You understand?” Melanie asked in her sternest voice. Her patient, a five year old with a congenital heart valve prolapse, nodded gravely. “You have to take your medication every morning, no complaining.” The girl nodded again. “And you have to rest when your mother tells you to.” Another nod. “And, finally, you have to eat at least one scoop of chocolate ice cream before bed every night.” The girl’s eyes widened and she began to giggle. “Really?” “Really.” Melanie held up her hand in a gesture of sincerity. “Doctor’s orders.” “Thank you, Dr. Spence,” the girl’s mother said as she followed Melanie out the door of her daughter’s hospital room. Melanie touched her arm lightly. “You’re daughter’s going to be fine.
