"I know that."I know that. You mean....." "The Leydig cells are interstitial cells between the seminiferous tubes that produce sperm. The reduction in blood supply caused by the clotting and the amount of crushing that has occurred is going to result in considerable cell deterioration." "What in the hell does that mean?" I asked impatiently. Doctor Webster smiled in resignation. "I've only seen one case as bad as this. I told you about the boy that was kicked by the horse. He's sixteen now. He's been on hormone therapy for the last two years so that his body undergoes the maturation process that normally starts with puberty." "Oh! You mean that,... Rafael,...?" The doctor nodded and breathed out. "'Fraid so. If anything his injury is a lot worse because it hasn't been treated for so long." I shook my head sadly as I thought of the little boy vomiting from the side of my car and his tears running down his cheeks as he heaved again and again. "How can you be sure it's that bad? I mean kicks to the groin aren't that unusual." "A kick, like most boys might get in say a game of football, might be painful for an hour. This boy was kicked repeatedly and very deliberately. Whoever did it to him wanted to hurt him very badly. But you're right. Short of biopsy there is no way of being certain and that would defeat the purpose wouldn't it." The doctor smiled weakly. "By the time the boy is fourteen or so, the extent of the damage will start to appear." He smiled resignedly, "Or won't appear" I nodded. "Meaning that the changes that are going to occur at puberty will either happen or not happen." "That's the general idea. At that point, a program for hormone therapy can be started." The doctor paused. He walked over and stood by the window, looking outside. |