Another one based on a true story. I have Hepatitis C, and this alone inspired me to write this. Due to popular request, I have decided to continue this story further. How this illness affects those who have it and how it affects those close to them.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE - CHAPTER 2 - "Not One Moment
Longer"
In Ken's car......after Lita's appointment at the
hospital.......
"I can't believe I'm diagnosed with Hepatitis", exclaims a
shocked Lita, "how can something like this happen to me?"
"I know how difficult it is for you right now, Lita", assures
Amy, "I know it isn't the easiest thing to face right now, but It's a good thing
they caught it when you had the blood work done".
"Now I have to go back Monday to have the biopsy done", says
Lita, "I still don't feel good about this. I don't even know how I ever end up
getting it in the first place".
"The doctor was really nice to give you information about the
illness, Lita", adds Molly, "you should seriously check them out. She gave
you a few pamphlets and a video. Do you have a VCR?"
"Yeah, Molly, I do", answers Lita.
"Then you should watch the tapr", says Molly, "this could
really help you to deal with this".
"You know, Lita, she's right", adds Ken, "I remember the
doctor mentioning the 3 kinds of Hepatitis, so this biopsy should really give
you an idea which type you have".
"Trust the doctors, Lita", assures Amy, "they're there to help
you, like they helped Molly".
"Well, OK, guys", nods Lita, "if it will help me, then I will
go through with this, and whatever the outcome will be, I will support their
decision as to what treatments are there for me".
"You do want to live, right?", asks Ken.
"Yes, I do", answers Lita, "plus I want you guys to be there
for me when I have it done".
"I will certainly be there for you, Lita", assures
Amy.
"Count me in", adds Molly, "I want you to be healthy so you
can keep up with that great cooking of yours, especially your cherry
pie".
"Me, too", smiles Ken.
"Um, come to think of it", wonders Lita, "what's been up with
Raye?"
"Now that you mentioned it", wonders Amy, "I haven't seen her
in a few days. I asked Chad the other day, and he said that Raye must have some
kind of the flu".
"Did she have the same symptoms that I have?", asks
Lita.
"Yes, she did", answers Amy, "plus, Chad mentioned that Raye's
skin was a bit on the yellow side".
"You don't think that Raye may have contracted Hepatitis
also?", wonders Molly.
""She should seriously get checked right away", says
Amy.
Meanwhile.....at the park.....in front of the ice cream
stand..............
"Have you noticed Lita hasn't been herself lately?", notes
Mina.
"Yeah, I did", answers Serena, "she has been looking very
tired lately, as if she has some kind of the flu or something like
that".
"I hope she'll be alright", says Mina, "I heard she had to go
to the hospital".
"Oh, my God!", exclaims Serena as she almost drops her ice
cream, "I hope it isn't anything too serious".
"Well, Amy and Molly went with her", says Mina, "I'll talk to
either of them to get the full story".
"Oh, please do that, Mina", says Serena, "I just never heard
of anyone going to the hospital for the flu".
"It could be a number of things", says Mina, "we'll find out
something".
"By the way, Mina", wonders Serena, "what's up with Raye? I
haven't seen her in a few days".
"Come to think of it, Serena, you're right", notes Mina, "I
did noticed that. I heard she has been under the weather lately. Something about
the flu".
"I wonder if it's the same thing Lita has", wonders Serena,
"want to go to the shrine and maybe cheer Raye up a bit?"
"Sounds like a great idea", agrees Mina, "let's
go".
20 minutes later...........at the Hino
shrine...........................
"Hey, Chad", greets Mina, "how's it going?"
"Pretty good, girls", answers Chad, "how about
yourselves?"
"Not too bad", says Serena, "we're here to see Raye. Is she
here?"
"Yeah she is", answers Chad, "she's in her room".
"Can we come in to see her?", asks Mina, "I hear she's been
under the weather lately".
"She hasn't been feeling well lately, Mina", says Chad, "she
looks really flushed and tired. She's complaining about headaches and her
joints aching. She claims it's the flu. I got a closer look and noticed her skin
in a bit on the yellow side. She's been doing all this meditation and using all
kinds of Shinto healing spells and medications to cure herself".
"Well, we will see ourselves in", says Serena.
"Go right ahead, girls", grins Chad, "and watch out for her
grandpa on the way through".
Mina and Serena walk to Raye's room, where they find her in
deep meditation, surrounded by candles and incense. Mina's cell phone suddenly
rings inside her purse. Raye quickly snaps out of her trance, and looks at
Serena and Mina
"Aw, crap", says Mina, "my cell phone's going off. I hope it's
not my mother". She fumbles in her purse to get the still ringing cell
phone.
"Uh, hi, Raye", blushes Serena, "didn't mean to catch you at a
bad time, but we were worried about you, so we decided to come and cheer you
up".
"Um, that's OK, guys", nods Raye slowly, too tired to
argue.
Mina finally grabs the cell phone out of her purse and answers
it. "Hello?......hey Amy, how's it going?.......how did Lita make out?.......Oh,
man, that's not cool, I'm sorry to hear about that.....I wish her the best when
she gets the biopsy done........I hope her condition isn't too
serious.....Serena and I are at the Hino shrine, we're in
Raye's room..........she just got out from her trance when my phone
rang............she looks tired, like she hasn't slept for hours.......want me
to get a closer look?.....hold up...", she advances to Raye to get a closer look
at her, "Amy? her skin in a bit on the yellow side..........no way?? She may
have the same illness Lita has?.....I'm not sure if Raye went to the doctor or
not........you're saying she should get blood work done?........if it's that
serious, she shouldn't wait another moment longer.............yeah, I got a pad
and pen in my purse......sure let me get them....", Mina grabs a small notepad
and a pen from her purse, "...OK, Amy, got it........", she proceeds to write
something on the notepad, ".......that's the name and phone number of the liver
specialist Lita is seeing, and that Raye should make an appointment with her as
well?......hey that name sounds familiar. Is that the same doctor that operated
on Molly some time back?.....Lita will definately be in great hands, and Raye
will be as well.......I will do that, Amy. Serena and I will make sure Raye gets
blood work done.........alright, keep me posted on Lita's
condition......alrighty, bye bye". She shuts her cell phone off and puts in back
in her purse. She hands Raye the slip paper in which she wrote the name and
phone number on.
"Here, Raye", says Mina, "Amy says you need to make an
appointment with this specialist as soon as possible. Plus, you need to have
blood work done as well."
"What are you talking about?", questions Raye, "what did Amy
tell you? What's up with Lita's condition".
"Lita's been diagnosed with Hepatitis", explains Mina, "which
kind, I'm not sure. She's having a biopsy done on Monday. Amy feels that you may
have it as well".
"That's crazy", exclaims Raye, "me having Hepatitis? There's
no way".
"You know, Raye, Mina's right", counters Serena, "you should
seriously get the blood work done. Then you will know if you have it or
not".
"I still think it's a crazy idea!", exclaims Raye, "it's only
the flu, gotta be!"
"You don't know that, Raye", counters Mina, "don't be
stubborn. Serena may be afraid of needles but if she had to have blood work
done, she has no choice".
"You have to go through with it, Raye", pleads Serena, "it's
for your own health. We want you healthy".
Mina takes her cell phone out of her purse and hands it to
Raye. "Here, Raye, you can use my phone. Now call up the doctor and make that
appointment to have blood work done", she orders, "and while you're at it, make
an appoint with the liver specialist as well!"
"Please, Raye", pleads Serena, "please go through with this.
We're really worried about you!"
Raye takes Mina's cell phone from her hand. "OK, I'll call the
doctor for the blood work". She dials a number on the cell phone. "......hello,
this is Raye Hino. I would like to make an appointment to have blood work done.
It's possible that I may have Hepatitis............No, I didn't have
anything to eat for the last 12 hours, just some water and clear juice......in a
half hour? Sure I'll be there.....alright, I'll see you then. Bye".
"What did the doctor say?", asks Serena.
"They can do the blood work in a half hour", answers
Raye.
"That's great", nods Mina, "on the way, you're going to call
the liver specialist and make an appointment. And if she says you needs to have
a biopsy done, you have to go through with it."
"She's right, Raye", adds Serena, "if not for you, do it for
Lita. So get dressed and get ready. Afterwards, we'll go get ice cream. How
about that?"
"Well, alright", nods Raye, "I'll get the blood work done, and
on the way, I'll call the liver specialist. I'll support any decisions the
doctors make".
"We care about you, Raye", says Mina, "we want you to
live".
"Thanks for the support", smiles Raye as she stands up, "I'm
going to get dressed now. Don't want to miss out on ice cream".
TO BE
CONTINUED..............................................