Chapter 3
Jamie and her father pulled up in front of Bofard Pediatric Hospital. Dr. Bolino had hooked them up with a friend who was a pediatric oncologist and he had decided that Jamie would first go through chemotherapy. Jamie had been apprehensive about the appointment. It had been scheduled a week prior and she had been nervous the entire week. She had heard such horrible stories about what chemo did to patients. She knew the many scary side effects of the treatment. She knew she would lose her hair. She just wanted to go back to high school. It was her freshman year and she had barely begun to truly experience high school life. She wanted a normal life. She didn't have time for this road block.
But she kept reminding herself that Christ was with her. She was going to make it. She could make it through anything with Christ. Sure it was a road block but just a temporary one. While she sat in the pickup truck she continued to remind herself of this. It would be over before she realized. Life flies by and this will too. Regardless, a nervous feeling remained in the pit of her stomach.
"Honey, are you ready to go in?"
"Um, um, yeah, yes. Yes I am."
"It's ok to be afraid, Honey."
"But I have Christ. I'm…" She broke off into tears and fell into her fathers arms.
"That's the awesome part about Christ. We don't have to be strong because he's strong for us." He wrapped his arms around his daughter. They remained in their embrace for several minutes. Jamie then slowly rose from her father's arms.
"Ok, I'm ready, Daddy."
The two stepped out of the car and made their way into the hospital. They had been instructed to go to the third floor, where the oncology ward was located. As they made their way through the hospital, Jamie hung onto her father. Many unwanted ghosts still lingered in the hospital for Jamie. There were too many memories within the white sterile walls. As she glanced at her father, she knew the same memories were flashing before his own eyes. He would have given anything to turn and run to the nearest exit. But he had to be strong for Jamie. He had to be there for her.
They entered the elevator and punched in the appropriate numbers. The quick ride up the shaft seemed to be an eternity. They longed to be there and begin the dreaded task, but at the same time hoped it would never arrive. They were torn from pushing forward or rushing back. The two doors slid open and the two vacated the elevator. They made their way down a long lonely white hallway.
Jamie stared at herself in the shiny tile floor. She didn't look sick. How could she be sick. How could she have cancer? It didn't make any sense. She had always been so healthy. She was rarely ever home sick with the flu. She only had a cold once or twice a year. But she knew the truth. The bruise on her leg. The sweating. Her collapse. Her swollen gums. It all went together. But why her? One out of every 29,000 children are diagnosed yearly with the disease. Why was it her. Jesus had a plan. Of course he did. She knew that. But she kept questioning it. What was the reason for this. Could he really have a plan for such a horrible disease? Of course he could, but what?
They approached a counter. "Um, yes. I'm Reverend Sullivan. This is my daughter Jamie. She has an appointment today."
"Yes, Miss Sullivan. We have been expecting you. Why don't you come this way and we'll get started. My name is Susan and I will be one of your nurses."
Jamie and her father followed the woman down the hall. The entered a small room. "Why don't you sit down Jamie and we'll get started. First let's just get your vitals." The woman first took Jamie's blood pressure. She then proceeded to take Jamie's pulse, temperature, heart rate, height, and weight. "Ok, let's get you hooked up." Jamie peered at her father nervously. Seeing her gaze the nurse reassured her, "Its ok, we have to hook you up to an IV so you can receive the medicine needed to fight this disease. May I please have your arm? Today we will give you an IV in your hand but you will be getting a central line soon."
"What's a central line?" Jamie asked curiously.
"It's a line we put under the skin so that when you come to receive your meds we don't have to locate a vain. "
"Where do they go?"
"You can have them under your collar bone or lower on your stomach or in your arm. And some of them are under your skin while others stick out."
"Ok," Jamie agreed nervously. The woman had cleaned Jamie's arm with alcohol and had located a vein. "Ok, this won't hurt very much," She put the needle into Jamie's vein. She then proceeded to tape it down with hospital tape and then began to hook it up to an IV pole. When she was finished she rose to her feet. "Ok let's find you a bed so you can lie down and relax. Jamie rose to her feet uncomfortable with the foreign object attached to her hand. "It's ok, I'll hold on to the pole for you." They exited the small room. Jamie walked slowly as the woman wheeled the strange object beside her. They made their way down the hall, passing several rooms with what it looked to be several other children in the same condition. "Right in here," The woman walked into a room with two beds. One was occupied by a girl who looked to be sixteen or so. "This is Melanie."
"Hi, I'm Melanie, what's your name?" The girl had extended her hand. Jamie shook the girl's hand cautiously. The girl looked very pale and was completely bald. However, a bright smile still lingered on her face. "I'm Jamie."
"Nice to meet you Jamie."
"This'll be your bed. The bathroom is right outside your door and myself and another nurse named Candace will be in to check on you from time to time. We will refill the bags on your IV pole. Feel free to watch the TV and there are vending machines just down the hall. Lunch will be brought around 12:30. Ok, I'll see you a little bit."
Jamie had sat down on the bed she had been assigned and her father pulled up a spare chair from against the wall.
"Do you need anything, Baby?"
"I just want to go home." The young girl fell into her father's arms and began to cry.