INFUSION AT THE PENTHOUSE

He checked into the clinic and was directed to the 12th floor. “We call it the penthouse”,   said the receptionist.
He knew he would like that kind of place, "Like dining on the Top of the Sixes in New York City”, he quipped.”
Just take the elevator to the 12th floor and turn left when you get off”. “Thank you”, he said, and proceeded to walk to the elevators and stepped into the first elevator going up. The elevator stopped, he stepped out and turned to the left.
A sign in big black letters hung on the wall HEMITOLOGY/ONCOLOGY!! He hesitated. I must be on the wrong floor. Should I go back down to the receptionist on the main floor and confirm the instructions from my doctor?
He decided to ask the nurse at the Oncology desk, “Is this the 12th floor?
“Yes sir” she answered. “This is the 12th floor” looking a bit surprised at the question. “Just have seat in the waiting room” she said, gesturing to an adjoining room.
He slowly walked into the waiting room and began to Google the word ‘Oncology’. He read: Oncology is a branch of medicine focused on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and the prevention of cancer.
What?  There must be a mistake, he thought. I’m here for a simple shot in my arm for rheumatoid arthritis.
He had just sat down and finished reading the search definition when a nurse opened the door to the waiting room and asked: “Are you here for your nine o'clock appointment” ?
“Yes”, he responded.
“Please follow me, sir”.
He did as the nurse suggested and proceeded to the end of the hallway where a sign announced: ONCOLOGY.
Together they entered the room.
 It was a large room perhaps 80 x 60 feet. Around three sides of the room there were side by side recliners. All but two recliners had a person lying prone or sitting upright under white blankets.
What am I doing here he asked himself? This is a cancer treatment center!!
With disbelief, he followed the nurse to her duty station.
The nurse handed him a pamphlet about the drug. “We are treating you with a drug called Rituximab”, she calmly explained.
“Ma'am, I need to phone my wife”, he said. “This was not what I was anticipating. I was expecting a simple shot in my arm for my rheumatoid arthritis. There must be a mistake”.
“Before I decide on this, I need to call my wife’, he responded in a faltering voice.
“Sure, take your time”, she answered.
The nurse dialed the number from her duty phone, and his wife answered. The nurse proceeded to explain the meaning and use of the word ‘infusion’ and about the drug Rituximab while he eavesdropped on the conversation and read the pamphlet explanation about the drug.
The pamphlet read in part: It has been found to be effective for treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, polyangiitis, pemphigus vulgaris and rheumatoid arthritis.
Finally, he began to understand his misconception. The drug was an effective treatment for a wide range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
After a short while,  all agreed to proceed with the infusion.
It was only minutes later until he was seated in one of the two vacant recliners in the treatment room, given five pills to swallow and an IV was inserted into his arm.
So began his first, seven-hour infusion in the penthouse for treatment for his rheumatoid arthritis!