Chapter 2 A Very Sad Time
Machelle was packing up JJ and Jake's toys and folding their clothes. They were leaving to go back home. The boys were getting to be too much to handle for her liking.
She didn't blame them they were two, she blamed Uncle Dean and Uncle Seth for most of it. It was like having four kids.
Roman kind of knew it wouldn't last with 2 two year olds. Machelle and the boys had only been travelling with them for three weeks.
In that short time, Uncle Dean had started a Tater Tot fight with them on the bus and in catering. Let them run wild with El Torrito in the arena.
Uncle Seth was no help either, he taught the boys to fill balloons with shaving cream and throw them at other wrestlers. That lasted until Machelle came around the corner one time and Seth threw it at Jimmy but, missed and it hit Machelle instead. Dean grabbed JJ, Jimmy grabbed Jake and they two stable mates Ran like hell, leaving Seth to suffer Machelle's wrath.
One day Dean, Seth and Roman took them to the hotel pool, while Machelle went to a meeting. JJ took off his shorts and went skinny dipping. When it got to Hunter, he thought it was funny but, Machelle was horrified.
It wasn't all bad though, when they went to Las Vegas for the comic com show, the boys were so good. They dressed up as Batman and Robin. After the doors were closed, Seth dressed up as the Joker and the youngsters chased him around the building.
The other wrestlers all loved having them around but, Machelle talked to Vince and now they were going home.
Machelle and the boys had been gone for three weeks now, Roman missed them. It was after the show and a shower, Roman called to talk to Machelle.
"H-Hello." Machelle said sniffling back some tears.
"Sorry, I'm late calling but, we had a lot of autographs to sign after the show." Roman said trying to stop a yawn. He knew something had happened, he heard it in her voice. At first he had thought it was because he was later than usual calling but, something told him he was wrong and added. "What's wrong? Are the boys okay?"
"The boys are fine." Machelle started, then tears started to come down her cheeks and added. "Ro, my Mom is sick. Margie called an hour ago and the doctors told Mom she has bladder cancer."
"Babe, calm down." Roman said, trying to calm her down. "It will take us 4 hours to get home. After I tell Dean and talk with Hunter, we will be on our way."
Machelle stopped crying long enough to say "It's okay, I'll be fine. Sherri and Taylor just went home to pack and are coming back. Roman it's bad, they are talking about taking her bladder so, they can do chemo."
After talking for a bit, Roman hung up the phone.
Roman put a shirt on and opened his door and almost ran into Dean. They both went to chat with Hunter and Vince.
A half hour later the guys were on their way to Vince's private plane to be with Machelle and Sherri.
Once on the plane Roman started thinking about his lovable Mother in law. He hadn't seen Sharron, for a couple of months now. Only because she was never home long enough, since she had retired a year ago.
Sharron had worked at a jewellery store and stayed because she loved it. She worked, she ate, she slept the jewellery business. It wasn't until her friend that worked there had died, that she decided to retire after 38 years at the same job and at the same company. The friend, Dale had always told her to take time off and discover the world. So, when he died she took it as a sign it was time.
She had sold her condo in Vancouver and rented a condo from her ex son in law in Calgary, Alberta. Then convinced her sister Margaret to do the same. She lived in High Level, Alberta and that's why Sharron moved there.
They used the money from the sale of their houses to go on safari's in Africa and they went and cruised the Orient. They both were travel Virgins as Dean called them.
Roman Loved his Mother in law and thought it was a great thing she finally was doing what she wanted. She had always talked about travelling. She always asked Dean and Roman before she booked. Just to see what they thought.
Roman looked over at Dean who had his eyes closed, so Roman did the same.
Dean wasn't asleep though, he was doing his own reminiscing on his first time meeting Sharron.
When they did meet it was like they had known each other for ages. Kind of like his relationship with Machelle.
He smiled as he remembered liking her from the start. Sharron had given him shit about not coming to meet her earlier.
Dean and Sherri had been dating for three months, before he met her. They had talked on the phone a couple times but, that was about it. It wasn't all on purpose, she just came at the wrong times. It seamed she always came two days after, Dean had just left or he was on a European tour that would take him weeks to come home, and Sharron had left.
He first met her when she was still working at the store. Sherri and Dean had come to Vancouver for an event and Sherri was meeting her for lunch and dragged him along with her. Dean's watch clasp kept coming open and Sharron had taken it and fixed it right in front of him. The clasp since, had never come loose.
He had gone two weeks ago to meet Sharron, to ask her the question all guys dreaded. For her daughter's hand.
Of course Sharron said it was okay and even set it up with the designer to design the engagement ring. She had just came back from Vancouver a week ago and had the ring with her. Only because he didn't want Sherri to find it, while he was gone. Not even Roman had known what Dean and Sharron were up to. Dean smiled to himself.
"Why do you have that goo-" Roman started, then realized what was going on and started again. "You are going to propose to Sherri aren't you?"
"How the hell did you kn-" Dean started but, stopped and then started again. "I mean, why would you say that?"
"Dean, I had the same face before I was going to ask Machelle. Don't you pull that on me." Roman smiled and smacked Dean's shoulder "I know you very well, and I know that you went to see Sharron last week, Taylor told me. Besides that I have told you before, you are not a secret agent."
Dean smiled and shook his head. He knew he was caught.
"Alright I did go and see her and I did ask, Sharron for permission. As a matter of fact Taylor went with me. It was supposed to be our secret, that little bugger." Dean smiled again. "Yes, Sharron said Yes I could marry her and she loves me and her and Taylor both gave their blessing. I was going to ask her this weekend but, now I don't know about it. It's to sad of a time."
Roman sat back in his seat and smiled.
"It's not Taylor's fault, she was excited. Taylor loves you to." Roman said still smiling and started again. "That is true but, It might be a good thing. I mean, Sharron might need to know that you will take care of them."
"I never thought of it that way before." Dean said sitting back in his seat. "You really think it would be okay?"
Roman nodded. Then there was silence for the rest of the trip, as they both closed their eyes.
Sherri met Dean and Roman at the airport. After giving a hug to Roman and a kiss to Dean she got in the passenger and Dean got in the drivers seat.
"Sorry guys, thanks for coming back so quick." Sherri said as she was trying to hold back tears. Dean held her hand and then she started again. "Aunt Margie called when we were having dinner and said Mom was in the hospital again. Margie said Mom was still peeing blood after they took the last tumours out and was in pain so, she took her to the hospital. They did a CT Scan and found a mass in the urethra that runs from the bladder to the kidney's. Because her PSA is so high they know it's cancer but, not if it's spread anywhere else."
"What hospital is she in?" Dean asked.
"Cedar Hills in Calgary. Machelle is trying to get us all a flight." Sherri said. "We won't know anything else until we get there."
"I called her already, Vince said we could use the plane to go." Roman started then added "We just need to get ready to leave in the morning. Cecil as we speak is making the flight plan up and is arranging it. He's going to send a text to me when he confirms it."
When they got to Roman's, Taylor ran out the door and ran and gave Dean a huge hug and started to cry into his chest. Dean rubbed her back. Roman hugged Sherri. Then went into the house looking for Machelle.
They sat at the kitchen island and chatted some more.
"I called the hospital and talked to Mom. The doctor had just left her. They are going to try and take the bladder out." Machelle started. "She will have a bag and is worried about it. I reminded her Aunt Ellen has a bag and she has lived with a bag for 40 years."
"When are they going to do this?" Dean asked.
"They were just getting things organized but, they are trying for tomorrow morning at seven." Machelle replied.
"We have to be out of here by six. Cecil just texted me." Roman said coming in from the garage. "We are cleared to leave at 6:30 am. Dad and Mom are going to be here to drive us all to the airport at five. They are also going to look after the animals. Dad says he wants coffee ready."
Machelle smiled and nodded and got the coffee pot ready for the morning. Roman hugged her and then they all set their alarms and went to bed.
The next morning Machelle got up early and got the boys up. Neither one of the boys were early risers and sometimes very grumpy but, not today they weren't. She got their clothes for the day in each of their backpacks. She figured the boys would sleep on the plane so, she left them in their PJ's. Machelle turned on the TV, then got started on breakfast.
"Mommy why you sad?" JJ had asked her when she handed him some oatmeal.
"Where we going?" Jake added and yawned.
"Nana is sick and in the hospital." Machelle said raking her fingers through each of their hair. "We are going to see her and Auntie Margie in Calgary."
"Nana be okay Mommy." JJ said as he got off his chair and gave Machelle a hug and Jake joined his brother in the hug.
"Hey where is my hug?" Sherri said coming into the kitchen. The boys laughed and Machelle grabbed her she joined the hug.
"Thanks baby for the hug. I hope so." Machelle smiled kissing his cheek. Then turned and kissed Jake's cheek.
When Sika and Patty got there The boys, Taylor and both dogs went running to the door to greet them.
Machelle had their coffee already on the counter when they came through the door. Patty came straight to the kitchen and hugged Machelle and then Sherri, then sat down at the counter. Sherri filled her in on what they knew so far.
While the boys and Taylor ate breakfast, Dean, Roman and Sika were getting the luggage in the van. Sherri sat at the counter and booked a hotel and a van for all of them to fit in while Roman went out to put the boy's car seats in Sika's car.
When they finally got to land, there was a blizzard of the century going on. They almost couldn't land but, at the last minute the tower approved them.
Roman carried Jake off the plane. He had fallen asleep almost as soon as they took off. JJ on the other hand was wide awake as usual, he clung to Taylor like glue.
By the time they got their things together and were ready to leave, Machelle's phone had gone off. It was Aunt Margie telling them they had moved Sharron to another hospital and she was in surgery.
They went and picked up Margie and went to have some breakfast. There wasn't any sense staying at the hospital, when it would be a 4-6 hour surgery.
"Sorry we didn't call you earlier." Margie started to say. Once they were settled at a table. "Your Mom and her doctor didn't think it was going to be this bad, Until they did the last CT Scan. It has been a fight with the Urologist to even get him to tell her that it was cancer."
Margie took a sip of her coffee and started again.
"They took out three tumours in June and they were not cancerous, which you knew about." She said. "So, he left the other two in there for her to heal for a bit. When your Mom went in for the stint in her heart three months ago, that is when this Ass Hole decided to take the other two out. Only because the heart specialist was worried after your Mom told him that he didn't take them out and got another Urologist, Dr. Carey involved. She called Dr. Dalphine and told him that she could do the surgery after the heart doctor did his thing. Dr. Dalphine said he would take care of it. He had booked the O.R. So, they cancelled that plan to get the bladder out. When he did finally take it out it was so far into the muscle he knew it was going to be a problem. Sharron didn't want you worrying so, she told me not to tell you guys. The thing was supposed to go better."
"I don't get that but, okay." Dean chimed in. "We would have been here for you guys and then we wouldn't be here in this mess now."
"I know and I agree, Dean." Margie started. "But, you know Sharron she doesn't want you guys to worry so much. This should have been taken care of, when Dalphine took the first three out like he was supposed to in the first place. Anyway, Dr. Carey has looked into talking to The College Of Physicians to put in a complaint. Apparently this has happened before, with other patients of his."
"Mom agreed to that?" Machelle said. "I didn't think she wanted to do that. When we were here before."
"She's not involved with it." Margie stated. Then took a sip of her coffee. "Dr. Carey and the heart doctor decided that. They both think this has gone to far and she should have had Chemo when he took the first one out."
They chatted for awhile longer and went to the hotel and checked in. Then went to the hospital to check on their Mom.
Once They got to the hospital they checked in at the nurses desk.
"We are looking for Sharron Stuart." Dean said to the nurse.
Before the nurse could tell them the room number Dr. Carey came from behind the desk.
"You must be her family. I'm Dr. Carey." Dr. Carey said after shaking all their hands. "Can we chat with you before you go in and see her?"
Dean nodded and Dr. Carey led them to a quiet room to chat. Once in the room Dr, Carey started.
"I was the doctor who did the surgery. I am sorry to say I have not very good news." Dr. Carey stared. "We couldn't take the bladder out, because when I felt her pubic bone it was spongy. I knew that it wasn't good. So, I did a CT Scan on her, and found the cancer has reached both her kidney's and bladder of course and we also found a blood clot in her lung. We can manage the clot with medication to thin her blood. We will keep tabs on it and keep her comfortable as possible but, I'm sorry to say she will not survive this. I haven't told her yet she is still in recovery but, I will tell her as soon as I can. Does she have everything in place?"
Both Machelle and Sherri looked at each other. Margaret was the one who spoke first.
"Yes, she does." Margie said. "We looked after it before we went on our last trip."
"Okay then we can start with keeping her pain in check." Dr. Carey said. "Do you guys have any more questions for me?"
Machelle and Sherri were in shock so, Dean stepped up.
"I don't think we do right now." Dean started then added "But, I would think they would want to be in the room when you tell her."
"Of course you can be in the room. I am just waiting for Dr. Harley to come up and we will come and tell her with you." Dr. Carey said and with that she squeezed Machelle and Sherri's hand and smiled. "I am so, sorry. Your Mom is a very nice lady. She has told the nurses how she wants her bed done at night since she got here."
"That sounds like her." Dean said smiling. "She knows what she wants that's a good thing, right girls?"
"Oh I see Dr. Harley is free just come up to the desk and we will come in together." Dr. Carey said and with that she walked out of the room.
"I don't think I'm going in to the room when they tell her." Machelle started. She tried really hard for the tears not to come but failed. Roman held her hand and she started again. "I'll lose it. I'll go and take the boys for a donut or something."
Sherri nodded in agreement. She thought it would be easier if the doctors did it first and then they come in after she was told. Dean went up to the desk and told the doctors the decision.
Now they had the hard part of calling Sharron's three brothers and her sisters.
Margaret called the first sister and they both split up the list of telling them all. Machelle had told them all the flights would be paid for. She just needed the information and the flights they wanted to come on. Sherri was on Taylor's tablet working the airlines for tickets for them all.
There was only two that couldn't come, due to health issues. They told them they would make arrangements for Sharron to chat with them both.
It was an hour later when they all made their way up to Sharron's room.
All you could hear was 'Nana, Nana where are yous.' Coming from JJ and Jake both at the same time all the way to her the nurses station.
When they were close to the nurses station one nurse pointed to her room and stood by her room door. They both ran to her bed and tried to climb up. Roman helped them both up and they gave Sharron a hug.
"Hello boys." Sharron said tears in her eyes. "I am so glad you guys came to see me."
Everyone else gave her hugs and the boys made their place on each side of her.
"Nana Taylor and I coloured a picture for you." JJ said to her. "It's at the hotel, I will bring it toe morrow."
"That is great, I can't wait to see it." Sharron told JJ kissing his forehead and did the same to Jake. "I guess you all heard?"
All the adult nodded and gave hugs to Sharron. They spent a couple hours talking and then they all left when Sharron Yawned and looked tired.
It was over the next week, that the family had come. They had a very good visit with each other chatting and laughing about different things. Sharron had said she wanted three things to eat: Chinese food, Seafood and fish and chips.
Roman and Dean had gone out one night and ordered Chinese food and brought it up to the hospital. The nurses had set up one of the conference rooms for them and all the aunts, uncles and the two families and they wheeled Sharron in a wheelchair to eat dinner.
When they wheeled Sharron into her room there was a note from Dr. Dalphine that he wanted to speak to Sharron. Sherri took the note to the nurses station and told the head nurse that he was not to come near Sharron as all he did was upset her. The nurse put it on Sharron chart.
The last of the brothers came on Friday night and that is when Sharron's health had deteriorated so much that she was getting pain medication every 30 minutes. She had an irrigated catheter in her bladder but, it kept getting clogged with blood clots. So, the nurses would kick every one out and would have to unclog it almost every 45 minutes.
One afternoon Dr. Dalphine showed up and kicked two of her Sisters Lisa and Heather, out saying he wanted to talk to her.
Dr. Dalphine apologized to Sharron, saying he didn't think the cancer would spread as fast as it did and he was sorry. If he had known he would have sent her to the Cancer centre sooner.
Sharron told him all she wanted was for him to be honest to her, hold her hand and have a bedside manner. She told him it would have been nice to have seen him more to. She knew she wasn't his only patient but, she hadn't seen him in 22 days. Dr. Dalphine talked to her about doing Radiation to stop the bleeding and wanted to talk to her and her family together.
The next afternoon after hearing that Dr. Dalphine wanted to speak to them, Machelle and Sherri went up to the hospital.
They wanted to talk to one of the nurses who had seen Sharron before. They didn't think Sharron would want to do Radiation. What was it going to do now? She was dying and they both knew that Sharron wouldn't want to live the rest of her life in pain, or on pain medication. It was breaking all of their hearts to see her in so much pain. The nurses couldn't even unplug the catheter anymore without her in pain.
The nurse suggested that they make her a C2. She was an M2 now which meant that they could put a breathing tube down her if she stopped breathing. Sherri and Machelle both agreed their Mom wouldn't want that.
C2 meant that no pills or medication would be given except Pain medication. It had come to the point that Sharron's body became very tense so, Sherri asked about a medication to help relax her, kind of an assisted suicide but, not saying the words.
The nurse smiled and said that there were drugs to relax her body enough and would slowly shut down and she would go in her sleep. They both thought that would be a good idea but, the doctor in charge would have to order it. She suggested that they make an appointment with the doctor and that is what they did. The nurse put it in Sharron's file the family wanted to chat with them.
That night at dinner, Sherri told the rest of the family what the nurse said. She also told them the decision her and Machelle had made about making her a C2. They were all very sad but, they all knew it was the best thing to do and Sharron wouldn't be in any pain.
Dean ordered shots of scotch for the adults and orange juice shots for the kids. They sat at the restaurant and toasted to Sharron. Then they got in a circle and all cried and hugged each other. There was a kind of Peace that came over everyone that night.
The next morning Dean, Roman, the boys and the two uncles went and chatted with Sharron, while Machelle and Sherri talked to the doctors in charge.
The doctors agreed with them, it would have meant more pain if they didn't step in and give her the medication.
The decision to give her Versa was made, to help the body relax.
"So, when you give her the relaxing drug." Machelle started "What is the time line for her body to give in?"
"The time line could be two days to two weeks." Dr Harley started. "It all depends on Sharron's body and mind set. I cannot tell you the exact time line. The last CT Scan she had, showed that it was starting to take over the organs. She still gets the Heparin injections at night, that will stop as of today. It seams she is in so much pain that the pain shots are having to be given more often and I think they should be increased to put her in a coma like state. That will also help the relaxing drug to do it's job and relax the rest of the body. Now there are three drugs we could use as the relaxing drug. We have had very good results with the drug Versa."
"That is the drug Norma had said was the best one." Sherri said. "We talked to her yesterday because we don't want her to suffer like this. She wanted to go in her sleep."
"That is what Norma had put in her chart." Dr. Carey replied. She reached over and grabbed Machelle's hand and started again. "Her personality has changed a little to, that usually means it is almost time but, sometimes the patient holds on for some reason."
"Agreed, she is mean now and her temper shows a lot." Sherri said, then smiled. "We got in a fight the other day, and it was over something stupid. She has been talking to ghosts to. Her old co worker died last year and she has been talking to him and her Mom."
"I heard. One of your Aunts told us she was talking to someone in the shower." Dr. Carey said. "Your aunt also said that she said 'Not on her watch'. We both thought it was her way of saying she doesn't want to go yet."
"I asked her the other day when Uncle John and I were sitting with her, if she had seen Nana. She said 'Not yet, not until it is time'." Machelle started and grabbed a Kleenex, and started again. "When I asked if she was talking to Dale, she said 'Yes'. When I asked if he said it was time she paused for a bit and then said 'Uh no not yet'. Then was quite for a bit and then started waving her hand in front of her face and shook her head and screamed 'NO, Not Yet'. We both got the feeling that the Angel of Death came and she was telling it to go away. I think she is waiting for her family to go home and then she will go. That was Mom, she didn't want people to worry."
Both the doctors smiled and nodded their heads. They had already heard all the stories from the nurses. The doctors left and Machelle and Sherri went to Sharron's room.
Sharron was having a good day. Which was very good, considering she was kind of out of it the day before.
JJ and Jake were sitting up on the bed with her and watching cartoons. Roman helped them off the bed and took them down to get a snack.
All the others had left for a bit letting Machelle and Sherri have some time.
"Thank you girls for doing this." Sharron said out of no where. "I know what you did, and Thank You."
That was the last time she was awake enough to talk.
For the next week, one by one her brothers and sisters left.
It was Friday afternoon and Margaret was leaving the next morning to go see her granddaughter.
Sharron's old boss and owner of the jewellery store she worked at, called and Sherri put the phone to her ear.
Machelle was holding her hand and felt Sharron squeeze it. They all saw Sharron's eyes moving when Steve was talking. Even though they didn't know what he was saying, they knew she knew who it was.
Saturday morning at 1:40 am was when the hospital had called and said that Sharron had passed away. Machelle and Sherri woke Margie up and they went outside and had a smoke.
They had just walked out the front door and around the corner, when they saw a huge doe walking in the middle of the Highway. The doe walked into the hotel parking lot going in between cars. It stopped about ten feet from them and looked at them for a few minutes. Then slowly walked away.
"That was Mom saying good bye." Sherri said tears running down her cheeks.
"Yup, She's going to heaven and meeting Dale and Nana for a shot of Scotch." Machelle smiled tears running down her cheeks.
Margie smiled and nodded her head in agreement.
Dean came down to tell Margie he had just checked on her plane and it was leaving on time.
After they told Dean what they just saw, he smiled.
Then got in the car and took Machelle and Sherri to the hospital. They needed to sign the papers for the funeral home to take her body. Margie went up stairs and got ready to leave.
It was on the way home when they all heard wind chimes ringing, it sounded like it was in the car. Dean stopped the car and they all got out and looked around. They didn't see any chimes, it was a kind of strip mall around the area. There was No Houses around. How could they have heard chimes? Dean didn't believe in ghosts or what not until that happened.
They all got back in the car and took it as a sign that their Mom had arrived in Heaven.
I know this chapter has nothing to do with babysitting but, the part that Machelle and Sherri's mom dying is true.
My mom died on January 16, 2016. After a six month battle with Bladder Cancer and a year of peeing blood. Most of the things are true in the story obviously the names of doctors and Nurses were changed.
I do have a moral to this story. If you pee blood for God's sake Please go to see a doctor and get it looked at. Don't leave it as long as my mom did.
My words were:
Ass hat – head up your ass
Blizzard of the Century
Comic-Con
virgin
skinny-dipping
tater tots
