"Nick and I were discussing SPENCER's treatment, and we've come to a decision"
The words were carefully chosen, that much was clear to Dave. As he sat in the pristine office of his son's primary care specialist, he was worried about what he was going to hear next.
"Judging by SPENCER's levels, we don't believe it would be safe to give his the chemo this month. His brain is still healing, and if we give his chemo, we run the risk of causing a bleed, which would be disastrous at this stage," Edmonds explained.
"So what are you going to do?" Dave asked.
"We're holding off this month. We will start him on the new course of chemo and at the end of his original six rounds we had planned, we'll do a seventh round of chemo to make sure the month off doesn't have a negative effect. Also, with each round of chemo, we will do an MRI a week following the last infusion to make sure there's no bleeding, and also to double check for tumor regrowth," Edmonds replied.
Dave's heart sank. More chemo.
SPENCER was going to be devastated. He hated chemo with a burning passion, and each month was difficult enough, without adding an extra to the total.
"We'll get his through this, ok?" Edmonds said reassuringly, reaching over and squeezing Dave's hand.
"I hope so," Dave whispered, slowly rising from the chair.
"I'll pop in and see you later on my rounds, ok?" Edmonds said as he headed for the door.
"Thank you," Dave said heavily, his hand closing on the handle.
"Anything to make your days a little easier"
After making a quick detour to the cafe to get a coffee and something to eat, Dave made his way back down to level 3 in the elevator, his spirit slightly lifted after the meeting and some sustenance.
As he stepped into the elevator, a little boy ran in behind his, his mother following with a stroller.
"Hi!" he said chirpily, flashing Dave a big smile. He was clearly another little patient from the cancer ward, his bald head proudly on display.
"Hi," Dave replied, managing a smile as the little boy's mother came into the elevator and the doors closed behind his.
"My name's Grace, and this is my mommy, Annabelle, what's your name?" he continued.
"Dave," Dave chuckled. Grace's smile and happiness were infectious.
"I like that name. These are my pink flower shoes that Santa bought me," Grace replied, holding out his foot as he looked up at Dave. "Do you like them?"
"They're very pretty!" Dave laughed.
"Grace likes meeting new people, don't you Grace?" Annabelle chuckled.
Grace nodded proudly. "Yep!"
"Well Grace, you are a very sweet, gorgeous little boy. My Spencer would love you," Dave said warmly.
"Is Spencer in the hospital at the moment?" Annabelle asked.
Dave nodded as the elevator slowed to a stop on level 3. "Ward 3B. Brain tumor"
Annabelle winced. "That's terrible. Grace has an autoimmune disorder that means his marrow isn't producing cells correctly. It's not cancer, but it behaves like cancer, so it has to be treated with chemo. Therefore, we spend most of our lives on Ward 3B, don't we buttercup?"
Grace nodded. "Dr Heddle is my doctor, he's good at making balloon animals"
"Always a good quality in a doctor," Dave replied as Annabelle laughed. The doors opened, and both women stepped out, Grace in tow.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around 3B," Dave said warmly as Annabella turned the stroller towards the exit.
"I'm sure we will. I hope you get to go home soon," Annabelle replied.
"I hope so too," Dave sighed. Bidding goodbye to his newfound friends, he turned down the corridor and headed back to SPENCER's room.
He was surprised upon entering to find that Katherine and Jodie were no longer their roommates, and had instead been replaced by Zac and Mandy.
"Mandy? What happened to Katherine?" Dave asked nervously.
"It's ok. Madison was admitted today, and the only spare bed was in our room. Since he's only five, they felt that wasn't appropriate, and decided to swap Katherine and Zac since SPENCER and Zac have been roomies before," Mandy explained.
"How you doing Zac?" Dave asked sympathetically, knowing the last time he had asked Mandy about Zac's condition, he hadn't been too good.
"Been better," Zac croaked, his eyes closed.
"His lungs are riddled with tumors. They're looking at a lung transplant or a total removal of his left lung, since nothing we do seems to keep them at bay," Mandy said sadly.
Dave looked at his friend sympathetically. "It never ends does it?"
Mandy shook his head, turning as Zac started wheezing to help him with the oxygen mask.
Walking over, Dave pushed back the curtain around SPENCER's bed to find SPENCER awake, curled on his side with his two stuffed toys clutched to his chest. This was a surprise; SPENCER almost always slept through the day, and lately he hadn't been interested in speaking to his father at all because he was too busy being distressed over more procedures.
"Hi," he said softly.
"You actually want to talk to me today?" Dave asked lightly, sitting in the recliner beside the bed.
"I'm sorry," SPENCER whispered.
"Don't be," Dave said quickly. "You've had a rough week, and while it's been hard, I do understand"
"Do I get to go home soon?" SPENCER asked.
Dave sighed. "Probably not within the next week or so. But hopefully soon. I'm hoping you'll be home in time for your brother's birthday. But I was talking to Dr Edmonds... and he was saying that he can't give you your chemo this month because it's too dangerous and you might end up bleeding again"
"So what are they going to do instead?" SPENCER said, confused.
"Well, you get pushed back by a month. But after you have your six rounds of the new chemo ... you have to have an extra round at the end, kind of like a cleanup round to make sure they get everything. And you'll have to be scanned a week after each round to make sure there's no bleeds," Dave explained.
SPENCER's little face fell, and Dave's heart broke.
"More chemo," SPENCER said sadly.
"I know baby, it's not much fun. But just think... in a year's time, you'll be out of treatment and enjoying life as you should be. Just focus on that, hold onto it and make it happen," Dave encouraged.
SPENCER managed a weak smile, reaching up as Dave leaned over for a hug.
"I love you my crazy kid," Dave chuckled.
"Love you too Dad"