Two days have passed since Athena and Carson met with Dr. June. In those two days, Athena has not slept well, created a list of worst-case scenarios in her head, ate a few meals without vomiting shortly after consuming, and prepared herself to meet with the Dean of Nursing. Lauretta Maze-Gardena is not the easiest person to deal with and she takes her role as Seattle University's Dean of Nursing too seriously at times.
As Athena crawls out of bed, eyes lightly covered with mucus and dirt from the night's restless sleep, she grows weary on meeting with Dean Maze-Gardena. She stumbles towards her bathroom, tripping over Syrup in the process. The cat hisses in protest and runs out of Athena's bedroom.
Rummaging through her bathroom medicine cabinet, Athena grabs her toothpaste and a bottle of Acetaminophen. Two over-the-counter pills should stifle the headache starting to form in Athena's noggin. Once her teeth are brushed and eye dirt is cleaned away, Athena notices how a lack of sleep is impacting her face. Dark bags have formed under Athena's brown eyes, her forehead marked by frown lines and her once cheerful gleam, stolen from her eyes. In the gleams place, a state of concern and worry resides.
Once her curly is pulled into a high ponytail, and ironed dress shirt with tan slacks dresses her body, and brewed tea is in hand, Athena departs from her house. Her scheduled meeting with Dean Maze-Gardena starts in two hours: Athena wants to take her time walking to campus and mentally preparing herself for Dean Maze-Gardena's mind games.
Athena arrives at Seattle University's campus with an hour to spare before her meeting. She walks into the College of Nursing building, climbs three flights of stairs, and searches for the nearest bathroom. After relieving her full bladder, Athena checks in with the front desk in Dean Maze-Gardena's office and sits in the waiting area. She opens her backpack and grabs a blank piece of paper. Athena jots down a to-do list before brain fog causes her to forget what all needs to be done by the end of the week.
Dean Maze-Gardena's front office worker excuses himself from the desk, disappears into the hall leading to the Dean's personal office, and reappears within five minutes. He signals for Athena to follow him. She slowly rises from her seat and keeps pace with the worker as they walk through the hallway. They arrive in front of Dean Maze-Gardena's door, Athena gives her thanks to the worker and walks through the door, alone.
Dean Maze-Gardena is a middle-aged woman (around 45 years old) who holds a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology, focuses her research on maternal mental health throughout the stages of pregnancy, and a reputation for setting high expectations for Seattle University's Nursing students. Athena feels a sense of calm and determination as Dean Maze-Gardena addresses her.
"Miss Athena, please take a seat. May I offer you a beverage?" Athena sits down in the chair closest to Dean Maze-Gardena's desk. She declines the beverage offer and starts into the main topics of conversation: her health and finishing her program of study.
"I will pass on the drink, thank you. In the interest of time, I would appreciate it if we could get started with our meeting. Here is a letter from my doctor, a note from my clinical professor, and a list of accommodations I may require later on."
Dean Maze-Gardena picks up the documents from her desk, looks over them quickly, and sits behind her desk. She adjusts her glasses, clears her throat, and responds to Athena.
"You do realize the accommodation process takes at least three weeks to complete? And falling behind in clinical rotation or other classes will impact your ability to graduate on time?" There is a hint of scorn attached to the Dean's words that makes Athena uneasy.
"I am aware of the accommodation process, Dean Maze-Gardena, and would appreciate your assistance and support during the process. As mentioned over the phone when I scheduled our meeting, I have brought proof of being ill and needing accommodations." She is trying to keep a level head and not faint. The headache from earlier is starting to come back.
Dean Maze-Gardena is preoccupied with reading over Athena's documents. She is dismissive of Athena's request and redirects the conversation, abruptly.
"I am glad you are aware of the accommodation process. According to your clinical supervisor, you were dismissed early from the hospital last week. Why is this the case?"
Athen is squinting her left eye, trying not to personalize how rude Dean Maze-Gardena is acting. "I have been feeling under the weather mentally, physically, and emotionally. And I was recently diagnosed with leukemia. I included a lengthy note from my oncologist explaining my diagnosis."
"Your health is the reason why you were let home early. How else is your health impacting your course of study?" Once again, Athena's concerns are dismissed. She brings this to Dean Maze-Gardena's attention using a firm tone.
"With all due respect, Dean Maze-Gardena, I am feeling personally attacked right now and would appreciate feeling supported by you. To your question, my course of study has not been impacting which is why I requested today's meeting. I am being proactive in seeking help, and using available resources to prevent me from falling behind and having to enroll for an additional quarter."
Dean Maze-Gardena stops reading the documents and makes direct eye contact with Athena. Athena continues to talk and raises her voice ever so slightly. She raises her voice to make it clear that Dean Maze-Gardena has crossed a line.
"Furthermore, I am starting chemotherapy in a month and might have to miss a few days at Seattle Children's Hospital. As we both know, chemotherapy comes with a slew of side effects. Mood changes, weight changes, dry mouth, and so on. What suggestions do you have for me so I can meet my clinical hours?"
Dean Maze-Gardena makes an effort to listen to Athena's concerns without cutting Athena off mid-sentence. Once Athena finishes talking, Dean Maze-Gardena pushes her lips together, sits upright in her seat, and adjusts her glasses. Her response to Athena is curt.
"I suggest you talk with your clinical professor and clinical supervisor." She pushes the documents towards Athena and continues to talk.
"Before you leave my office, make sure Stan creates a photocopy of your doctor's letter and a note from your clinical professor. I will keep a copy of each for my records. Now if you will excuse me, I have a meeting to attend." Stan is the front desk worker who brought Athena to Dean Maze-Gardena's office.
Dean Maze-Gardena stands up from behind her desk, opens the office door, and gestures for Athena to leave. Athena gathers her documents, stuffs them into her backpack and leaves the office. She avoids making eye contact with Dean Maze-Gardena and feels a sense of disappointment growing in her chest.
Today's meeting was eye-opening and infuriating: had she known how insensitive Dean Maze-Gardena would be regarding her health, Athena would not have met with the woman. Seeing as she has never been in a situation where her health could impact her studies, it seemed logical to start a conversation with the Dean of Nursing. After all, Miss Maze-Gardena has access to Athena's academic records and holds the power to influence the Nursing Program's curriculum.