CHAPTER 8

Double post!

0000000000000000000000000000000000000

Since the day Dr Grffins had told us that Sofia had cancer, no one was sure how to treat it. Troy had spent hours looking on the internet and on the phone talking to doctors and medical librarians across the county, with notebook five inches think of everything piece of information that he could find about Sofia's cancer. Once of the things we realised that was because Sofia's cancer was so aggressive and rare the treatments were too. After meeting with the doctors in New York and on the phones to other, me and Troy had agree to try the chemotherapy protocol used on the little girl that was still alive fifteen months after her diagnosis. The chemotherapy would be administered once a week at the outpatient clinic twenty minutes from home. We trusted Dr Griffins and Dr Thaler and appreciated how gracefully Shelly the social worker had eased herself into our life.

It was Shelley who had broken the news to me and Troy that Sofia would not be able to go to preschool . she Troy and I were sitting by Sofia's bed after her surgery " I understand that you're making arrangements for Sofia to start preschool next month" she said, she shifted in her seat " You realised don't you that chemotherapy will severely compromise Sofia's immune system. Preschool" she continued laying a hand lightly on my arm "is definitely out of the question"

I had taken the moment to let the words sink in. I knew that was true but to me Sofia was a four year old first and a cancer patient second

"You don't understand, after everything that Sofia had been through. I won't take preschool away from her. You see she wants to ride the bus go on field trips with her friends i'm willing to make that happen "

Shelly wasn't giving up "People will do amazing things to help children in Sofia's situation I am sure we can arrange a school bus, an empty one to come to your house and take her for ride, Sofia won't know the difference"

Me and Troy looked at each other than laughed and shook our heads " Shelley I'm sure you know a lot of things, but if you think an empty bus pulling up to the house is going to fool Sofia, you definitely don't know her" Troy replied.

0000000000000000000000000000

Sofia started Preschool the week after her fourth birthday. Once the decision was made, everyone committed themselves to making it work. Mrs Gill Sofia's teacher met with the nurses from clinic to discuss ways to minimize Sofia's exposure to germs. They also met with the parents of the other children of the class to address any concerns or questions they had. The clinic's receptionist scheduled all of Sofia's test and chemotherapy appointments as not to clash with her Monday and Tuesday classes. Sofia threw herself whole heartedly into school. As a result her treatment became simply one more thing on our calendar rather than the only thing on her mind.

Mrs Gill nudged the last of the child up the steps bus, counting them each head as they passed

"Okay mums" she called out "Looks like we are ready to roll!"

Her announcement was greeted with a chorus of shouts from twenty three three and four years old. Through the window I saw Sofia grab the back of the seat and bounced up and down a huge grin on her face. As the bus began to pull away she let go briefly and waved. At that moment I snapped my camera and snatched a memory. That to this day sits in a frame on Shelley's desk.

" Every Morning" Shelley told me " Sofia waves to me from the window of that bus and reminds me that more things are possible that I know

0000000000000000000000000000000000

Hope you like it

PLEASE REVIEW?

HARIBO