October 27 – Miracles Do Happen

With everything I know about medicine, I saw no reason that LS49 would work on Laura Spencer. But, it did. Robin was right and I usually hate it when she’s right, but this time I can’t. Today as a result of her persistence and brilliance, I got to see a real life miracle. Laura Spencer was reunited with Luke and her children, and she’s perfect, other than not remembering the last four years or what put her in her catatonic state. Protecting her mental health may be a challenge, but for now the family has her back and hopefully, that won’t change.

October 23 – Facing Prejudice

Today, I experienced, first hand, blatant prejudice against someone with HIV. I knew it existed, but today I got a chance to see what Robin faces. Robin jumped to my defense as a patient decided that he didn’t want me to do his surgery because of my HIV exposure. He took his chances with another doctor and he died on the table. What a useless waste of a life . . . all because he couldn’t see past his own fear of HIV and AIDS.

I see now why Robin decided not to be a surgeon. She says it’s because she didn’t want her patients to have to choose between getting the proper care and their fear of her HIV. I was quick to judge her when we first met and I can only attribute it to ignorance. Robin knows first hand what it is to live with HIV. She coached me on what I need to do to make sure that my patients get the care they need. In the process, she gave me more compliments than she ever has. I know that she’s worried about me, and I like that. In fact, I like it a lot. How’d I get so fortunate?

October 20 – Getting Flak

I can’t believe my father and Robin are giving me a hard time for operating on AIDS/HIV+ patients. You’d think both of them would be thanking me for doing the right thing. After all, it is my job. I’m a doctor and that’s what I do. I save lives, whether they have AIDS or not. We don’t discriminate against patients.

You’d think I was jumping off rooftops in hopes I’d bounce with all the fuss they’re making. Yes, I thrive off a challenge, but I don’t have a death wish and I’m not taking unnecessary risks. We take proper precautions in the OR every time we step through those doors and I’m always careful. I’m not a danger junkie. I’m just confident in my abilities and I’m still the best surgeon in this hospital. They both need to remember that.

October 18 – Glad to be Home

It was great to be back in Port Charles and at General Hospital. I had no idea I would miss the small town life so much. I was especially glad to see Dr. Scorpio . . . and from the reception I got when I surprised her at the hospital, she was glad to see me. But then again, how could she not be? I am Patrick Drake. Soon after I got back and said, “Hello” to Robin, Epiphany made a big deal of scolding us for not taking “it” to a supply closet. She could have just admitted that she missed me. I mean it was obvious.

Robert and I may be more alike than I’d like to acknowledge. He and I got Robin the exact same bracelet for her birthday. How is that possible? I’m nothing like her dad. Well, he is relatively cool and he is pretty confident, but that’s where the similarities end.

Apparently, my reputation has preceded me and word has gotten around that I’m a surgeon who’s sympathetic to AIDS/HIV patients. I treated a migraine today . . . A MIGRAINE. I’m a neurosurgeon and I really don’t have time for that, but the guy was HIV+ and he just needed someone who wasn’t afraid of him. I understand that better now and I want to make sure no one is turned away from getting the help they need.

October 17 – Heading Home

It’s been almost two weeks and I had no idea I would miss Robin as much as I have. I came here to check out Dr. Legrasse’s work and to see if there was a real chance for his treatment to help Laura Spencer. I’m still not convinced. Robin is adamant that this treatment will work and I just wish she’d decided to come to help convince me, if for no other reason that I wouldn’t have been sleeping alone and that I’d know she was safe.

Paris is beautiful right now. The art work is amazing and I can only imagine how Robin’s face would light up looking at it. I can’t wait to get home to see her face. Who would have ever imagined I’d be looking forward to getting home to one woman? Not me. I hope she liked her birthday present. Maybe, I’ll surprise her when I get home and we can celebrate. That’s a thought.

October 6 – Robin’s Stubbornness

Robin will be the death of us all, if it’s left up to her. How stubborn can she be? Lorenzo Alcazar has threatened her twice – the second time with a couple of thugs, and she isn’t going to tell her super-hero, spy of a father. Yeah, right. Like I’m gonna go for that, especially after she turns down an invitation to accompany me to Paris. Can you imagine? She turned me down. I know she’s a professional, but she could be in serious danger and all she can spout to me is that she won’t be intimidated. We’ll just have to see what kind of protection she gets.

I went back to hospital and ran into Liz, whose life is in a shambles. I tried to be a sympathetic ear for her. Don’t know how much I helped, if at all. Later I saw Lucky and he’s a shambles, too. I really hope they can work through their problems.

“The Prince” was brought in today with a knee injury from falling off a horse. Luckily, it was just a torn ligament and he should be fine. Unluckily, Robin promised to check in on him while I’m gone. I’m still here and she’s already making plans to take care of other men. She just better not forget what she’s got. Just as I was about to remind her, her father showed up.

Robin got upset with me for calling her dad. She got upset with her dad for thinking she can’t take care of herself. Bickering ensued. Robin is too stubborn to even consider that Robert and I only want to keep her safe. If she’s expecting an apology, she’s gonna be short. Ha, no pun intended. I just don’t want anything to happen to her. I don’t want to lose her.

I’m already being to regret leaving for two weeks, but according to Robin, Laura Spencer’s family needs her and I don’t want to stand in the way of her getting help. So, I’m off to Paris and the only thing Robin asked me to bring back is . . . me. She’ll definitely get that, but I’ll have to see if I can find a little something extra. She deserves it, no matter how stubborn she is.

October 4 – Back to Normal

After my outing to Al Anon, I was confined to bed by Robin so that I could fully recuperate. I like her playing nurse maid. She’s a pretty good doctor, too. Hah, she’d kill me if I said that aloud. Earlier, Robin left me at home and I felt better so I went to work. Why not? I’m not contagious and I don’t have a fever. Little did I know that Robin would try to pull rank. She checked the on-call room for me to take a “nap.” A nap? Me? Patrick Drake taking a nap? I don’t do naps and Robin has got to quite coddling me. I did enjoy the back rub though. She has amazing hands.

She’s also a hard act to follow. I’m fine and I need people to know that. Just because I’ve had this HIV scare doesn’t mean that I’m any different than before, I’m as healthy as a horse, but Robin worries. I have to admit I like it when she’s all soft and caring. In fact, I was about to show her how much when Lorenzo Alcazar showed up at the hospital to threaten Robin because of something to do with her father. As if Robert hasn’t caused Robin enough pain over the years, now he’s pissed off an international arms dealer who believes in “an eye for an eye”. I don’t like it and I was about to tell Mr. Alcazar so when Robin cut me off. She stood up to Alcazar, but I could tell she was concerned. She told me she was glad I was there and so was I.

Later, as if threats and coddling weren’t enough, Luke called me to get a second opinion on Dr. Legrasse’s treatment for Laura. Robin got wind of it and cut off the conversation. I don’t why she can’t just look at the facts. It’s likely that Laura will get worse, not better. Robin has got to know that the odds aren’t good. I know that Robin’s a miracle, but in my professional opinion Laura Spencer won’t be. The fact that Robin is so adamant about this treatment for Laura says she’s way too attached to this case. It’s personal and that’s never good. I just don’t want her hurt, so we argued as we always do about patient care. She called Luke to “undo the damage I’d done” and then I don’t know what happened. One minute we’re arguing, the next we’re making plans to go out for Chinese. I’m not sure what it means.

October 2 – Supporting a Friend

Today was like a walk down memory lane. I went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with Liz. It was her first. As sad as it is, it helps to realize that you’re not by yourself in things like this. There are plenty of people out there with addictions and it gives you some freedom to know that. It also gives you perspective about addiction itself and how it affects everything the addict touches.

After the way Robin has been here for me, I’m glad to be able to support someone else. It's a welcome distraction from everything that’s going on in my life. I just hope this will help Liz understand Lucky better and how his addiction affects their lives.