chapter 4
Walter was still seeing the doctor very often and still was getting treatment. He was also taking lots of medicine and getting plenty of support. He still went to the Junior rangers when he felt good. All of Star command knew Walter had cancer and they were being very careful around him. They made sure everything was clean and to wash their hands and to be careful when near him.
Walter still had dreams of being space ranger. He became good friends with Flarn. Flarn knew how it felt to be a child with cancer because he was diagnosed with cancer as a child.
"So you were diagnosis with cancer as a child too?" Walter asked him.
"Yes I was I has Leukemia which is cancer of the blood. I was really sick," Flarn said.
"You are an adult now," Walter said. "Some times I fear I won't live to see adulthood will I ever be a strong healthy adult like you?" he asked.
"I think so yes, but when I had cancer as a child my doctors thought I might not survive to see adulthood let alone become a space ranger," Flarn said.
"How did you do it?" Walter asked.
"I got lots of medicine and treatment like you and got plenty of support from friends and family and I never gave up hope that I would be healthy again to grow up and achieve my dreams," Flarn said. "I went into remission when I was 10 months into treatment and I have been cancer free ever since, so you shouldn't give up," he said.
"Thanks Flarn," Walter said.
Rodney came in today he had joined the junior rangers today. "Hi Rodney," Walter said.
"Hi," Rodney said. "I am worried what the other Junior rangers might say about what happened to my hair," he said.
"Don't worry about they didn't say I thing when it happened to me," Walter said.
"Who is your friend Walter?" Flarn asked.
"Flarn this is Rodney he's in the same class as me and was once a big bully but is now a friend, he's just started a battle with a type of brain cancer," Walter said.
"Nice to meet you Rodney to be honest I know how you feel being a child with cancer," Flarn said.
"You do how?" Rodney asked.
"I had Leukemia as child which a cancer of the blood, I was really sick and not to mention scared, angry, sad, confused, overwhelmed, and worried, I was also worried what others would say about it to me," Flarn said.
"I know how that feels," Rodney said. "Now I know how much it hurts to be made fun of," he said. "I also now know what it is like to have real friends now too," he said. "Were you scared that you thought you might die from your disease when you first got diagnosed and during treatment?" he asked Flarn.
"Yes I was and I learned I was stronger than I thought and you and Walter are too, you two didn't ask to be cancer patients but you guys are some of the bravest of the brave, like us space rangers," Flarn said.
"How is that?" Walter asked.
"Because just like us fighting the evil of the universe and facing danger and fear at every turn and doing what we can to stop it, you are facing a great evil of your own, and the medicines and treatments are like your back up to defeat the evil cancer, facing every scary treatment and test you are stronger for it and braver for it, because you two are really brave kids and I have a feeling you will beat the evil cancer," Flarn said.
"Yes I think I will too, and I know I will be a space ranger like my daddy," Walter said.
"I will be a space ranger too and do my best to help keep the galaxy safe," Rodney said.
"That's the spirit," Flarn said.
"Well I am seeing the doctor again tomorrow so he can run some tests and I will also get my radiation treatment," Walter said.
"Well I hope it goes well," Flarn said.
The next day at the hospital Walter was getting his tests done. He was getting X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs to check on his bones to see if it was moving to other bones or other parts of his body.
He got his radiation treatment too. The doctor told them the results of the tests. "The cancer is starting to advance through his arm and it might spread through out his body, the treatment is helping a little but more has to be done to stop the cancer," the doctor said.
"What is it?" Ozma asked.
"Surgery," the doctor said.
"So you are going to remove the tumors from his arm?" Buzz asked.
"No the tumors are attached to the ligaments, muscles and even the bones if I tried to save the limb he wouldn't be able to use his arm properly." the doctor said. "The arm has to be amputated," he said.
Ozma was upset and hugged Buzz. "Do what you must doctor," Buzz said.
"I will we set up the surgery for next week," the doctor said.
Walter was told what was going to happen he was really scared. He asked the doctor how much of his arm they were going to take. The doctor made a mark a few inches below the shoulder.
"I'm really scared," Walter said.
"It's normal to feel scared, your surgery is a week from tomorrow," the doctor said.
A couple of days later while with the Junior rangers at Star command Walter told Flarn about him having to get his arm amputated. "I can't believe I'm going to lose my arm," Walter said.
"I know it's hard Walter, I never went through surgery as a cancer patient but just remember this is to help you get better." Flarn said. "So keeping being as brave as you can be," he said.
"Okay," Walter said.
Rodney came in he looked worried. "I'm going to get surgery done on my brain to help with my treatment next week," Rodney said.
"I am getting surgery to, but I am going to lose my right arm," Walter said.
"That's got to be tough," Rodney said.
"Don't worry everything is going to be fine you two, just keep being brave," Flarn said.
The day of surgery came before Walter knew it. He was in the hospital and checked out and soon he was wheeled into the operating room. He got a needle in his left arm. "Count backwards from ten please," one of the doctors said.
"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2..." Walter said and soon he was asleep.
The doctors went right to work.
Meanwhile Walter didn't know where he was there was light around him. "Where am I?" he asked.
"You are in my realm," he heard a voice say.
"Who are you?" Walter asked.
"I am the life star I reincarnated you as the same species like you asked don't your remember?" it asked.
Then Warp was in Walter's place. "So what's the big idea why am I here?" Warp asked.
"You are in the middle of getting surgery and about to crash and the doctors are trying hard to keep you alive, will you stay in world of the living or pass on to the after life I know your birth parents want to see you and make things up to you," the life star said.
"I couldn't care less about them, they didn't care thing about me they just sent me off from place to place and not care a thing about me," Warp said.
"Do you want to remain with the living? I know your parents who are with you now hope for you to pull through and defeat the horrible disease," the life star said.
"Maybe but I am not sure," Warp said. He was thinking of all the time alone at the orphanage as Walter and Buzz and Ozma finding him and taking him in as their own. Making him feel so loved and safe and trying to set him on the right path. Getting comforted by them when they found out he had cancer and helping him through the toughest parts. They also supported his dreams and loved him very much. The love was directed towards him and he loved them too.
"I want to stay with them I am not ready to leave them yet, I wish to live," Warp said.
"Very well," the life star said. "Farewell and you will not remember this meeting do your best and kick this disease's butt," he said.
"I will," Warp said.
Then Walter started to dream.
The doctors saw his vitals stabilizing. "Good let's finish," the doctor said and removed the arm and stitched the removal site up and bandaged it. "There we go," he said.
The doctor came out to the waiting room where Buzz and Ozma were anxiously waiting. "Walter's surgery went well although he scared us a bit earlier he should recover nicely," the doctor said.
"What relief," Ozma said.
They went into the recovery room and saw Walter sleeping. Ozma stroked his head. Walter started to wake up. He felt dizzy and funny, his right arm area throbbed. He forgot he was in the hospital and why he was there. Then he remembered. "I didn't get the chance to say 1, when counting," Walter said.
"Well I finished operating," the doctor said.
Walter looked over to his right side and saw the bandaged up nub. "I guess I can't be a space ranger with only one arm," Walter said.
"Don't worry Walter soon you will be fitted for a prosthetic arm that will work just like the old one," the doctor said. "You will need so rehabilitation to use it but it will work and as you get bigger you will need to get new fittings, but once you are done growing you will have a permanent one," he said.
"Okay," Walter said.
Once back at the Junior rangers the others saw his arm was gone. A couple of them stared. It made Walter really uncomfortable. Walter was still learning to do things with just his left hand. It was pretty difficult to say the least. He also got frustrated. He had a right to be frustrated.
Today he was being fitted for his prosthetic. It was bit uncomfortable at first and it was now in place. Now Walter was learning to use his new arm. It was hard to say the least but he was learning fast. Now he could use his new arm well.
It was now Summer Vacation. Walter was enjoying the summer air and being with his friends. He still had days were he felt good, but he also had days were he felt bad and couldn't do much. He still went to the hospital for his cancer treatment. Things were looking good now, the doctors said he was doing great.
As the summer days became cool it was time to get ready for school. He was going into fourth grade. Walter and his friends were looking forward to it. He was enjoying things very much. It was soon November and it was almost Thanksgiving and Star command invited the rangers and their families to come to Star command for Thanksgiving dinner.
Walter saw the doctor a few days before Thanksgiving. They did some tests and now they just had to wait for the results. Then the day of Thanksgiving there was a phone call before they left. "Hello Doctor," Buzz said.
"I got the test results, and I want to tell you it today because I didn't want to wait," The doctor said.
"What are the results?" Ozma asked.
"It's good news Walter is now in complete remission," the doctor said.
"What does that mean?" Walter asked.
"Walter it means you beat cancer, if this keeps up in five years you will cancer free," the doctor said.
"You mean I'm fine now, I defeated the evil cancer?" Walter asked.
"Yes," the doctor said.
Ozma and Buzz smiled and hugged Walter. "I did it," Walter said.
"Happy Thanksgiving to you all," the doctor said.
"To you too," Buzz said.
"I am now truly thankful, I have been through so much in about a year, I got a a mommy and a daddy, I have new friends, I got a scary diagnosis of cancer and I kicked it's butt, this is truly something to be thankful for," Walter said.
"Yes it is Walter," Buzz said.
"We are thankful too, because we have son in our lives after wanting children for so long, and he was once so sick and now is healthy again, we are truly thankful," Ozma said.
They headed to Star command and all the space rangers and their families were there. Walter saw Flarn and came to him. "Hey Walter, how are you doing today?" Flarn asked.
"Great and I have something to tell you," Walter said.
"What is it?" Flarn said.
"The doctor called today, and he said I have gone into complete remission, I beat cancer," Walter said.
"I knew you could do it," Flarn said.
"I am so looking forward to when my hair grows back." Walter said.
"Good for you," Flarn said.
The rest of Star command heard the good news. "That's wonderful you are a strong and brave kid," Nebula told Walter.
"Thanks," Walter said.
A few months later Walter's hair was starting to grow back. He was very happy his hair was coming back. It was lighter shade than before but he was okay with that. He was just happy to be better and he saw Rodney who also beat his cancer who's hair was growing back it was coming back curly. They were so happy about this.
Now things were starting really look up for Walter.