This time, Dr. Harmon ordered an X-ray. Rachel felt relieved when he said it — finally, something concrete. The X-ray took twenty minutes. She sat in the waiting room again, scrolling through her phone without reading anything. When Dr. Harmon came back in, he had the images on a screen and a look on his face that she would later describe as professionally calm.
He told her it was arthritis. He pointed to areas on the X-ray and explained how the joint showed signs of degeneration consistent with age-related wear. He said it was common in Labs and entirely manageable. He prescribed a long-term course of steroids to reduce inflammation and keep Copper comfortable. He told her to monitor his mobility and come back in three months.
Rachel asked if there was anything else she should know. Dr. Harmon said no, they’d caught it at a reasonable stage, and the steroids would help significantly. He was measured and clear. She had no reason to doubt him. She went home with a new prescription and a plan, and for a few days, Copper did seem more comfortable. The steroids were working, she thought. She was relieved.