Man Grows Auxiliary Mind
It began as an unexplainable growth on high school engineering teacher Jason Daley’s wrist, roughly the size of a quarter. When his mother who doubles as his landlord told him he should consult a physician, he snarkily assured her it was fine. However, as it grew larger, he became unsure of himself.
One day he visited the hospital during his free block between classes, so as to avoid giving his mom the pride of knowing he’d taken her advice. After testing, doctors concluded that, although they did not know what the growth was, it was safe and benign. They told him they could surgically remove it if he desired, but that removal was not necessary. He returned to normal life regretful that he had passed up surgery without considering it.
The bulge continued to grow and, as it did, Jason Daley received hurtful stares and criticism, and was bullied by his students and co-workers. The lacrosse players whom he coached were particularly fierce, calling him “bubble arms” and similarly hurtful names.
Daley noted that he had otherwise been feeling amazingly good lately, putting together excellent lectures, leading his lacrosse team to many victories, and even finding a romantic partner after a long dry spell, thanks to newfound wit. But, the bulge put a lump in all of this, and so he opted to undergo the procedure to remove it.
When he drove towards the hospital, a sudden blip in his mind caused him to forget what he was doing. He returned to school. Coworkers who he had told about the procedure were surprised that he had returned without having gone through with it.
“It was strange, I totally forgot what I was doing. I got caught up I the radio and just drove around looking at the trees and spring flowers.”
Mr. Daley went back to the hospital the next day but does not remember being there. His paperwork from the visit says the following:
Patient Jason Daley reports feeling unusually intelligent and euphoric — but, forgetful. He says that when he moves his arms vigorously, for example, while running, these symptoms disappear. We’ve run a variety of tests and believe Jason Daley’s benign tumor on his arm may be a knot made up of rogue neurons, and that these neurons have developed potentially-dangerous sentience. We advise Mr. Daley to have them removed immediately before they have the chance to grow further. He agrees with our judgment, and on multiple occasions has scheduled surgeries, but routinely makes excuses for missing these surgeries. He typically does not remember skipping or denying surgeries, and regrets doing so. He has asked us to go through with the next surgery even if he later tells us not to. We cannot lawfully do so, however, and so the process continues. Soon we may need to deny him treatment because of his chronic unreliability.
While the healthcare system cannot help Mr. Daley, someone else may be able to. The PIA is investigating.
As always, Peripherally go the winds of progress...
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