Laurie and Sharon

[xp-friedlander.livejournal.com]

Sharon continues her education in mutant health care.

"We did do a little about it during my nursing school, but that was only the very, very basics." Sharon explained, gesturing to the various books on the desk. "And I can only remember having seen three or four mutants during my time in the ER in Rapid City."

"The main thing you'll find is that while there's certain mutation types that can be more common then others, almost every mutant you meet will be different," Laurie explained, glancing at the books and dismissing them - they were good primers but Sharon would find the day to day work in the Medlab much more educational. "Are there any specific questions you have to start off?"

Sharon considered for a moment, then tapped one of the books. "Both in the army and in the ER I mostly worked in trauma care. I have read bits and pieces in these, but what is the general picture here? Both in the field and in the Medlab."

"We are a small but well stocked facility, both with supplies and equipment. Given our focus of mutation, we have the ability to isolate dangerous mutations and treat everything from stubbed toes to serious combat injuries." Laurie replied, bringing up a schematic of the Medlab on her phone and showing it to Sharon. "We prefer the stubbed toe style of thing but with the X-men in residence, we see our fair share of trauma also."

Cecilia had shown her around, but Sharon took in the full picture of what was available to them in the mansion. "Some place would like to have access to all of this..." She commented. "I've read there are some broad groups of mutants. Psi's, ferals, various energy types... What are the general issues with each that complicate trauma's?"

"Obviously I can't discuss specific patients without breaching patient and physician confidentiality but in brood strokes," Laurie began, leaning back slightly in her chair as she thought about how to proceed. "Food can be a big stressor here, there are many mutations that have specific dietary needs. We usually do a full allergen panel when a mutant first arrives and make recommendations to the patient based on the results. We've also found that some changes in gut flora due to mutation can make a previously omnivorous diet distressing to a stomach that has become more akin to that of an obligate carnivore."

"That's a lot of change. How about quantities of it? I imagine certain types of mutations would need a lot of fuel. One of the books seemed to hint at the same." Sharon asked as she scribbled some notes.

"Quantity depends a lot on the intake of new students or refugees, obviously," Laurie replied, picking up the coffee she'd brought with her to this meeting and taking a sip. "This recent batch had a feral, two energy producers, at least one telepath and telekinetic and several magic users. Due to the lack of statistical records being kept in the general populace it's hard to really pin down any accurate numbers or group mutant traits. I would be lax if I were to draw conclusions from correlation without first having a more broad base it draw any conclusions upon, and at least some study protocols. As to fuel consumption, I find that depends upon the mutant biology. Ferals, as I said can sometimes require quite specific diets whereas energy projectors appear to require more quantity of high fat or carbohydrate foods. They can get by on protein as a high energy boost but the slower burning foods seem to be required to keep them overall healthy."

"That info is not collected in place like here and... what is that place in Scotland called again?" Sharon tapped her pen thoughtfully.

"Muir Island Research Facility. It's one of the few places still doing general research on mutant abilities and maladaptions specifically since M-Day - it's also where some of our less controlled individuals can go if they feel they're a danger to the general population here. While there are other individuals and groups out there, they don't quite have the same connections or mutual trust that Muir and ourselves do." Laurie noted, kneeding her fingers into the muscle at the join of her arm and the technology that had replaced the lower limb. "We do keep some records both here and at Muir but we are a small facility - to truly do a proper scientific study with peer reviewed results would require a far broader base, over far more years then can be provided from only here."

Sharon scribbled another noted before pulling out another book. "Mutant with impenetrable skin... how do you deal with internal damage? Not just injections, but what if there is an internal bleed or swelling?"

"We've found that most mutations with control have the ability to be turned off, either for a time or with assisting factors. My own abilities have helped in the past to calm mutant's and allow them to soften impenetrable skin." Laurie replied, an almost imperceptible catch in her voice as she remembered her friend Yvette.

She'd wondered if the other woman has a counterpart in their new world and if so, how she would stand to see her again and know it wasn't her friend but a stranger with no shared history at all.

"We also have the ability to get hold of a powers suppressor in the case of a dire emergency but you could see why we would use that only as a last recourse - after all other avenues had been explored."

"I can see why you would it needed in some cases though." Sharon countered. "We had a situation in the ER once... a patient with unbreakable skin and brain damage. Because we could not get through his skin, we could not alleviate the pressure on his brain." She shook her head sadly. "We lost him because of that."

"It is unfortunate, but a rule of the job that you cannot save everyone," Laurie replied, but her tone was compassionate and her eyes sad. If anything about her existence over the years had taught her, it was that you mourned losses but you didn't let them cripple you - no matter how deep the wounds, or how fresh the scars. There was always more loss on the horizon, more people or patients to mourn. "Did he have any family?"

"I know the realities of the job well, but I hate to loose a life because we don't know what to do or don't have the stuff we need to it." Sharon stated. "And he had two young boys, who would still have had their father if we had the knowledge and things we needed."

"Then it's my hope that we can provide some," Laurie acknowledge before glancing at her watch, which had just chimed gently. "My apologies but I'm due elsewhere, if there's anything else I'm more then willing to help at a later date."

Sharon nodded. "Thanks for the help, Laurie and I will take upon that offer soon."