The next morning, Leon was sitting on the front porch waiting for Luna and her friend Sam to arrive while Sharon was still getting ready for the day. Eagerly looking down on his phone to check the time, Leon was about to go back into the house until he saw his niece coming up the front steps.
"Sorry if I'm a little late, Uncle Leon. My dad made a big breakfast and the usual morning chaos with my siblings." Luna said with a sigh.
"It's okay, Luna. I understand actually I am just waiting on Sharon to finish getting ready before we head to my appointment. Your cousin is still asleep as far as I know. So, we might be back around lunch it just depends on what goes on." Leon said in response.
"Okay, I am good with that. Oh, Uncle Leon, thank you for letting me have my friend Sam accompany me while I babysit Nicole for you and Sharon." Luna said with a smile.
"Sure, no problem Luna." Leon said in response.
"You ready to go, Leon? Don't want to be late for your appointment." Sharon said as she stepped out of the door.
"Yes, Sharon. See you later Luna." Leon said as he headed to his car.
"Bye Uncle Leon and Ms. Sharon." Luna said in response.
Once Leon and Sharon were on their way to the doctor's office, Leon couldn't help but have a curious look on his face.
"Sharon, honey. You took a bit longer than usual to get ready today, are you feeling okay?" Leon said with concern.
"I am just a bit worried about what the doctor might do, you know Leon….." Sharon said in response.
"Everything will be fine, Sharon. I feel a little scared about it myself to be honest with you." Leon said in a calm tone.
"What do you mean?" Sharon asked out of curiosity.
"I am afraid of what the doctor might say because you never know if they want me to do any extra tests or something that could impact me for the rest of my life." Leon said in response.
"I understand Leon that's why we are going and trying to figure what is going on with you." Sharon said once she and Leon were at the parking lot for the doctor's office.
Leon nodded as he and Sharon stepped inside the doctor's office to get himself checked in for the appointment. The wait was not long after Leon's vitals were checked before a nurse set him and Sharon in a exam room. A short time later, the doctor came into the room and proceeded to do a detailed examination of Leon's neck, ears, and heartbeat. However, the doctor had a eerie look on his face before turning his attention to Leon and Sharon.
"Leon, I've noticed that you have a huge lump right around your neck. I am requesting that you get blood work done immediately, just follow my nurse and she'll take you to get your labs done." The doctor said with a sigh.
"Doctor, I don't understand…." Sharon said with concern.
"You're his partner. Very well, the lump on Leon's neck could be either one of two things: a goiter or an underactive thyroid. If it's a goiter, then I would have to surgically remove his thyroid out because if left untreated it could be cancer. That's what we don't want. You see the underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism, that can be easily treated with medication and never have to worry about surgery. This is the reason why I requested to have Leon's lab work done right away and should be done right before you leave since our machines are very rapid." The doctor answered honestly before leaving the room.
"Thank you doctor." Sharon said calmly.
A few seconds after the doctor had left the room, Sharon decided to pull out her cell phone to call her sister Karen.
"Hi, Karen….." Sharon said in a trembling voice.
"Shar? What's wrong?" Karen said in response.
"I am a nervous wreck right now, Sis…." Sharon said anxiously
"Tell me what is going on." Karen said.
"Me and Leon are at the doctor's office you know that thing about Leon I told you last night with his body acting crazy. Well, the doctor found a weird lump on Leon's neck, and they did some blood work. They're ruling the possibility that it could maybe be cancer or something else. But I don't want it to be cancer…" Sharon said in a gloomy tone.
"When are they supposed to find out the results?" Karen said with curiosity
"Sometime today. I just don't know how handle this….." Sharon said in a tremble tone.
"I'll get ahold of Mom and see if she can talk to you. Will that help you some, Shar?" Karen said in a thoughtful manner.
"Yes, Karen." Sharon said with sniffles.
"Ok, Shar. Just hang on tight." Karen said.
Sharon ended the call with her sister and wiped the tears off her face before a nurse came in the room notifying her that Leon would be a while longer just that he had to do a urine sample before doing the actual blood work and she thanked the nurse before the nurse left the room. Then a couple of seconds later, Sharon noticed that her mother was now calling her cell phone and answered it right away.
"Hi, Mom." Sharon said with a sigh.
"Hi, sweetie. Karen told me about your problem. Have you heard anything yet?" Mrs. Carter said in response.
"Just that I have to wait a bit longer because they wanted Leon to do a urine sample before the blood work. Oh…., Mom. I am really scared that I am about to cry because I don't want the results to be cancer." Sharon said in a trembled tone.
"Sharon, sweet pea. Everything is going to be alright don't cry. I know that hearing life altering news is scary. Your father and I felt the very same way on the day you gave birth to Nicole. I was a wreck when the doctor told me that you went into a brief coma after Nicole was born. Your father and sister saved me from the bad thoughts of that day and taught me the lesson that find the good in something to outweigh the bad." Mrs. Carter said in response.
"So, instead of me sulking around I should find a happy thing out of this." Sharon said
"That's right, sweet pea. Well, I better let you go since your father is hollering for lunch." Mrs. Carter said in response.
"Okay, Mom. Thank you for cheering me up." Sharon said.
"Anytime, Sharon. Send me a message when you get the results okay. Love you." Mrs. Carter said in response.
"I sure will, Mom. Love you too." Sharon said before ending the call.
Once Sharon put her phone in her pocket, she notices that Leon came into the exam room with a calm look on his face and a big bandage on his right arm. After taking a deep breath, Sharon held onto Leon's hand and smiled while looking at him.
"Everything go okay, Leon?" Sharon said with curiosity.
"Hmm-hmm. My arm feels a little sore after getting poked by the needle and it took them a while for my vein to cooperate for the blood test." Leon said with a sigh.
"At least they got it done though, right." Sharon said calmly.
"Yeah. The nurse who did my lab work said they should get my results within a half hour.. Sharon, honey, you okay?" Leon said in response.
"Oh, that's good for the results will be within a half hour. Umm…" Sharon said anxiously.
"Sharon Michelle, what is going on, you're starting to worry me?" Leon said with concern.
"Okay, Leon. I am worried about what the results might reveal, so I called Karen and my mother to calm me down while you were taking your blood test. The doctor told me that the lump he found on your neck could be one of two things: a goiter or hypothyroidism. He explained to me that the first one was the worst case scenario since that would lead to cancer and a high chance of surgical removal of your thyroid; unlike the second thing which can be treated with medication. After hearing that I really don't want it to be the worst-case scenario…." Sharon said honestly.
"I don't want it to be that way either, honey. It would be very rough on us and Nicole. That is something I wouldn't want you or her to witness." Leon said with a sympathetic look.
"I know, Leon. Oh, here comes the doctor now…." Sharon said in response.
"Well, I got the results from your blood work right here, Leon. It appears that the lump on your neck stems from an underactive thyroid which we call hypothyroidism. Based on your thyroid levels, I am putting you on some thyroid medication which should treat your condition. If you have any side effects from the medication, don't hesitate to call for an appointment. Other than that, I will be requesting that you need a routine lab work check up for thyroid levels in six months. Here is the paper requesting for that next appointment. I already have sent the prescription of your new medication to the pharmacy that you listed on your check-in form and should be filled in momentarily." The doctor said before leaving the room.
"Thank you so much, doctor." Leon said as he handed Sharon the appointment paper.
Once the follow-up appointment was scheduled, Leon went and sat in the car while Sharon relayed the results to her sister and mother on the phone on the bench outside. Seeing that Sharon was happy upon entering the car, Leon looked on with a bright smile.
"So, what do you want to do for lunch, Sharon?" Leon asked
"Hmm…, we could pick up a pizza on our way back home. I mean its probably been a while since our daughter had pizza, Leon." Sharon answered.
"You're right. Nicole will love that and besides the pizza place is a couple of doors away from where I got to go get my medicine. Talk about win-win." Leon responded
"Oh, Leon. That's what I love about you sometimes finding the best in any situation." Sharon said before kissing Leon.
Leon smiled upon hearing that statement and started the car to head for the pizza place and pharmacy. Upon arriving at the destination, Leon went on ahead to the pharmacy to pick up his medicine while Sharon grabbed the pizza. While waiting for the pharmacist to get his medicine from the back, Leon sent a message to Rita explaining what happened at the doctor. A few seconds later, Leon got a response from Rita stating, "I'm glad that they found what was wrong with you and found something to help treat it, Leon. Hopefully you feel better once you start this medicine they want you on. I won't say anything in front of the kids." Then Leon wrote in response, "Thank you, Sis. That would mean a whole lot to me. Because your kids wouldn't understand what I am going through unlike my own child."
Leon notices that Rita sent him a thumbs up response to his last message before putting his phone away. Then the pharmacist gave Leon his thyroid medication after signing some papers and explaining the medicine's side effects and dosage information. Leon thanked the pharmacist before leaving the pharmacy and stepped outside to see that Sharon was already in the car with the pizzas in the back.
"Sorry, honey. It took a while in there. The pharmacist was explaining to me about my medications dosage information, side effects, and their refill policy. I told Rita what happened at the doctors while waiting for my pills and she said she won't say anything in front of my nieces and nephew." Leon said upon getting in the car and putting his medicine in the back seat.
"Oh, that's okay, I figured they would do that since I had to sit through a couple of long waits at a pharmacy right after my sister was diagnosed with PTSD. I remember my dad moaning about each time the pharmacist had to literally explain a med that my sister was just starting despite the fact her counselor told my parents right before they picked up what they were about….." Sharon said with a sigh.
"Wow now I can imagine why your sister has the meds she does and all of that…" Leon said with curiosity.
"Hmm-hmm. Oh, I called Luna while I was waiting on you to tell her that we were on our way back home with lunch and she said that Nicole had a good morning just cleaning her room and looking forward for us to come home." Sharon said in response while Leon drove.
"Hmph. I didn't remember Nicole's room being a mess, but we should be proud of her for picking up her things. Am I right?" Leon said in response.
"Yes, that I can agree to Leon. It gives me an idea though, how about after lunch you and I clean out our room?" Sharon said with a smirk
"There's no talking me out of this isn't it…." Leon said in response.
"Nope, my love. I mean we need to get rid some of things in our room. Besides we are keeping our precious things in the storage room and that's we agreed on, right." Sharon said.
"You're right, honey. Besides we won't have to worry about new clothes for Nicole for a little while because I remember your mom mentioning to me a while back that she and Karen got her a set of new clothes right before she came to the house." Leon said in response.
"Oh, okay that's good to know because that was the next thing I was going to ask." Sharon said with a sigh.
"Oh okay. I'm glad to help you out there. We're at the house now. Do you want me to help you with the door?" Leon said after pulling the car in the driveway.
"If you wouldn't mind since the pizzas are back here and your medicine is still in the back seat." Sharon said after unbuckling her seatbelt.
After getting everything out of the back seat of Leon's car, Leon and Sharon opened the door to see that Nicole was playing a card game with Luna and Luna's friend, Sam. Leon went upstairs to his and Sharon's bedroom so he could put away his medication. While sorting out his meds, Leon heard a knock coming from the bedroom door and he opened it to see that it was Nicole.
"Hi, sweetie. Did you have a good day with your cousin Luna and her friend?" Leon said as Nicole came and sat next to him.
"Hmm-hmm, I sure did Daddy." Nicole said in response.
"That's my little angel. So, what's Mommy doing right now?" Leon said with curiosity.
"She was putting out plates for lunch and talking to Luna and her friend. I asked her how your doctor appointment went Daddy and she told me to ask you." Nicole said honestly.
"Well, sweetie. The appointment today let's just say the doctor found something wrong in a part of Daddy's throat that controls my energy and its been underactive. So that explains why I have been tired randomly lately especially on the long plane flights. These pills that you see me sorting out right here they are designed to treat that condition which Daddy sadly is going to have for the rest of his life. Don't get sad, sweetie. Its not your fault. Come here, I've got you." Leon said as he embraced Nicole who was about to cry upon hearing the statement.
"I knew that she would hear the news better from you than me, Leon. I'm sorry….." Sharon said as got into Leon and Nicole's embrace.
"It's not your fault either, Sharon. I understand what you were trying to do. Now that the two most important people in my life understand what is going on with me and how its being treated. It makes me feel more loved and happier by you guys with your support." Leon said with a smile.
"I love you too, Daddy…. I love you, Mommy." Nicole said with a smile
"I love you guys as well." Sharon said with a smile.