Through The Ups & Downs
Couple; Harrison X Briana
Rating; Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! In addition, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character Ella (Eira) Solveig. She belongs to a good friend, ShadowSpirit020.
34) All Be Okay
{Normal POV}
[7/18/2016-Archian General-5:30 pm]
The Haddock parents and Harrison's friends stood there around the waiting area close to Nate's room as they were still trying to settle with the recent update regarding the thirteen-year-old who lay resting in his isolated room and completely unaware about Harrison being a match for a bone marrow donation. It was surreal and hard to process. After five weeks of nothing but more disappointment that no one was a match and trying to accept that Nathaniel would die before his turn reached on the donor registry, Harrison shows up unexpectedly and ends up being a perfect match as the doctor worded it. More shocking was for them to discover that Harrison came at Nate's request and the reason no one else was able to reach Harrison for two months was that Harrison was in Afghanistan on top-secret operations that even Aaron and Glenn have stated not to harass Harrison about.
There was a lot of confusion even after Harrison's explanation about everything. So, no one could reach Harrison because he was deployed with no internet access and no cellular signal. It made sense now why the Skype status was offline and the phone was going to voicemail; because Harrison didn't have access to either. Also, as for how Harrison knew about Nate's cancer is because Nate snagged his mother's phone and called Harrison's work line the day before Harrison arrived and told him that he needed his big brother so Harrison came running, or rather, flying. At the moment, Harrison was in Dr. Eretson's office and filling out paperwork to be his little brother's bone marrow donor. Of course, Emmett was explaining to Harrison how everything would go and what to expect afterward. Harrison did not care about it; all he needed to do was call Major General Wright and update him. Emmett already said he had a piece of paper for the purpose of faxing over that Harrison was going to need at least three weeks on Arc Isle to make sure everything goes according to plan.
"It's a miracle. That's all I can call this, a miracle," Viviana stated as she sat down after breaking the prolonged silence between everyone.
"I will second that, Viv," Spencer nodded as he sat down beside her, holding his wife's hand in his and rubbing it comfortingly.
"I agree. Sure, there is still a lot of questions and confusion, but overall, Harrison did make it in time and the bonus is that he ended up being what Nate needed to survive. I guess their bond is that strong, Nate called his brother because he needed him and that is literally the truth too," Dexter informed.
"Without Harrison, Nate wouldn't have made it," Olivia nodded. All of them seemed to let out a relieved sigh, regardless of anything else, they knew Nate was going to be all right after this or that was the hope at least. Finally, Harrison exited the office with Emmett, the two of them shaking hands and smiling.
"Well, Mr. Haddock. All this is set for tomorrow at 9 am, so remember not to eat after 9 pm. Twelve hours fasting, only water," Emmett reminded.
"Got it, Doc. I'll call my CO right now," Harrison nodded as Emmett approached the family and friends while Harrison got out his cell phone and called Wright to update him.
"So, Nate and Harrison will both be okay after this, right?" Spencer asked.
"Well, it's still on the ropes even after the transplant. It will take time for the marrow to get into his system and make the changes. The procedure is tricky because Harrison's bone marrow is going to be replacing Nathaniel's immune system. That's why we needed a perfect match do this process, anything less than that means it could narrow the immune system, attack and kill the host, in this case, it would be young Nate," Dr. Eretson explained as the group gasped in fear. "But, not to worry because Harrison is, as I said, a perfect match," he added quickly to relax the worried family and friends.
"So how does this procedure work? How long until we know how things go?" Addilyn wondered.
"It starts with us putting Harrison under general anesthetic, and then the bone marrow is taken from the pelvic bones using large needles. The bone marrow looks like very thick blood. It is processed, cleaned up, and then given back by an infusion through the central line to Nate," Emmett informed.
"How will Harrison be after this?" Trevor inquired.
"The anesthetic will stay in effect up to two hours after the bone marrow collection and the donor is groggy for a few hours afterward, but Harrison could go home the same day. The most he will encounter is Back or Hip pain, Fatigue, Muscle pain, Headache, and Bruising at the collection site. Most donors can return to normal activities within a week of the procedure. All we do is make sure he doesn't feel anything, we insert the needles; take what we need. It takes one to two hours to do, then it is done," Emmett explained.
"What about for Nate's side of things?" Viviana asked.
"For Nathaniel, after the transplant, he has to stay in isolation until we see the white blood cell count improve, after that happens, we'll do everything else we have been with tests and be checking him out. There is never a way to know how recovery goes until after the transplant," Emmett told them. Harrison walked back over now, he was still on his phone though.
"Thank you, Major General. I'll update you as soon as I'm able to after the procedure and much appreciated on the allowed time off," Harrison smiled. "Talk to you soon, sir," after that, Harrison ended the call. "Wright just gave me a month to be here to make sure everything goes according to plan. He'll just need you to send over that paper, Dr. Eretson," he said.
"I will send it right now if you give me the fax number to his office, Harrison. You should go in the room and tell your brother the good news. He's starting to wake up," Emmett stated as Harrison wrote down the number for Emmett, then moved to the cart to get on the gear again before entering the room. Once inside, Harrison moved to Nate's bed and held his hand.
"Hey, how did you sleep?" Harrison asked him gently.
"Y-You're…still here. I-I thought I dreamed that," Nate admitted.
"I'm here, buddy. And guess what, I have good news too. They found you a donor and you're getting what you need tomorrow morning," Harrison told him as Nate's eyes widened in shock.
"R-Really? W-Who is it? Or am I not allowed to know because they are off the registry?" Nate wondered. Harrison held his little brother's hand tightly.
"It's me, Nate," Harrison informed. "Right after you fell asleep; Dr. Eretson told me everything about your cancer and needing a donor. I got myself tested and I am a perfect match for you. We're doing it tomorrow morning at 9 am," he explained.
"Y-You're really…my match and you're going to donate to me?" Nate asked, still in shock but overwhelm with emotion. Harrison leaned in and pressed his head to Nate's forehead.
"Of course I am. I promised that I would not let you die and everything was going to be okay now that I'm here. You are going to be just fine, little brother," Harrison replied. Nate could not control it, he let the tears fall from his green eyes as he hugged Harrison tightly, and Harrison, of course, returned it fully.
"Why would you do this for me? You're going to be sore and unable to work or ride Toothless…why would you give that up for a while for me?" Nate asked after the embrace was over. "I'm just your annoying brother,"
"I promised that I would always be here when you need me and I will hold to that vow until the day I die. And hey, this is what brothers are for," Harrison told him gently. Nate raised his hand weakly.
"Side by side or miles apart," Nate started with a small smile. Harrison connected his hand to Nate's.
"We'll always be brothers connected by the heart," Harrison finished as they hugged again.
[The Next Day; 7/19/2016]
8:55 am on the dot, Harrison had been in with Nate since visiting hours started at 7 am. Viviana and Spencer learned that Harrison had been there that long from the doctor when they arrived with the group of friends to do all the visits before Harrison's procedure, but it seemed that Harrison beat them to it. Harrison and Nate were in his hospital room, laughing and smiling, no one knew what they were talking about, but it looked like the two were having fun so they didn't break it up by demanding for Harrison to get out so they could have a turn. After all, it was Harrison who was donating to save Nate's life and they guessed they could wait a bit until Harrison went in for the transplant to give to Nate.
"Mr. Haddock?" came Dr. Eretson's voice as the family and friends looked to see Emmett there and pressing a button on the wall by Nate's door. From the window, they could all see Harrison look their way. "It's time," Harrison nodded as he hugged Nate and the two connected hands. Harrison came out of the room and stood before Emmett.
"Let's do it," Harrison said. Emmett nodded as Harrison left his phone, wallet, and keys with his parents and then he walked off with Emmett. All anyone could do now was spent time with Nate and wait for the procedure to be over.
[Two Hours Later]
For those two long hours, the group waited for news on Harrison. At some point in the remaining twenty minutes of the two-hour period, another doctor and few nurses went into Nate's room with some gear and it appeared that they set up the transplant and Nate was already receiving the bone marrow from Harrison. Finally, Emmett emerged while removing his gloves and mask, then the hat.
"Doctor! How was it? Is Harrison and Nate okay?" Viviana asked first after getting to her feet.
Emmett smiled too with a firm nod. "Yes, Mrs. Haddock. The procedure went as perfectly; Harrison will be coming out of the OR (Operating Room) in a few moments and placed in recovery over here. Of course, he's still unconscious, but should be up in a few hours. Once he's awake, alert, and able to eat, we'll discharge him," Emmett explained.
"And Nate?" Spencer inquired.
"Also doing just fine. The team has already set up the transplant and he is getting it," Emmett said as another doctor and two nurses were wheeling Harrison out on a bed; he looked so peaceful too. Once Harrison was in the recovery room and hooked up to monitors to keep an eye on him until he woke up, the nurses left leaving only Emmett in with the family and friends. "I have a few more rounds to make, but then I'll be back and explain more to you. For now, know that both of your sons are doing fine. You're all welcome to sit in Harrison's recovery room until he awakens," he informed before walking away with a smile.
The family and friends could do nothing again but wait. Everyone filed in and found a seat, at this time they would usually visit with Nate but he appeared to be sleeping through the transplant so it was best to leave him alone for the time being. Viviana and Spencer were closest to Harrison, Vivian was stroking his hair with a soft smile. One thing was for sure, Harrison would do anything for his little brother and no one could deny that brotherly bond Harrison mentioned after all this.
[Two More Hours Pass]
Harrison was partially awake after two hours went by, he only knew because he caught a quick glimpse of the wall clock before closing his eyes again. However, when Emmett entered the room after knocking, Harrison pretended to still be out so he could listen without his family and friends going all crazy that he was awake.
"Why is he still out?" Spencer asked.
"It takes time to wake up from the anesthetic, Mr. Haddock. Harrison should be coming out of it within the next ten to fifteen minutes," Emmett informed. "Now, I promised an explanation. So, what we're looking at right now is the hope Nate responds well to the transplant. I'm sure he will because his brother was a perfect match, as I suspected he would be when he arrived here. More often than not, a sibling is the perfect match. That's why it concerned me when you said you weren't able to reach him. Harrison informed me of his overseas operations and lack of communication, and no, I don't know what the operations were. Harrison mentioned something about he couldn't say because of security measures," he continued.
"How long until we know how Nate is doing with the transplant?" Trevor asked.
"Well, Nathaniel, for now, remains in isolation on the same treatment until blood tests show the white blood count is recovering. That will show that the bone marrow is working. Past a certain threshold, visitors are allowed and the patient can start to resume a normal life. However, Nate would still need to be under close surveillance to check for relapse of leukemia. It can happen so even after Nate is discharged, I will still order that he return every two weeks to be checked, after a while if that looks good, we'll move the appointments to once a month. Basically, we're going to continue to monitor it for a year or two," Emmett stated.
"So, how long until the marrow takes effect or whatever it would be?" Syrus inquired.
"It may take five to seven days for his white count to recover. This would show his immune system is recovering and probably competent to stop him being at high risk of infection. We will still keep him here about two weeks following that to watch the recovering from the after effects of the treatment. Checking kidneys, liver, heart, etc are all working okay so that he is fit to go home. And as I said, go home with further appointments for surveillance," Emmett explained calmly. "It's still on the wire. Nate stays in isolation for the next week and if he's doing better, we'll let him out of that but he stays in the hospital. That's all I can give you for now until we see his white count improve, then I'll have a better idea," he added.
"Thank you so much, Doctor Eretson, for all you've done for Nathaniel," Spencer said shaking Emmett's hand, then Viviana did the same. Emmett nodded and left the room as everyone looked back to Harrison, he didn't appear to be knocked out anymore, just sleeping peacefully. Little did they know, Harrison was in fact, awake and heard everything that Emmett said. All Harrison cared about now was that everything was going to all be okay.