The Sister - Chapter 23
Sister intuition.Stephanie said, "I knew it.when you came in the gym this afternoon, you just didn't look like your normal cheerful self.what is going to happen now?" I said, "Well, more testing to figure out what kind of Myeloma I have because every Bone Marrow Cancer comes from some part of the body, usually in the longer bones and ribs.They think it's in my legs.maybe spine but their looking more towards my femurs."
Shane said, "After that, then what?" I said, "Chemotherapy . bone marrow transplant.more chemo, possibly radiation." Steph said, "Will you lose your hair?" I said, "I don't know, the chemo has a different reaction with every person that has to have it."
I looked down at Paul and said, "Are you okay?" He said, "Yea.we're going to fight it.the whole damn way.I don't care what it costs, you'll get well." I touched his cheek and a tear slid down and onto my hand.
Shane got up and came over to me, and said, "We'll all fight it together, you more physically then us, but well do it emotionally and help you mentally with this." Shane hugged me so tight, I knew he wanted to say more, but knew if he did he might cry. I also knew Paul was doing all he could to not cry.
I went over and squatted down in front of Marissa who was on the verge of crying hysterically, and I said, "So are you fighting with me?" She sobbed through a "Yes." And I said, "Okay, I don't want to see anyone else crying, because if you get me crying, I'm gonna have to kick some ones ass. I was obviously dealt a dirty hand, but guess what; it's a part of life. Cancer, death, birth, love, hate sadness, and happiness is all a part of life, and it just so happens it's a part of mine right now.I don't want anyone of you feeling sorry for me, cause I'm going to get over this, and I'm going to finish living my life."
I think out of everyone Stephanie and Paul took it the hardest.Steph because she and I have always been so close, and Paul because here was my husband who knew I was sick and couldn't do anything physically to help me.
So a week later, I start Chemo, 5 months after that I had the transplant, and then had 6 more months of Chemo. I was pretty run down, but I didn't change a thing about my lifestyle, I went to work on the road with everyone, I got my chemo treatments in whatever town or city we happen to be in, I usually had to relax a couple hours after the treatments, but other then that, I only missed 3 days for the transplant.
I had gotten closer to my mother since I had been sick, but my father still wouldn't budge. Stephanie was thrilled that I didn't lose my hair, she always said it was my one true beauty.Paul always disagreed with her and said my hair didn't make me beautiful, I did.
About a week after the Chemotherapy was all finished, we were in North Carolina and I went in for some blood work. I was at the arena with everyone when the doctor called my cell phone and said, "Mrs. Levesque, Can you come in right away, I have your test results." I said, "Doc is it good or bad?" He said, "This is something I should really tell you in person and not over the phone." I said, "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
We hung up and Paul looked over at me and said, "What did he say?" I said, "He said, he didn't want to tell me over the phone and wanted to tell me in person.you don't think it's gotten worse do you?" Paul said, "Hell no, it couldn't of, you attacked the shit out of it." I said, "I'm scared Paul.I don't want to be sick anymore.I hate this I want to be healthy again," Paul came over and wrapped his arms around me and said, "I know sweetie, let's just go and see what the doctor has to say." I said, "Okay."
So all of us piled into one of the limos backstage, it was the only vehicle big enough for all of us. We headed over to the hospital; cause the doctors' office was on the 3rd floor. I went up by myself, cause if I was going to get bad news, I would need sometime for it to sink in before telling the others.and if it was going to be good news, I'd have to relish in it on the elevator ride down before telling every one else. So I went upstairs to the doctors' office and he had the door open, I said, "What's up Doc?"
He looked up from his pile of patient's charts and said, "Who are you Bugs Bunny?" I said, "Well it's very unusual for me, I'm so used to being the doctor, now I'm the patient." Doc got up from his buried desk and said, "C'mon on in and sit down, don't look like you're going to the electric chair.it's not bad news, I just wanted to call you in and let you know, all your tests came back negative." I said, "All of them?" He said, "Every single one of them, you realize what this means. right?" I said, "Yea.I don't believe it.Are you sure? I mean there wasn't any mistakes right?" He said, "No ma'am."
I gave the doctor a hug and thanked him, then walked out and closed his door. I walked down and was sitting in the 3rd floor waiting room, while everyone else was down on the first floor.
Sister intuition.Stephanie said, "I knew it.when you came in the gym this afternoon, you just didn't look like your normal cheerful self.what is going to happen now?" I said, "Well, more testing to figure out what kind of Myeloma I have because every Bone Marrow Cancer comes from some part of the body, usually in the longer bones and ribs.They think it's in my legs.maybe spine but their looking more towards my femurs."
Shane said, "After that, then what?" I said, "Chemotherapy . bone marrow transplant.more chemo, possibly radiation." Steph said, "Will you lose your hair?" I said, "I don't know, the chemo has a different reaction with every person that has to have it."
I looked down at Paul and said, "Are you okay?" He said, "Yea.we're going to fight it.the whole damn way.I don't care what it costs, you'll get well." I touched his cheek and a tear slid down and onto my hand.
Shane got up and came over to me, and said, "We'll all fight it together, you more physically then us, but well do it emotionally and help you mentally with this." Shane hugged me so tight, I knew he wanted to say more, but knew if he did he might cry. I also knew Paul was doing all he could to not cry.
I went over and squatted down in front of Marissa who was on the verge of crying hysterically, and I said, "So are you fighting with me?" She sobbed through a "Yes." And I said, "Okay, I don't want to see anyone else crying, because if you get me crying, I'm gonna have to kick some ones ass. I was obviously dealt a dirty hand, but guess what; it's a part of life. Cancer, death, birth, love, hate sadness, and happiness is all a part of life, and it just so happens it's a part of mine right now.I don't want anyone of you feeling sorry for me, cause I'm going to get over this, and I'm going to finish living my life."
I think out of everyone Stephanie and Paul took it the hardest.Steph because she and I have always been so close, and Paul because here was my husband who knew I was sick and couldn't do anything physically to help me.
So a week later, I start Chemo, 5 months after that I had the transplant, and then had 6 more months of Chemo. I was pretty run down, but I didn't change a thing about my lifestyle, I went to work on the road with everyone, I got my chemo treatments in whatever town or city we happen to be in, I usually had to relax a couple hours after the treatments, but other then that, I only missed 3 days for the transplant.
I had gotten closer to my mother since I had been sick, but my father still wouldn't budge. Stephanie was thrilled that I didn't lose my hair, she always said it was my one true beauty.Paul always disagreed with her and said my hair didn't make me beautiful, I did.
About a week after the Chemotherapy was all finished, we were in North Carolina and I went in for some blood work. I was at the arena with everyone when the doctor called my cell phone and said, "Mrs. Levesque, Can you come in right away, I have your test results." I said, "Doc is it good or bad?" He said, "This is something I should really tell you in person and not over the phone." I said, "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
We hung up and Paul looked over at me and said, "What did he say?" I said, "He said, he didn't want to tell me over the phone and wanted to tell me in person.you don't think it's gotten worse do you?" Paul said, "Hell no, it couldn't of, you attacked the shit out of it." I said, "I'm scared Paul.I don't want to be sick anymore.I hate this I want to be healthy again," Paul came over and wrapped his arms around me and said, "I know sweetie, let's just go and see what the doctor has to say." I said, "Okay."
So all of us piled into one of the limos backstage, it was the only vehicle big enough for all of us. We headed over to the hospital; cause the doctors' office was on the 3rd floor. I went up by myself, cause if I was going to get bad news, I would need sometime for it to sink in before telling the others.and if it was going to be good news, I'd have to relish in it on the elevator ride down before telling every one else. So I went upstairs to the doctors' office and he had the door open, I said, "What's up Doc?"
He looked up from his pile of patient's charts and said, "Who are you Bugs Bunny?" I said, "Well it's very unusual for me, I'm so used to being the doctor, now I'm the patient." Doc got up from his buried desk and said, "C'mon on in and sit down, don't look like you're going to the electric chair.it's not bad news, I just wanted to call you in and let you know, all your tests came back negative." I said, "All of them?" He said, "Every single one of them, you realize what this means. right?" I said, "Yea.I don't believe it.Are you sure? I mean there wasn't any mistakes right?" He said, "No ma'am."
I gave the doctor a hug and thanked him, then walked out and closed his door. I walked down and was sitting in the 3rd floor waiting room, while everyone else was down on the first floor.