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Chapter 179 – Seeking Medical Care
🕑 Added 2025-09-20 17:13:26 +0000 UTC
“I’ve walked into a nightmare. I’ve seen famine in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, but never like this. This famine is worse than I ever imagined, and I was not prepared for it.
“As we enter the twenty-first century, there are many things we must reflect on. We look around us and see that promises of the past remain unfulfilled. People still live in extreme poverty, people still go hungry, people still struggle just to survive.
“And among them we always see children—always the children. Their swollen bellies, their sorrowful eyes, their innocent faces marked with pain. In their short years, they have suffered all the hardships of a lifetime.”
This was part of a speech Audrey Hepburn gave at UNICEF headquarters in New York, following her visit to war-torn Somalia. She had already undergone preliminary medical tests in Switzerland, though without results.
When the applause ended, Robert helped her down from the podium. Henry, her young assistant, followed closely behind as UNICEF staff guided them to a small meeting room.
The UNICEF liaison said respectfully:
“Madam, we’ve received your application to suspend activities due to illness. We sincerely hope you recover soon.”
“Thank you. And please extend my gratitude to everyone at UNICEF. Thank you for your cooperation and efforts these past months. Once I regain my health, I look forward to working with you again.”
“Of course, Madam. I’ll pass on your words. Everyone will be eager for your return.”
Being named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was never just an honorary title. Whenever campaigns rolled out, these “living billboards” were expected to attend and lend their face to the cause. That was the price of the shining title.
And Hepburn, with her relentless travel schedule, relied on multiple teams planning and coordinating behind the scenes.
If she was taking sick leave, they needed to be notified—so their workload could be eased, or they could be reassigned to other projects.
Of course, some “ambassadors” just took the title, collected the paycheck, and never showed up. But those were rare. For the ones who actually worked, they were always in high demand, never truly idle. After all, this was the United Nations—a place that tried to manage everything, and in the end could manage almost nothing.
Leaving the UN building, Henry drove Hepburn and Robert to a New York public hospital. Such hospitals served low-income households and undocumented immigrants with affordable care. Naturally, their overall standards were not the highest.
Not that they lacked skilled doctors or advanced equipment, but the sheer demand inevitably dragged down quality.
Even though Hepburn was treated as a VIP here, the expressions on her and Robert’s faces as they exited the consultation room told their own story.
Audrey remained as calm as always, as if nothing had changed. Robert Wolders, however, was visibly angry:
“Typical of public hospitals—quacks! They can’t even diagnose what’s wrong with Audrey. Just a string of ‘suspected,’ ‘possible,’ and ‘maybe,’ followed by an endless list of further tests.”
Helping her to a seat in the waiting area, Henry replied casually:
“If it were that simple, the hospital in Switzerland would’ve figured it out already. We wouldn’t have flown all the way here.”
Robert asked, “And the top medical centers, or private hospitals? Any luck getting appointments?”
Henry answered:
“I called every major medical center in the U.S. with a reputation in thoracic and abdominal surgery. The earliest available slot is at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles—in November.”
Private hospitals and elite centers didn’t admit just anyone. Without money, influence, or a unique case, it was nearly impossible to get in.
Even with Audrey Hepburn’s fame, the wait was still over a month—closer to two. The world’s wealthy all flocked to America to cling to life, and top medical resources were inevitably scarce.
Hepburn’s influence wasn’t the kind that could leapfrog her to the front. She would have to wait in line like everyone else.
Compared to Robert’s anger, she was far more composed. With quiet resignation, she asked:
“Then shall we return to Switzerland? It feels like we’re just wasting time, back and forth like this.”
Her tone carried a faint clarity—as though she already understood.
“Do you think I still have anything left to give this world?” she asked softly.
Robert clasped her hand tightly.
“Audrey, you’ve already given the world countless cultural treasures. Why burden yourself with more?”
“And you, Henry? Do you think I still have something I can do?”
Considering her fragile health, it was unthinkable for her to take on another film, and long flights around the globe were more dangerous than ever.
After a pause, Henry said, “What about reading stories to children?”
“That’s a lovely idea. Should we find an orphanage or a school, then?”
Henry’s thoughts grew clearer:
“No… how about a publisher and a recording studio instead? Record your voice reading stories, so many more children can hear you.
“In an orphanage or school, not every child may enjoy stories, and it takes effort from teachers and kids alike. But an audiobook could reach countless children, and their happy reactions—you’ll just have to imagine them.”
“An audiobook… I never thought of that.” Audrey’s eyes lit up, as though she’d found something to be passionate about again. “Ah, you always come up with good ideas.”
Instead of chasing down orphanages or schools willing to host her, or exhausting herself traveling just to read to children, a recording studio would let her work in one place without the strain.
It was the gentlest kind of work Henry could think of for her.
True to her nature, Audrey immediately pulled out her address book to see if she had contacts in publishing she could ask about audiobooks.
Robert frowned at Henry—yet again the boy had found Hepburn something new to do.
But considering the nature of the work, he couldn’t complain. At least this task would keep her in one place, not flying around the world. In fact, it might be the best possible outcome.
Returning to her home in Switzerland was one option, of course. But staying in the U.S. a while longer could mean new medical opportunities would arise.
Say what you will about this damned country—America wasn’t ideal for a quiet retirement. But if you wanted to do something, nowhere was more convenient.
