Disclaimer: Not mine. Not worth suing. Trust me.

Author: Catgurl83

Title: Shocking News (5\?)

Feedback: Thanks for all of the feedback it is wonderful and it really does help me think. My e-mail address is catgurl83@yahoo.com

Rating: G

Author's note: I'm not a doctor. See author's notes in part two for the web site I used.

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"What will they do in the bone marrow. bone marrow. bone marrow." David looked at Sarah for help.

Sarah smiled. "Bone marrow transplant."

Dr. Richards, who had stopped by to talk to the family before they got tested, smiled at the child. "Well, the nurses will take a little bit of blood from each of you so we can test it against Ruthie's."

"How?" Sam asked.

"We will do something called HLA typing." He turned to Annie and Eric. "That stands for human leukocyte-associated. We will look at six HLA antigens. We have to find a match of at least five."

"Do you think you will?" Mary asked.

"There is a 35% chance that a sibling will be a match."

"And if not?" Kevin asked.

"We'll search the registry. Also, friends can be tested."

"How do you do the trans. transplant?" Sam asked.

"A needle will be inserted into the rear hip bone. We'll take the marrow out with a needle and syringe."

Both twins paled. They did not like needles. "Will it hurt?" David asked.

"Not really." The doctor assured him. "It will be a little uncomfortable afterward but that is it."

"What about Ruthie?" Sam asked.

"The marrow will drip into Ruthie through her IV or through a catheter." He looked at Annie. "I wanted to talk to you about that. I want to put a Hickman catheter in Ruthie's chest. It will make it easier for Ruthie because we can give her medication through it and we can draw blood through it. Other wise we'd have to use a needle every time we need blood, which will be often."

Annie and Eric looked at Matt who nodded slightly.

"Okay." Annie said to the doctor.

"Do you have any other questions?" Dr. Richards asked.

Annie looked at the twins and Kevin stood up. "Hey boys, you know what? I'm getting kind of hungry. Do you want to come with me to find a vending machine?"

The twins jumped up. "We want soda."

Kevin led them out of the room chattering about what type of candy they wanted.

Annie turned back to the doctor. "What risks are there for Ruthie in a bone marrow transplant?"

"Several," Dr. Richards admitted. "We will have to destroy her immune system before we can do the transplant. It will take several weeks for the transplanted marrow to take effect. Those weeks will be difficult for Ruthie. She won't be allowed many visitors. Those of you allowed to see her will have to wear a mask, gloves, and a gown. She won't be allowed any plants, fresh fruit, or vegetables." He paused briefly. "She will probably sleep a lot. She will be nauseous, ache all over, and be very weak. It will be like she has a very bad case of the flu only it will last for weeks. We will have to take blood samples every day. She will have to have quite a few blood transfusions."

"What about graft versus host disease?" Sarah asked.

Dr. Richards nodded. "We will be monitoring her for that as well as for graft rejection. The chances are slim if we have a well matched donor."

"What is graft versus host disease?" the Colonel demanded. Everyone was shocked that he had been quiet until then.

"If the marrow isn't matched well to the body it can see the body as the enemy. In that case it attacks the body and tries to destroy it. It can be life threatening," The doctor explained.

"This is going to be so hard on Ruthie," Annie said quietly.

"We really don't have a choice," Matt said. "A bone marrow transplant is her best chance of a cure. She'll die without one."

"Will the transplant definitely cure her?" Ruth asked.

The doctor shook his head. "No. There can be so many complications. The first few weeks after the transplant are critical. There are no guarantees."

"But it is her only chance," Sarah stressed when she saw Eric and Annie wavering.

Annie and Eric looked at each other. They carried on a conversation with their eyes. Both were worried and terrified but both knew that they had no choice. They had to try everything possible to save their youngest daughter. They both turned to the doctor at the same time. "We want to do it."

"Good. Are you ready to get blood drawn now?"

Everyone nodded.

Lucy stood. "I'll go find Kevin and the boys."

"Is everyone here getting tested?"

"Everyone but the baby." Sarah answered. She and Matt had discussed that the night before and decided that Charlie was too young. They didn't want to put her through pain and discomfort that she wouldn't understand.

They all followed the doctor back to the rooms where they'd get their blood drawn.

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Simon's POV

I can't believe that I am here. I can't believe that any of us are. We are going to have this blood test for no reason. Even if one of us is a match, so many things could go wrong. Is it worth it? From what the doctor just described, the transplant will be horrible for Ruthie. All of that just to die of complications?

I think we should just leave her alone. The treatments for the disease are worse then the disease itself.

A nurse makes me lay back on a table that she is calling a bed so that she can draw blood. I close my eyes. I barely feel the needle puncture my skin. Is this what it would be like to have the bone marrow taken?

She finishes and hands me a small cup of juice. She says I should stay here for a while to rest. I don't need to rest. I drink the juice in one swallow and step off of the bed.

I have to get out of here. I came in my own car so I don't have to tell anyone I'm leaving. I just can't do this. I can't be around this hospital. I'm so close to Ruthie yet so far. She is on the floor above me. It would be so easy to just take the elevator up but I can't do that. I just can't.

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David's POV

I've never done this before. I've had shots of course but I've never given blood. I guess there just wasn't a reason to.

Mommy is on the bed next to mine. Daddy is with Sam. I guess they thought we'd be scared. They are wrong. We are seven, way to old to be scared by something like this. I don't like needles but I can be brave for Ruthie. Ruthie is going to have to do things that she doesn't want to too. Like stay in the hospital.

The nurse is being really nice. She told me that I can have a piece of candy after I do this and drink my juice. That is one good thing about being a child; nurses and doctors always give you candy, they don't give adults candy.

She tells me to close my eyes and I do. I feel the needle but it doesn't hurt. I open my eyes and see the red blood filling the syringe. How come blood is red? I'll ask Matt later.

The nurse hands me a small cup of juice and a Jolly Rancher. She says I should drink the juice before I eat the candy and that I should lay here for a while. Like I have a choice. Where would I go? I came with my parents. The nurse is drawing Mom's blood now.

I thought I'd hate being here at the hospital. I haven't been back here since Ruthie told us what was wrong with her, three days ago. I just couldn't come see here even though Mom and Dad asked me if I wanted to.

I'm not going to see her today either. I just can't. But it isn't childish. Simon hasn't seen her either. Matt and Sarah come every day. Mary comes a few times a day. Lucy and Kevin have come a few times. Mom and Dad spend as much time here as they can. The Colonel and Ruth have come up here every day. It is just Sam, Simon, and I that can't.

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Lucy's POV

I wish that there was more that I could do. It seems like I'm doing so little for Ruthie. I might not even be a marrow donor.

This, giving blood to be tested, seems so insignificant. So unimportant. Especially if I am not a match.

I have come to see Ruthie everyday and she is so withdrawn. So detached from all of us. There is nothing I can do to help her. She won't talk to me about anything important.

The only thing I can do is pray. I have been praying so hard for Ruthie. I pray for her to get better, for the doctors to find a match. But I also pray for the Lord's will to be done. Then I think, what happens if his will is that Ruthie dies? She'll die. I have to accept that whatever happens will be for the best even though it will hurt so much if she leaves us.

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After the blood tests, everyone headed in different directions. Annie and Eric went up to Ruthie's room. The Colonel, Ruth, Mary, and the twins went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Kevin went to work. Lucy went to class. Matt and Sarah went to find Simon. They were both very worried about Simon. He had been so withdrawn since they found out about Ruthie. They were worried about what would happen to him if Ruthie didn't get better.

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Author's note: Sorry it took so long for me to update. You would not believe my week. Hopefully I'll get a couple of more chapters posted this weekend.