Chapter 12
"Wait Mama!" Theresa interrupted. "Is the news bad, Dr. Russel? If it is, then I would like the family to be here in case they have any questions."
"I think that would be good to do." Dr. Russel told her.
"Okay. Well, Mama I'm gonna go call everyone. Do you want your friends too or just family?" Theresa asked Pilar shaking very bad.
"Call all of our friends and family. That way it will be easier." Pilar responded.
"Okay. I'll be back."
Theresa went downstairs to tell everyone to go upstairs.
"Ivy, Kay, Ethan, Julian will you all please go up stairs. Dr. Russel has something important to tell Mama and I about why we have been so sick."
"Do you want me to call Miguel?" Kay asked.
"Could you please?" Theresa asked her.
"No problem."
Kay went to the phone while Ethan and Ivy approached Theresa.
"Theresa, are you okay?" Ethan asked frightened.
"I don't know."
"I can only imagine what your going through." Ivy said sympathetically.
"I really scared." Theresa confided in them.
"Everything is going to be okay." Ivy said as she went to hug her.
"Theresa, let me call everyone for you. You calm down." Ethan told her.
"Thanks, Ethan."
Ivy and Theresa went upstairs with Kay while Ethan made the phone calls. Everyone was there in about 20 minutes. eve noticed that everyone was practically there, so she began.
"Okay. Well, you all know that Theresa and Pilar haven't been feeling well. After running test I now know what is wrong with them. Theresa, Pilar both of you are going to be hospitalized for a week or so. Just until we can control your conditions."
"Are they that bad?" Luis asked very concerned.
"Theresa's isn't as bad as Pilar's condition."
"Okay well, Theresa," Eve began, "as I mention earlier your condition isn't as bad as Pilar's. You have diabetes."
"What!" Theresa said in disbelief.
"Theresa it's not that bad. You are gonna have to take shots for the rest of your life. Your sugar levels are too high. Regular levels are between 100-200. Your's were 600-900. And it's not just from eating too much sugar. Stress can also be another factor. Your lucky you didn't go into a diabetic coma."
"Wow!" Theresa said. "Is Little Ethan going to have this too?"
"Maybe. Usually it skips a generation."
"So your telling me that it will go to one of my grandchildren?"
"Yes."
"Theresa," Fox butted in, "don't worry. I'm here for you. Your family is here for you."
"Yes. Don't worry, Sis. We'll take care of you." Miguel assured her.
"Yeah You have us." Luis said.
"Mija, this is what God wants. I know that it will be hard to deal with at first, but it's part of your destiny." Pilar spoke to Theresa wisely.
"Theresa, do you plan on having anymore kids?" Eve asked.
"Fox and I haven't discussed it yet."
"Yes we do." Fox said for both of them.
"Well, pregnancy will be hard when you have diabetes, but you can still have a healthy baby. I just want you to know how much you are going to have to take care of yourself. Now, because of the diabetes, cutting yourself accidently will take longer to heal. But, we'll talk more later."
"Okay." Theresa said.
"Pilar." Eve said even more sadden.
"What is it?" Pilar said just wanting to know already.
"You have something called Multiple Sclerosis, or better known as MS."
"Oh God!" Pilar screamed out.
"No!" Luis said.
Luis and Pilar already knew what this was. No one else but them and Eve knew what it was. Luis' friend's mother had MS until she died. He didn't want to see Pilar go through what his friend's mother did.
"This can't be!" Pilar protested.
"What is it?" Miguel asked very frightened.
"Well it's a disease that can kill in time."
"No! You can't die!" Theresa screamed at the top of her lungs.
"If it isn't treated right you can die. You see MS is a disease that deteriorates the covering of your brain. Everyone has something that covers your brain. In MS, this layer or cover deteriorates and when it's fully gone you may die. Some people die. Not all. But many people do become cripple or have to be in a wheelchair or use a cane."
"Why is my back aching?"
"Well, no one knows what causes MS, but it's been tested many times that it's because of back injuries."
"Like my slip disc?" Pilar asked.
"Exactly. Now, if you two could pack some things and come to the hospital with me."
"We'll be there." Pilar said.
"Luis, could you please drive us?" Pilar asked her son in tears.
"Yes, Mama. Don't worry as long as I'm alive, you'll be fine." Luis tried to reassure her.
"I wish I could believe that."
Everyone in the room was in tears. two of their friends were ill. One was dying and the other could die anytime her sugar was too high or low. They all cleared out of Pilar's room. Instead they all went into the living room for coffee and to talk.
"Do any of you want coffee?" Phyllis asked while trying to dry her tears.
"I'll take one." Eve said.
"Me too." Grace said trying to compose herself.
"I feel so sorry for Pilar." Sam said to Grace.
"I think I'll make her a tomato soup cake for the hospital." Grace said Turing to Sam and David.
"Miguel, are you okay?" Kay asked.
"I'll be fine. Right now I'm confused." He answered.
Miguel grabbed Kay and held her tight.
"Kay, I know you said that you wanted us to start over, but after seeing my mom and sister, it's made me realize that you only live once. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Kay, will you marry me?" Miguel shocked Kay.
"You know, Miguel. I agree with you. I don't know if I'll be alive tomorrow and you don't know if you will either. yes, Miguel I'll marry you."
Miguel picked up Kay and spun her around before placing a passionate kiss on her lips. Upstairs Theresa was in her room with Beth and Gwen. They were helping her pack.
"Things will work out." Beth told her trying to cheer her up.
"Believe in fate." Gwen reminded Theresa.
"Fate? God? Are those things even real anymore?" Theresa said to the both of them.
"Theresa, listen to yourself!" Gwen shouted." Your sounding like a silly school girl who broke up with her boyfriend.
"Theresa, there is a God. Fate is real. Fate brought Fox and you together." Beth said.
Theresa collapsed on her bed and began to cry uncontrollably.
"Mama's dying." She told herself. "First Papa, now Mama."
"Don't worry." Gwen tried to calm her down.
"Don't worry!" She screamed in Gwen's ear.
Everyone from downstairs heard Theresa. They all sympathized with her.
"You don't know what it's like to know that your mom is dying! Don't tell me to not worry!"
Eve came into Theresa's room to try and calm her down.
"Theresa remember stress adds to your sugar levels." Eve told her.
"Good maybe if I get so mad, my sugar will go so high that it will kill me!" She told all of them.
Luis heard this and couldn't listen to it anymore. He ran into her room.
"Theresa, don't talk like that!" He told her.
"Don't tell me how I can and can't talk. Your not my father! I'm an adult. I'm married and I have a child."
"That's my point, Theresa," he began, "you still have a child and a husband to live for." He said trying to knock some sense in her.
"I'm so scared!" She told Luis as she ran into his arms.
"I know. So am I." Luis said as he signaled Gwen, Beth, and Eve to leave.
Luis and Theresa sat on the bed. Crying together and sharing their fears.
Pilar was in her room getting ready for the hospital. She felt very dizzy.
"Eve!" she screamed before she fainted.
"Oh my God!" Eve said as she walked in Pilar's room. "Someone call an ambulance! Come on, Pilar. wake up!"
"What's going on?" Ethan said hearing Eve's cries for help.
"She's got a weak pulse."
"Ambulance is on the way!" Ivy said wheeling into the room.
"You know everyone," Ethan began, "Theresa and Pilar are going to the hospital so I think we all can go home."
Everyone said goodbye to each other. They were all gone by the time the ambulance arrived. They asked where the patient was at.
"Up here!" Eve screamed." I can't find a pulse! Paddles!"
"Shock!"
"Okay. We have another weak pulse. Let's get her going!" Eve ordered them.
Meanwhile downstairs Ivy wanted to talk to Kay.
"So, Kay do you still wanna talk?" Ivy asked nicely.
"I don't think I need to. You see Miguel and I are engaged." she said proudly.
"Well, let me congratulate you both."
"Thank, you. You know, Ivy I don't know why my dad doesn't have you as a wife. Your a great woman."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
"I wish my mom was like you!" Kay said looking very sad.
"Why isn't you mom a good mother?"
"She's too busy with David and John."
"Well, if you ever need anything, anything at all just call me."
"Thanks. You know Ivy, I may need your help getting rid of this girl who is trying to take Miguel away from me." Kay said unexpectedly.
"Tell me her name, and I'll take care of it all."
"Charity. Charity Standish."
"Okay."
"Wait Mama!" Theresa interrupted. "Is the news bad, Dr. Russel? If it is, then I would like the family to be here in case they have any questions."
"I think that would be good to do." Dr. Russel told her.
"Okay. Well, Mama I'm gonna go call everyone. Do you want your friends too or just family?" Theresa asked Pilar shaking very bad.
"Call all of our friends and family. That way it will be easier." Pilar responded.
"Okay. I'll be back."
Theresa went downstairs to tell everyone to go upstairs.
"Ivy, Kay, Ethan, Julian will you all please go up stairs. Dr. Russel has something important to tell Mama and I about why we have been so sick."
"Do you want me to call Miguel?" Kay asked.
"Could you please?" Theresa asked her.
"No problem."
Kay went to the phone while Ethan and Ivy approached Theresa.
"Theresa, are you okay?" Ethan asked frightened.
"I don't know."
"I can only imagine what your going through." Ivy said sympathetically.
"I really scared." Theresa confided in them.
"Everything is going to be okay." Ivy said as she went to hug her.
"Theresa, let me call everyone for you. You calm down." Ethan told her.
"Thanks, Ethan."
Ivy and Theresa went upstairs with Kay while Ethan made the phone calls. Everyone was there in about 20 minutes. eve noticed that everyone was practically there, so she began.
"Okay. Well, you all know that Theresa and Pilar haven't been feeling well. After running test I now know what is wrong with them. Theresa, Pilar both of you are going to be hospitalized for a week or so. Just until we can control your conditions."
"Are they that bad?" Luis asked very concerned.
"Theresa's isn't as bad as Pilar's condition."
"Okay well, Theresa," Eve began, "as I mention earlier your condition isn't as bad as Pilar's. You have diabetes."
"What!" Theresa said in disbelief.
"Theresa it's not that bad. You are gonna have to take shots for the rest of your life. Your sugar levels are too high. Regular levels are between 100-200. Your's were 600-900. And it's not just from eating too much sugar. Stress can also be another factor. Your lucky you didn't go into a diabetic coma."
"Wow!" Theresa said. "Is Little Ethan going to have this too?"
"Maybe. Usually it skips a generation."
"So your telling me that it will go to one of my grandchildren?"
"Yes."
"Theresa," Fox butted in, "don't worry. I'm here for you. Your family is here for you."
"Yes. Don't worry, Sis. We'll take care of you." Miguel assured her.
"Yeah You have us." Luis said.
"Mija, this is what God wants. I know that it will be hard to deal with at first, but it's part of your destiny." Pilar spoke to Theresa wisely.
"Theresa, do you plan on having anymore kids?" Eve asked.
"Fox and I haven't discussed it yet."
"Yes we do." Fox said for both of them.
"Well, pregnancy will be hard when you have diabetes, but you can still have a healthy baby. I just want you to know how much you are going to have to take care of yourself. Now, because of the diabetes, cutting yourself accidently will take longer to heal. But, we'll talk more later."
"Okay." Theresa said.
"Pilar." Eve said even more sadden.
"What is it?" Pilar said just wanting to know already.
"You have something called Multiple Sclerosis, or better known as MS."
"Oh God!" Pilar screamed out.
"No!" Luis said.
Luis and Pilar already knew what this was. No one else but them and Eve knew what it was. Luis' friend's mother had MS until she died. He didn't want to see Pilar go through what his friend's mother did.
"This can't be!" Pilar protested.
"What is it?" Miguel asked very frightened.
"Well it's a disease that can kill in time."
"No! You can't die!" Theresa screamed at the top of her lungs.
"If it isn't treated right you can die. You see MS is a disease that deteriorates the covering of your brain. Everyone has something that covers your brain. In MS, this layer or cover deteriorates and when it's fully gone you may die. Some people die. Not all. But many people do become cripple or have to be in a wheelchair or use a cane."
"Why is my back aching?"
"Well, no one knows what causes MS, but it's been tested many times that it's because of back injuries."
"Like my slip disc?" Pilar asked.
"Exactly. Now, if you two could pack some things and come to the hospital with me."
"We'll be there." Pilar said.
"Luis, could you please drive us?" Pilar asked her son in tears.
"Yes, Mama. Don't worry as long as I'm alive, you'll be fine." Luis tried to reassure her.
"I wish I could believe that."
Everyone in the room was in tears. two of their friends were ill. One was dying and the other could die anytime her sugar was too high or low. They all cleared out of Pilar's room. Instead they all went into the living room for coffee and to talk.
"Do any of you want coffee?" Phyllis asked while trying to dry her tears.
"I'll take one." Eve said.
"Me too." Grace said trying to compose herself.
"I feel so sorry for Pilar." Sam said to Grace.
"I think I'll make her a tomato soup cake for the hospital." Grace said Turing to Sam and David.
"Miguel, are you okay?" Kay asked.
"I'll be fine. Right now I'm confused." He answered.
Miguel grabbed Kay and held her tight.
"Kay, I know you said that you wanted us to start over, but after seeing my mom and sister, it's made me realize that you only live once. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Kay, will you marry me?" Miguel shocked Kay.
"You know, Miguel. I agree with you. I don't know if I'll be alive tomorrow and you don't know if you will either. yes, Miguel I'll marry you."
Miguel picked up Kay and spun her around before placing a passionate kiss on her lips. Upstairs Theresa was in her room with Beth and Gwen. They were helping her pack.
"Things will work out." Beth told her trying to cheer her up.
"Believe in fate." Gwen reminded Theresa.
"Fate? God? Are those things even real anymore?" Theresa said to the both of them.
"Theresa, listen to yourself!" Gwen shouted." Your sounding like a silly school girl who broke up with her boyfriend.
"Theresa, there is a God. Fate is real. Fate brought Fox and you together." Beth said.
Theresa collapsed on her bed and began to cry uncontrollably.
"Mama's dying." She told herself. "First Papa, now Mama."
"Don't worry." Gwen tried to calm her down.
"Don't worry!" She screamed in Gwen's ear.
Everyone from downstairs heard Theresa. They all sympathized with her.
"You don't know what it's like to know that your mom is dying! Don't tell me to not worry!"
Eve came into Theresa's room to try and calm her down.
"Theresa remember stress adds to your sugar levels." Eve told her.
"Good maybe if I get so mad, my sugar will go so high that it will kill me!" She told all of them.
Luis heard this and couldn't listen to it anymore. He ran into her room.
"Theresa, don't talk like that!" He told her.
"Don't tell me how I can and can't talk. Your not my father! I'm an adult. I'm married and I have a child."
"That's my point, Theresa," he began, "you still have a child and a husband to live for." He said trying to knock some sense in her.
"I'm so scared!" She told Luis as she ran into his arms.
"I know. So am I." Luis said as he signaled Gwen, Beth, and Eve to leave.
Luis and Theresa sat on the bed. Crying together and sharing their fears.
Pilar was in her room getting ready for the hospital. She felt very dizzy.
"Eve!" she screamed before she fainted.
"Oh my God!" Eve said as she walked in Pilar's room. "Someone call an ambulance! Come on, Pilar. wake up!"
"What's going on?" Ethan said hearing Eve's cries for help.
"She's got a weak pulse."
"Ambulance is on the way!" Ivy said wheeling into the room.
"You know everyone," Ethan began, "Theresa and Pilar are going to the hospital so I think we all can go home."
Everyone said goodbye to each other. They were all gone by the time the ambulance arrived. They asked where the patient was at.
"Up here!" Eve screamed." I can't find a pulse! Paddles!"
"Shock!"
"Okay. We have another weak pulse. Let's get her going!" Eve ordered them.
Meanwhile downstairs Ivy wanted to talk to Kay.
"So, Kay do you still wanna talk?" Ivy asked nicely.
"I don't think I need to. You see Miguel and I are engaged." she said proudly.
"Well, let me congratulate you both."
"Thank, you. You know, Ivy I don't know why my dad doesn't have you as a wife. Your a great woman."
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
"I wish my mom was like you!" Kay said looking very sad.
"Why isn't you mom a good mother?"
"She's too busy with David and John."
"Well, if you ever need anything, anything at all just call me."
"Thanks. You know Ivy, I may need your help getting rid of this girl who is trying to take Miguel away from me." Kay said unexpectedly.
"Tell me her name, and I'll take care of it all."
"Charity. Charity Standish."
"Okay."