|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They brought Matty home late Friday morning. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Because of the medication, he was subdued. He ate very little and spent most of the day in his room with the curtains drawn, napping on and off. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For reasons the doctors could not explain, one side effect of his condition was heightened sensitivity to natural light. Whatever the neurophysiological cause, included in the batch of prescriptions was medication they hoped would reduce the discomfort. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonetheless, he stayed inside for the next three days, mostly in his room, where Calvin had moved a portable television. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Tuesday morning the effects of the medication were evident. His eyes were less sensitive, and the week of counterhormone therapy had all but eliminated his facial hair, although the axial hair was fading more slowly. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More importantly, the psychoactive prescriptions, while making him drowsy, had checked all signs of aggressiveness. Not once since leaving the hospital did Matty experience anything approaching rage. To the profound gratitude of his parents, there were none of those awful scenesthe swearing fits, the tearing up of his room, the self-pummeling. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Their hope was that in a week or so Matty would feel comfortable having tutors come to the house to help him complete the school year. Consulting with his teachers, they had decided it best for him to stay out of school the rest of the year. In the fall he would start again at a private middle school, where his history would not dog him. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In spite of turnaround signs, it was not until Tuesday morning |
|
|
|
|
|