her knee.

“I know you don’t like shots, but I’ll tell you what.  If you’re a brave girl for me, I’ll take you to Toys “R” Us and buy you the doll you saw on TV this morning,” her mother offered.  Amanda’s look of fear slowly turned to one of surprise. 

“Really, Mommy?  You promise?” she asked as the doctor began to swab her arm with an alcohol wipe. 

“Yes, really!  And you know what the best part will be?” her mother asked, as the doctor inserted the thin needle into Amanda’s arm.

“What, Mommy?” Amanda asked excitedly, thrilled by the proposition of being taken to the toy store.

“You won’t even know that you already got your shot!” her mother exclaimed, pointing to the Band-Aid on Amanda’s arm. 

“I did it?” she asked incredulously, looking at her bandaged arm.  “Oh, I did it!” she happily cheered, smiling at her mother proudly. 

EXCERPT FROM POST-VISIT MENTAL HEALTH CHECK TRANSCRIPT

(PATIENT: AMANDA SILVERSTONE) (JUNE 1st, 1994)

PSY:   

Wow, you did that pretty quickly, Amanda!  How were you so fast at putting those shapes together?

AS:     

Told you I would be! 

PSY:   

Well, you sure showed me!  I don’t think we need to do any more tests, since you’re obviously a very smart girl!

AS:     

I told you I was.

PSY:   

Yes, you did.  So, I want to talk about what your days are like.

AS:     

Ok.

PSY:   

What usually happens when you wake up?

AS:     

Mommy wakes me up.

PSY:   

Ok, what happens when Mommy wakes you up?

AS:     

I go potty.  Then I get dressed.

PSY:   

Do you dress yourself?

AS:     

Yea.  Mommy shows me clothes and lets me pick which ones I want to wear.

PSY:   

I see.  And what happens after you get dressed?

AS:     

Mommy makes me breakfast.

PSY:   

Do you tell her what you want, or does she just make it for you?

AS:     

She just makes it and I eat it.

PSY:   

Do you do anything else while you’re eating breakfast?

AS:     

Watch cartoons.  Then after I eat breakfast Mommy lets me…..I mean……I play with my toys.  ‘Cause I wanna.

PSY:   

And she stays nearby and watches you? 

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

Does she ever play with you?

AS:     

Sometimes. 

PSY:   

Is that fun for you?  When Mommy plays with you?

AS:     

Ummmmm, yea.

PSY:   

So, it sounds like Mommy is doing a lot for you these days.  How do you feel about that?

AS:     

I can still do everything myself.  Mommy just helps sometimes. 

PSY:   

Ah, ok.  I understand.  Do you remember when we talked about how it made you feel now that your mother was around more?  Do you remember telling me that it upset you?

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

Well, does it still upset you?

AS:     

Sometimes.

PSY:   

Sometimes?  When does it upset you?

AS:     

Ummmm…….when Mommy tells me I gotta stop playing or clean my room.

PSY:   

Ok.  And when does it not upset you?

AS:     

Ummmm…….

PSY:   

Take your time.  We aren’t in a hurry.

AS:     

When I need Mommy and she’s there. 

PSY:   

It feels good when you need her and she’s there?

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

Well, that’s good to hear.  Do you still feel upset with Mommy for making you smaller?

AS:     

Sometimes.  I don’t think about it that much, though.

PSY:   

And why is that?

AS:     

‘Cause it’s more fun to play and do fun stuff.

PSY:   

It is, isn’t it?  But you know it’s still ok to feel angry or upset about it, right?

AS:     

I know.  I just like playin’ better.

PSY:   

Do you ever miss being Big Amanda?

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

What do you miss about being Big Amanda? 

AS:     

My friend Meghan.

PSY:   

Oh, you haven’t seen her in a long time, have you?

AS:     

Nope. 

PSY:   

Well, maybe you’ll get to see her soon.  Would you like that?

AS:     

Yea!   

PSY:   

Now, I’m going to ask you something and I want you to think as long as you have to, ok?

AS:     

Ok.

PSY:   

When you think about Big Amanda, is she someone else, or is she you?

AS:     

I’m Big Amanda.

PSY:   

But aren’t you smaller now?

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

So, you’re Big Amanda and Small Amanda at the same time?

AS:     

Yea.

PSY:   

Does thinking about that confuse you?

AS:     

No.

PSY:   

That doesn’t surprise me.  After all, you’re a very smart girl.

[END OF TRANSCRIPT]

POST-VISIT CONSULTATION TRANSCRIPT

(RACHEL SILVERSTONE, MOTHER OF AMANDA SILVERSTONE) (MAY 1st, 1994)

DCTR:           

Ok, let’s get started.  Roll your sleeve up for me.  Ok, perfect.  Here we go.

RS:                 

Whenever you’re ready.

DCTR:           

Anddddd there.  Just hold this on there for me while I put the Band-Aid on.  Perfect.  Well, congratulations.  Your treatment is over. 

RS:                 

That was the same shot you gave to Amanda?

DCTR:         

Same shot, different dosage.  Regardless, the effect is the same.  If you think of the serum as the gas pedal of a car, this shot is the brakes.  It’s going to stop the age regression process for both of you.  You’ll end up at around twenty-four, Amanda will stop at around two years old.

RS:                 

Wow.  I can’t believe it’s over.  It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like a lifetime for some reason. 

DCTR:           

You’ve been through a lot, Rachel.  Physically, emotionally…..this process takes its toll on a woman.

RS:                 

I know.  I know.  I just hope that I’m ready for what’s coming.

DCTR:           

Have you made the arrangements? 

RS:                 

I have.  One phone call and everything will be taken care of.  I’m just afraid that I’ll do it too soon.  Before she’s ready, I mean.

DCTR:           

I understand.  You’ll know when the time has come.  You’re a good mother, Rachel.  I think your intuition is going to serve you well.

RS:                 

Let’s hope so.  So, what do I do now?  Just wait?

DCTR:           

It’s all that’s left to do. 

[END OF TRANSCRIPT]