After observing Danielle, Sophia noticed that phlegm in her throat persisted, causing a rattling sound when she breathed.
She pondered and said, “Cold has invaded the body, coupled with internal phlegm heat, which is why the child is showing these symptoms. First, we need to cure the cold, clear heat, detoxify, and expel the phlegm from her body.”
Freya was slightly taken aback. In modern medicine, there was no such explanation; they advised giving the child cold medicine, reasoning that her incomplete brain development couldn’t be altered anyway. Treating her cold would suffice, but Sophia insisted on removing the phlegm.
“Does my child have a lot of phlegm in her body?” Freya asked.
“It’s evident. If the phlegm doesn’t drain, the internal phlegm heat won’t resolve. Additionally, we need to nourish her kidneys to restore her body’s foundation.”
Traditional medicine emphasizes differentiation in diagnosis and treatment. If the differentiation is inaccurate, the treatment will be wrong from the start, and recovery will be impossible!
“Nourish her kidneys?” Freya was astonished. In her understanding, kidney nourishment was something only adults did—after sleepless nights or excessive intimacy, people would consume soups or tonics to replenish their kidneys. She had never heard of children needing kidney nourishment. “Dr. Smith, what’s the reasoning behind this?”
Sophia explained, “In traditional medicine, the kidneys are considered the root of innate vitality. They govern the bones, produce marrow, and connect to the brain. Therefore, we usually believe that individuals with incomplete brain development need kidney nourishment to invigorate the brain marrow and nourish the body. Thus, I will prescribe medicines addressing two aspects: one to reduce phlegm and clear internal heat and another to lower her fever. After the fever subsides, we’ll focus on her brain development.”
Her words left everyone stunned, especially Elias, who found it hard to believe.
“Dr. Smith, are you saying my child’s condition can be treated?”
“That depends on what you mean by ‘treated.’” Sophia was honest. She never liked giving false hope. As a doctor, she preferred to present the worst-case scenario rather than create unrealistic expectations for the family.
“Can her intelligence improve?”
Sophia pondered and said, “Even if she recovers, expecting her to attend Ivy League schools would be unrealistic. She was born with developmental deficiencies, and mild intellectual delays are inevitable. However, she should be able to lead a life similar to that of an average person.”
These words left everyone stunned again, especially Elias and Freya, who were in disbelief. Even Abigail was dumbfounded for a moment before asking, “Doctor, are you serious? Can my granddaughter really live like a normal person?”
“It’s not a big problem.”
Abigail laughed out loud, overjoyed and unsure of how to express her happiness.
Over the past year, they had taken Danielle to numerous doctors, all of whom concluded that her developmental deficiencies were irreversible and that she would grow up with significant intellectual disabilities. Sophia’s assertion that Danielle could live a normal life was beyond their expectations.
They had long abandoned high hopes for Danielle, only wishing that she could care for herself. Even if she was a little slow, as long as she could survive in society, they would be satisfied—and the family could support her financially if necessary.
“That’s wonderful!” Freya leaned on Elias, smiling in disbelief. It felt unreal to hear such good news from Sophia.
Everyone was thrilled.
Sophia, however, didn’t have the necessary medicine on hand, and Danielle’s fever was still severe. She needed the medicine to be prepared immediately.
“Go to the storage room at the Scott family estate,” Scott Livinus suggested.
Sophia thought for a moment and agreed. The Scott family had all the tools needed. She would prepare the medicine there and bring it back for Danielle.
Before leaving, Sophia instructed, “The child may experience diarrhea after taking the medicine. This is normal. If diarrhea occurs, observe her stool for signs of phlegm. If you have questions, feel free to call me.”
“Okay! Dr. Smith, thank you so much for coming so late. We’re truly grateful!” Elias said sincerely.
Sophia smiled. “If you want to thank me, play cards with me next time.”
Recalling the time Sophia utterly defeated him, Elias shivered and exclaimed, “Oh no! I’m terrified of you! I’ll never play with you again!”
Sophia chuckled.
After she left, Abigail asked curiously, “Who exactly is this Dr. Smith? And why is she with Scott Livinus?”
Elias froze, realizing that even his mother hadn’t recognized Sophia.
“She’s Scott Henry’s ex-wife. I heard they’re divorced now.”
“What? Scott Henry? The one who’s always fooling around with young celebrities and embarrassing himself publicly?” Abigail snorted disdainfully. She disliked such men. Her generation had built their wealth from scratch, and no matter how much they accumulated, a reckless child could squander it all. She disapproved of men who kept mistresses and immediately warned her son, “You mustn’t follow his example!”
Elias sighed. “What would I even learn from him? I’m older than him by a generation!”
Abigail asked, puzzled, “But why is Sophia with Scott Livinus?”
Elias hesitated and quickly changed the subject. “Mom, it’s all about treating Danielle. Let’s not bring that up. You should go rest. When the Scott family driver delivers the medicine, Freya and I will handle preparing it.”
Abigail did feel tired. More importantly, Sophia’s acupuncture had left her feeling drowsy.
“Alright, I’ll rest for a bit.”
Just as she was about to head to her room, the phone rang.
“Hello, Dr. Jake? Yes, it’s me! I heard that a doctor cured your grandson’s polio. I was hoping you could introduce me to them. You know my granddaughter’s condition, and you understand my feelings better than anyone. Please don’t keep this to yourself!” Abigail paused, stunned by the response. “What? The Scott family’s daughter-in-law? The doctor’s last name is Smith. Sophia Smith?”
Abigail hung up, her mind racing with disbelief.
The doctor she had tried to contact through various connections, only to be repeatedly turned down, was none other than Sophia Smith!
In other words, without Scott Livinus’s help, Sophia wouldn’t have treated her granddaughter!
Abigail suddenly felt a chill of fear. Thankfully, she hadn’t offended Sophia. Instead, Sophia had shown her great understanding regarding her menopausal issues and even offered to prescribe medication to improve her health. If she had offended her, her granddaughter’s condition would undoubtedly remain untreated! Moreover, if Sophia could cure polio, perhaps there was even hope for developmental deficiencies…
