5 Years Later
My eyes barely flutter awake when I hear the annoying sound of my alarm buzzing. I groggily swing my hand over slapping the damn machine, making the noise stop. I hated mornings, but unfortunately it's what I have to do, as I pulled myself to my feet, walking into the shower. An hour later, after a nice refreshing shower, and my favorite pair of Jeans and a T-shirt on, I reach and tie my hair back in a nice ponytail. I'm starting to feel human as I walk to the kitchen turning on some fresh coffee, glancing at the time quickly.
Turning on the TV to the Disney Channel I made my way back down the hallway. I stood in the doorway of my son's room, looking at his sleeping figure as he squeezed his batman action figure tightly in his little hand. I thought about his life and how things have been for us. I thought about his future. I thought about how happy he is, and how much joy he brings to my life. He was the reason I kept going. Deep inside I couldn't help the anger that still hid deep inside of me, the anger towards his father. And the yearning to have a man in my life, and the fear that prevented that from ever happening again. It wasn't gonna happen again. I was not gonna get hurt like that again, and I refused to put my son in that position either.
I shook the thoughts out of my mind, as I walked into my son's room, flicking on the light. I sat on the side of his bed as I spoke "Cole, time to get up!" I said softly as I saw his blue eyes open and a smile on his face. "Hi Mommy!" he said excitedly as he sat up from his bed. I smiled as I tried to smooth out some of his hair, before standing and making my way over to his dresser, I pulled out a pair of Jeans and a T-Shirt as I tossed it onto his bed. "No mommy!" he squealed as he lazily tossed the shirt back to me. I laughed out loud before speaking "You want to wear your batman shirt?" he nodded excitedly, as I rolled my eyes, grabbing my son's favorite shirt and tossing it on the bed next to his jeans.
I sat down on the bed next to him, and reached for the clear plastic mask that laid on the nightstand next to him. He's had to wear it since the day he was born. I held it to his face, as he sat still waiting for me to fasten the straps that wrap around his head. "Mommy, when I don't wear this anymore?" he asked innocently. "We're gonna go to the doctors today, let's see what he says ok?" I spoke as he simply nodded, I placed a gentle kiss on his head and left the room as he got dressed.
I sat in the kitchen sipping my coffee when I heard my son coming down the hallway. He's 5, the boy can't be quiet if he tried. He soon came bouncing around the corner, his shoes on the wrong feet, his batman action figure in his hand, and a smile on his face. "Here you go" I said, as I placed the bowl of cereal I made him on the table, watching as he climbed onto the chair.
After breakfast, and getting his shoes on the right feet, we were on the road. I pulled into my brother and sister in law's driveway. Kyle, my twin brother was the first to come out the door. I opened the back door and as soon as I got Cole unbuckled he ran out of the car into his uncle's arms. I watched as Kyle picked him up, flinging him over his shoulder, as my son giggled wildly. I grimaced as I spoke "Be careful with him!" I worried, as Kyle just looked to me and rolled his eyes "He's got his mask on, he's fine!" before carrying my son into his house, as I followed behind. Inside the house, Cole knew exactly what to do as he made his way to the small room they have in their house and sat down at the small table. My sister in law Stephanie came out of the kitchen smiling when she saw me, and gave me a huge hug, "Where's Cole?" I smiled as I spoke "He's in the room already." Stephanie nodded and headed to the room as I could hear her talking to Cole.
I'm a bit over protective when it comes to Cole, and I've accepted that. I know kids can be cruel and that's why I've chosen to keep him home schooled, my sister in law is a certified teacher and loves teaching her nephew every day and Cole is well advanced. I sat on the couch in the living room as I could hear Stephanie and Cole reciting the ABC's in the other room. My brother sat across from me, flipping through the channels aimlessly. "Are you ever gonna find something to watch?" I asked innocently, Kyle simply responding "Bite Me" before returning to flip through the channels.
After a few hours of schooling and a nice lunch, I got Cole back in the car and we made our way to downtown for his doctor's appointment. We sat in the Doctor's office, Cole sat on the bed playing with his action figure, as I nervously fidgeted with my phone. I never knew what to expect at the Doctors and although I always tried to hide my nerves I knew my son could tell I was worried. The door opened and the doctor walked in, "Darian Cole Flintridge" he said glancing at the chart, then to my son before finishing "How are you doing little man?" he asked extending his hand to my son. Cole shook his hand, before the Doctor shook mine. I watched as the Doctor took off my son's mask, feeling around his face, as Cole sat there as calm as can be. The doctor glanced to me before opening the door to the office and asking one of the nurses "Can you take this brave young man to the toy chest?" as the nurse nodded. I quickly put Cole's mask back on him before he took the hand of the nurse and happily followed her to collect his toy.
The doctor turned to me, as I blurted out "Well?" The doctor leaned back in his chair, releasing a deep breath before speaking "I think it's time we start looking into other treatments for him." I sat there and listened as the doctor continued "We've given the bones and tissues in his face 5 years to harden on their own, and now…with him at this age, I think it's time we start looking at other alternatives." I asked curiously "What other alternatives?" The doctor spoke "I think surgery would be the best option, his age and health make him a great candidate for the procedure." I continued to listen "We'd simply inject some faux muscle if you will, behind the bones in his face, giving them the extra support they'll need to harden. He'll be able to get rid of the mask and live a normal life." I ran my hand over my face, as I asked "What if we don't do the surgery?" The doctor glanced down to the charts, before answering me "It doesn't mean his bones will never harden. He'll have to wear the mask until they do, and it could be a year, 2 years or 30 years until they harden enough for us to believe he's not at risk for serious injury and let him get rid of the mask." I sighed as I fidgeted with my fingers when the doctor continued "Believe it or not, your son is very lucky. There's other people with this condition, but it affects all the bones in their body. He's lucky it's only in his face, and it's fixable." I nodded, when the door opened and Cole ran into the room, running to me, a smile on his face as he showed me the stickers he picked from the toy chest. I smiled as I pulled him onto my lap, when the doctor spoke again "Think about it. It's your decision. But you know what my recommendation is." He said with a smile before shaking my hand and Cole's and leaving the office. I took a deep breath, as Cole craned his neck to look back at me "Mommy, are you sad?" I put on a smile as I laid a kiss on his head when I lifted him to his feet, and I stood next to him, grasping his small hand in mine and spoke "How about we go get some ice cream?"