but it was n't impossible , because now that the word had been spoken , it crystallized all the unspoken dread she 'd felt since this had begun , a month before ; since scott 's first visit to dr. branson , when he 'd been checked for possible bowing of the legs or dropping of the arches , and the doctor 's first diagnosis of loss of weight due to the trip and the new environment and his pushing aside of the possibility that scott was losing height as well .