~Mello: A Sickness
"The disease is called Spinocerebellar Ataxia. It's a tricky disease, it not common in teen." The doctor picked up a few cat scans and placed them against the light, "You see this area here? This is the part of the brain that is connected to the spin. Through this connection is where all the messages enter and leave the brain. Some times these two objects aren't connected properly and this causes problems with daily tasks. The disease will progress and soon simple things such as writing, picking up the phone, or brushing her hair will be almost impossible for Aiko."
I stared at the pictures of Aiko's brain as then hung against the light. Why was this happening?"
"There's a cure though, right? What is it? Surgery? Medication?" Matt squeezed his hands together until his knuckles turned white.
"I'm afraid that there has been no discovery of an actual cure. There—"
"No cure? What do you mean no cure? So my daughters going to die like this?"
"Matt!" I yelled. The red head looked at him with the saddest eyes I have ever seen. I placed my hand over his, "Let him finish."
"There are treatments. It's best for you a patient of this disease to maintain as much independence as possible, so canes, walkers, and wheelchairs will be needed later on. Aiko will need to take therapy classes to maintain her senses of direction and ability to walk on her own."
"What do we do now?" I chocked out trying to stay strong enough for Matt.
"Well, the timing of the diseases symptoms is not the same for all patience. You told me before that Aiko was always very clumsy and she would trip and fall randomly, correct? When we fall its normal for us to place our hands out in front of us to protect ourselves from the impact. However, soon Aiko will fall and her brain wont receive the message to send her hands out in front of her to braise herself. A simple thing like this could cause a serious injury, so just keep an eye on her and notify me if anything changes."
"(o.o)"
Matt held tightly onto my hand as we sat quietly in his car. It's been about 15 minutes since we arrived in the parking lot of the apartment building. Matt hasn't looked at me or said a word since we left the hospital.
I decided to break the silence, "Matt lets go inside, I don't want to leave Aiko's alone."
Matt continued to stare straight ahead as he mumbled, "You go. I'll be up in a bit."
I stared at his blank face for a while before leaning forward and kissing his cheek. I released his hand as I opened the car door and headed for the stairs. I haven't seen Matt this depressed in a long time…
"Aiko its time for school! You're going to be late if you don't get your butt up." I shouted through Aiko's room door. I stood there for a second and listened. Nothing, I couldn't hear a thing. Was she still asleep?
"Aiko you better not still be asleep!" I shouted as I opened her room door.
Aiko was curled up into a little ball on her bed, holding her stomach tightly. She looked up at me and I could see the pain in her eyes, "Dad, my stomach hurts really bad." Just then she covered her mouth and ran past me to the bathroom. I could hear her vomiting into the toilet.
"Matt!" I yelled as I ran into the bathroom and found Aiko still vomiting into the toilet. I pulled her black hair back so it wouldn't get dirty and rubbed her back as her body wanted to throw up more.
"Matt!" I screamed towards the open bathroom door.
Matt came running in and yelled, "What? —" His eyes fell onto the pale Aiko that was clenching to the toilet for dear life.
"Get the car." I ordered as I turned my attention back to Aiko. Matt wasn't moving so I got his attention, "Hey! Matt! Get the car, now!"
Matt finally looked at me then nodded before her spun around and ran out the door to find his keys.
"Aiko, are you okay? Where does it hurt?" I asked nervously.
Aiko said nothing but wrapped her arms around her stomach as she closed her eyes and whimpered in pain.
Shit.
I pulled Aiko into my arms and carried her out of the room. Where the hell was Matt? I kicked the front door open and walked as fast as I could down the stairs and into the parking lot. Matt had already pulled the car to the end of the stairs and was waiting for us.
"Help me get her in." I said as he opened the back car door. I handed her to him then got it, "Pass her to me."
After we got her in the car Matt slammed the door closed and ran to the drivers side. He shifted the car into gear and sped off.
"(o.o)"
By the time we reached to hospital Aiko had thrown up again and was barely aware of what was going on around her. We ran into the building and Matt grabbed the first wheelchair he could see. We practically ran the emergency room and checked Aiko in. The second the nurse looked at her she told us to go in.
They took a blood sample and told us she needed surgery; her appendix was about to explode. We couldn't be in there with her so we were put out in the hall to sit on those damn plastic chairs, that's where we are now.
"She'll be okay Matt, she's strong. It's a simple surgery that these doctors have done dozens of times." I tried to reassure him.
Matt just stayed staring at the doors that led into the operation room.
An hour past before the doctor came out, "Aiko is going to be okay, the surgery was a success. If you would kindly follow me I can show you to her room."
We both followed silently as the doctor showed us her room and left us alone. Matt was still clenching onto my hand as we walked over to Aiko. She lay asleep. I stayed quiet as Matt slowly began to cry.
I took a deep breath before opening the door to our apartment. The second I opened the door Aiko turned to me from the couch and smiled, "Hey dad! What did the doctor say?" she looked around me then asked, "Where's Matty?"
I froze. I tried to open my mouth to speak but nothing came out. Say something Mello, say anything.
"I'm right here sweetie, "
I was surprised to head Matt's voice.
"The doctor didn't say anything special but he did mention something about eating healthier. Guess that means no more chips."
His voice was so comforting.
"Awww, you're kidding right? I'm as healthy as a horse and I always eat the healthy stuff."
Why couldn't I move?
"Alright, alright. We'll let you slide this one time. Right Mello?" Matt turned to look at me.
Smile Mello, nothings wrong, "Yeah but you better make it up to us by raising that C you have in Biology to a B at least."