The next day Allie woke up and turned over in bed. She sighed and got out of bed. Allie stood up and stretched but then put her hand to her mouth and ran to the bathroom and threw up. Vanessa heard noise coming from the bathroom and walked quickly to the bathroom and saw Allie regurgitating the remains of her stomach. Vanessa sat down next to Allie and rubbed her back.
"It's okay baby, relax" Vanessa said.
After Allie finished, she looked at her mother.
"Are you okay?" Vanessa asked.
"I feel sick" Allie said.
"That means the chemo is working" Vanessa said.
"I hate this" Allie said as she rubbed her eyes.
"You didn't sleep last night, did you Allie?" Vanessa asked.
"No" Allie said.
"What's on your mind honey?" Vanessa asked.
"I am scared of what is going to happen to me. I don't want to feel like this for the rest of my life" Allie said.
"Sweetheart, listen to me okay? You are going to fight this. I know you don't want to deal with this for the rest of your life. Dad and I don't want you to either. But whatever happens, happens. You can't control this. Everybody is rooting for you. You are one of the strongest people I know. If anyone can get through this, it's you. You have to keep an open mind" Vanessa said.
Allie nodded.
"Come here" Vanessa said as she opened her arms.
Allie moved into Vanessa's arms. Vanessa kissed Allie's cheek softly.
"I love you so much Allie" Vanessa said.
"I love you too mom" Allie said.
Zac walked past the bathroom but then took a couple steps back and saw Vanessa and Allie on the bathroom floor.
"What's going on?" Zac asked.
"I threw up again" Allie said.
Zac sighed.
"How do you feel now?" Zac asked.
"Alright, just tired" Allie said.
"Grandma and Grandpa want to come see you today" Vanessa said.
"You told them?" Allie asked.
"Yes, I did" Vanessa said.
"Stop telling everyone. It's just making everyone upset" Allie said as she got off the floor and walked out of the bathroom.
"Allie, our family is the only people that know" Zac said.
"I'm sick of hearing "Allie has Leukemia". I don't want to talk about it anymore" Allie said as she walked into her room and closed the door.
Zac looked at Vanessa.
"She's just trying to figure everything out, Zac. Telling a ten year old that she has cancer isn't the easiest thing to do" Vanessa said.
"I just want to know why she won't talk to us about it. We are her parents and we are going through it with her" Zac said.
"But it's not the same, Zac. Allie has to be injected with chemo. We don't. There is a big difference. She will talk to us when she wants to" Vanessa said.
"The only people that know are my family and yours" Zac said.
"Yeah I know. She is a little girl, Zac. She needs time to think" Vanessa said.
"Should I try and talk to her?" Zac asked.
"No. When she wants to talk, she will talk to you or I or both of us" Vanessa said.
Zac sighed.
"Alright. What time does she have chemo tomorrow?" Zac asked.
"She has it at ten" Vanessa said.
"Okay, I have to call Dylan and tell him. He said that he wanted to be there" Zac said.
Zac left the room and called his parents and cancelled their plans to visit and then called his brother and told him when Allie's chemo was. That night, Zac was in his office working on some press conference questions when Allie came into the room.
"Hey dad, can I talk to you?" Allie asked.
Zac looked up and smiled.
"Yeah honey. Take a seat" Zac said motioning to the chair in front of his desk.
Allie sat down and looked at her father.
"What's on your mind, Al?" Zac asked.
"First of all, I am sorry for yelling earlier. Everything is just running through my head and I can't get it to stop" Allie said.
Zac smiled and took Allie's hand in his.
"Sweetheart, don't apologize. I know everything is really crazy right now. You have every right to be upset" Zac said.
"It's hard to think about. I'm only ten and I have to deal with a disease that could kill me" Allie said.
"I know. Your mom and I were just trying to help. We wanted to tell the family because we wanted you to have some support, that's all. We should have asked you before we did that. I'm sorry, Al" Zac said.
"I know now that you were trying to help" Allie said.
"Let me ask you this okay? Be honest. Why don't you want to talk about this with us?" Zac asked.
"You and mom are already upset that I have cancer. I don't want to make everyone feel worse by talking about it" Allie said.
"But honey, if you get your feelings out, then maybe one of us feels the same way. We could feel the same way you do" Zac said.
"I'm scared that I am going to die" Allie said.
Zac swallowed hard.
"Sweetheart, it's okay to be scared. But, you aren't in really bad condition so you have nothing to worry about right now okay? Let's just take everything as it comes and not look ahead right now" Zac said.
Allie nodded.
"Come on, it's time for bed" Zac said as he got up from his desk.
Zac and Allie walked out of the office and went upstairs. They walked into Allie's room. Allie got into bed and looked at her dad.
"Good night sweetie, I love you" Zac said.
"Night dad, I love you too" Allie said.
Zac kissed Allie's head and walked out of the bedroom. He then walked into the master bedroom and sat on the bed. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"What's wrong?" Vanessa asked.
"Allie came downstairs and finally talked about everything that was going through her head" Zac said.
"What did she say?" Vanessa asked.
"She's scared that she is going to die" Zac said.
"What?" Vanessa asked as she looked at Zac.
"That's what she told me. She also said that doesn't want to talk about the cancer because we are already upset about the fact that she has it" Zac explained.
Vanessa sighed and sniffled. She wrapped her arms around Zac and put her face in his neck. Zac rubbed her back soothingly.
"Babe, do you want to talk about it?" Zac asked.
"Why did this have to happen to Allie? What did she do that made this happen?" Vanessa asked as tears ran down her face.
"I don't know baby. I really don't. She didn't do anything. It just happened" Zac said.
"I hope she is okay during chemo tomorrow" Vanessa said.
"She will be. Dylan said he is coming so she will be distracted from everything for a little while" Zac said.
"Yeah" Vanessa said.
"Get some sleep, Van. Tomorrow is going to be a long day" Zac said as he kissed Vanessa's lips.
"Alright. Good night, love you" Vanessa said.
"Night, I love you too" Zac said.
The couple fell asleep. The next morning, Vanessa woke up and looked at the clock which read eight AM. She got out of bed and walked out of the bedroom and went to Allie's room. Vanessa walked into Allie's room and sat on the edge of her bed.
"Allie baby, you need to wake up. You have chemo today" Vanessa said.
"I don't want to go. I don't feel well" Allie said.
"Sweetheart, you need to get up" Vanessa said.
Allie opened her eyes and looked at her mother.
"I don't want to go" Allie repeated.
"I know you don't but you have to" Vanessa said.
Allie moaned and turned over in bed.
"Allie, come on. You need to get up" Vanessa said.
Allie got up and Vanessa looked at her daughter. Allie walked down the hall and went into the bathroom. Vanessa followed her.
"How are you feeling today?" Vanessa asked.
"Sick as usual" Allie said as she washed her face.
Allie walked out of the bathroom and went downstairs to the kitchen. She made herself breakfast and was about to walk upstairs when she saw Zac.
"Hi honey" Zac said.
"Hi" Allie said.
"Uncle Dylan will be here in a little while. Go get dressed" Zac said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Allie walked upstairs and got dressed. She then heard the doorbell ring and ran downstairs. Allie walked to the front door and opened it. Dylan stood in front of her and smiled.
"Hey Al, how are you feeling today?" Dylan asked.
"Okay. I just threw up" Allie said.
"You just threw up and you are smiling about that?" Dylan asked.
"I don't want to deal with it today" Allie said.
Dylan smiled and hugged his niece.
"Are you and your parents ready to go?" Dylan asked.
"Let me go check" Allie said as she ran upstairs.
Zac and Vanessa were about to walk downstairs when they saw Allie coming upstairs.
"Uncle Dylan is here" Allie said.
"Okay" Zac and Vanessa said simultaneously.
Zac, Vanessa, and Allie walked downstairs. The little family and Dylan left the house and drove to the hospital. They all got out of the car and walked into the hospital and took the elevator to the fourth floor, the oncology ward. Vanessa signed Allie in and sat down next to Zac. A few minutes later, a nurse came into the waiting room.
"Allie Efron?" the nurse called.
Vanessa, Zac, Allie, and Dylan got up and followed the nurse to a room that smelled like latex gloves.
"Allie, we need you to lie down on the hospital bed and Dr. Thomas will be with you shortly" the nurse said.
"Okay" Allie said.
The nurse left the room and Allie looked at Dylan.
"You feeling okay, Al?" Dylan asked.
"I'm nervous" Allie said.
"Hey, that's okay. Your parents and I are here. We aren't going to leave you" Dylan said.
"I just don't want to feel sick again" Allie said.
Dylan smiled and kissed Allie's head.
"I know you don't. We don't want you to either. Everything is going to be okay" Dylan said.
Allie hugged Dylan tightly.
"I love you kid" Dylan said.
Allie giggled at their inside joke.
"I love you too kid" Allie said.
Dr. Thomas walked into the room and smiled.
"Hi Allie, are you ready for another round?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"No, but I have to do it" Allie said.
Vanessa and Zac smiled.
"Alright, I am going to put the IV in like last time" Dr. Thomas said as he grabbed the IV from a drawer that was next to the hospital bed.
Allie sighed nervously.
"It's okay Allie, I'm right here" Dylan said as he took her hand.
Allie looked at her uncle with tears in her eyes.
"Allie, you are just going to feel a pinch" Dr. Thomas said.
Allie had tears running down her face as Dr. Thomas inserted the IV into her arm.
"There, we are all done. I will come back in a little while and check on you" Dr. Thomas said.
Allie nodded. Dr. Thomas left the room and Dylan looked at Allie.
"You okay?" Dylan asked as he wiped Allie's tears away.
"I don't like needles" Allie said.
"You are like your dad. He hates them" Dylan said as he looked at Zac.
"I only fainted once, Dylan" Zac said.
"But you did faint" Dylan said.
Allie giggled. An hour later, Allie was laying on her side. The chemo was making her feel really sick.
"Dad, get the bowl" Allie said quickly.
Zac got a bowl that was next to the hospital bed and put it under his daughter's mouth. Allie regurgitated everything that was in her stomach. Dylan rubbed her back soothingly. After she finished, Vanessa wiped Allie's mouth and kissed her head.
"Try and go to sleep, sweetheart" Vanessa said.
Allie nodded. She curled up in a ball and closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"She's a trooper" Dylan said.
"Yeah, I am going to get coffee, does anyone want any?" Zac asked.
"Yes please" Dylan and Vanessa simultaneously.
"Alright" Zac said as he left the room.
A few minutes later, Dylan and Vanessa heard a faint noise.
"Mommy" Allie said softly.
Vanessa got up from her seat and walked over to the hospital bed and looked at Allie.
"What's wrong honey?" Vanessa asked.
"Hold me" Allie said.
Vanessa lied down next to Allie and held her daughter in her arms.
"How are you feeling?" Vanessa asked.
"Sick. Everything feels like it's not working" Allie said.
Vanessa sighed.
"It's okay Allie. Everything is going to be okay" Vanessa said as she kissed Allie's head.
Dylan walked over to the hospital bed.
"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" Dylan asked.
"Sick" Allie repeated.
"Is she allowed to take any medication when she feels like that, Van?" Dylan asked.
"No, Dr. Thomas said that it's just part of the chemo. Medication won't do anything" Vanessa said.
Dylan sighed and rubbed Allie's back. Zac came back into Allie's hospital room with three cups of coffee.
"Hey Al, did you take a nap?" Zac asked.
"Not really. I don't feel good" Allie said.
Zac kissed Allie's head softly.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Allie said.
Dr. Thomas came into the room and smiled.
"Hi Allie, how are you feeling?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"I don't feel well" Allie said as she leaned her head against Vanessa's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I need to do some tests to make sure the chemo is working properly" Dr. Thomas said.
"What kinds of tests?" Vanessa asked.
"I need to do a blood test, urine sample, and an MRI just to be sure that the chemo is working" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Dr. Thomas walked over to a drawer that was next to the bed and pulled out a syringe and a vile. He then walked over to the bed.
"Okay Allie, this is just like the IV. You will just feel a pinch" Dr. Thomas said.
Allie nodded. Dr. Thomas disinfected the area on Allie's arm where he would insert the needle. He then stuck the needle into Allie's arm.
"See that wasn't so bad, was it?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"I want to go home" Allie whispered.
"I know baby, but you need to get this done and finish your dose" Vanessa said.
After Allie's vile filled, Dr. Thomas removed the needle from her arm.
"Now, we need to do a urine sample" Dr. Thomas said as he handed Allie a cup.
Allie carefully got off the bed and walked to the bathroom. She closed the door and filled the cup. Two minutes later, Allie opened the door and walked over to Dr. Thomas and handed the container to him and got back into bed.
"Good, now we have to do an MRI. It will be a forty five minute procedure. You are only allowed to have one person in the MRI procedure room" Dr. Thomas explained.
Allie looked at her parents and then at Dylan.
"I want Uncle Dylan to go with me" Allie said.
Dylan smiled.
"Okay, we are going to wheel you down to the radiation department" Dr. Thomas said as he unlocked the wheels of the bed.
Dr. Thomas then started pushing Allie's hospital bed out of the room with Zac, Vanessa, and Dylan following behind. Dr. Thomas wheeled Allie to the radiation department and stopped at the MRI prep room.
"Alright Allie, we have to get you set up" Dr. Thomas said as he helped Allie get off the hospital bed.
Allie nodded.
"Who is going into the MRI with her?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"I am" Dylan said.
"Who are you?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"I'm Allie's uncle and Zac's brother" Dylan said.
"Okay" Dr. Thomas said.
Dr. Thomas, Allie, and Dylan walked into the prep room. Dr. Thomas handed Allie a gown.
"Take everything off Allie" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
A couple minutes later, Allie was dressed and ready to go. Dylan put his arm around Allie and followed Dr. Thomas into the MRI procedure room.
"Allie, lie down on this bed" Dr. Thomas instructed.
Dylan helped Allie lie down on the bed.
"Now, your uncle is going to stay with you. I just need to get a couple pictures of the inside of your body" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Dr. Thomas left the room. Dylan smiled at Allie.
"You feeling okay?" Dylan asked.
"I feel sick" Allie said.
"I'm sorry kid" Dylan said.
Allie smiled.
"It's okay kid, it's not your fault" Allie said.
There was a noise that started in the room and then Dr. Thomas' voice came through a speaker.
"Alright Allie, I am going to turn on the MRI and we will get started" Dr. Thomas said.
There was a loud noise and the bed that Allie was laying on started moving.
"I'm right here Al" Dylan said.
The bed moved into a tube and Allie couldn't see Dylan.
"Uncle Dylan?" Allie called.
"I'm here Allie. It's okay" Dylan said.
Allie heard Dr. Thomas' voice in the tube.
"Allie, we are going to start the MRI okay? Just take deep breaths" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Forty-five minutes later, the procedure had finished and Dr. Thomas pressed the off button on the MRI and the bed moved forward and out of the tube. Once Allie was out of the tube, Dylan smiled.
"You are done" Dylan said.
Allie smiled. Dr. Thomas removed the syringe from Allie's arms and helped her stand up. Dylan walked to the other side of the bed and helped her walk.
"Allie, you just need to finish your chemo and then you can go home" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Dylan helped Allie get back onto the hospital bed and Dr. Thomas wheeled her back to the hospital room. Zac and Vanessa were waiting in the hospital room and smiled when they saw Allie's face.
"She just needs to finish her chemo and then she can go home" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Zac and Vanessa said.
Dr. Thomas hooked Allie back up to her chemo and left the room.
"How much do I have left?" Allie asked weakly.
"Only a little bit baby. Then you can go home" Vanessa said.
Allie nodded. An hour later, Dr. Thomas came back into the room and smiled.
"You are done. Let's get the IV off and you can go home" Dr. Thomas said as he took the IV out of Allie's arm.
Allie sat up and grabbed the bowl that was next to the bed and regurgitated the remains of her stomach. Dylan and Vanessa rubbed her back soothingly. After Allie finished, she looked at her mother.
"I want to go home" Allie said.
"I know baby. We are going home" Vanessa said as she kissed Allie's cheek.
Allie got off the bed and changed back into her clothes. Vanessa, Zac, Allie, and Dylan left the hospital and drove to the Efron home. Everyone got out of the car and went into the house.
"Allie, why don't you take a nap?" Vanessa suggested.
"Okay" Allie said.
"Say goodbye to Uncle Dylan. He won't be here when you wake up probably" Zac said.
Allie ran into her uncle's arms. Dylan wrapped his arms around Allie and kissed her head.
"Thank you for coming" Allie said.
"You are welcome. Get some rest okay? I love you" Dylan said.
"I love you too" Allie said.
Allie walked upstairs. This was the start of a long journey that Allie would have to endure for the rest of her life.