A/N - Hi everyone! This has been the week from someplace very warm (fill in the blank), so I'll apologize in advance if this chapter is lacking. It's one of those 'bridge' chapters, and with a terribly cranky writer - well, it's not a good combination.
Just a little note about the 'medical stuff.' For any of you old enough to remember the 70s, I've already had a couple comments about the transplant procedure that really mirrored my own memories from that time period. From what I recall, it wasn't simple or pain-free. However, this info is based on research, so I didn't make it up, but I wasn't able to find any source (that I'd be able to read and understand) that talked about it from that time frame. So, rather than making up something that may or may not have been true, I went with what I found, but I'm sure it's evolved to this point. Sorry about that. When I started this, that was never something that I had thought about! So, it was either that or just not finish this:)
Thanks again for the reviews! They're always appreciated.
BLOOD BROTHERS
CHAPTER 13
MINNESOTA OR BUST!
No one ever expected things to go smoothly when making arrangements to get Bo the help he needed. It was Hazzard, and they were the Dukes; those two concepts simply conflicted. Somehow, they thought that when Luke had been declared as a suitable donor, things were looking up. They were, but it was going to be a harder journey than anyone expected.
Bo hadn't been out of line bringing up the subject of money. The trip and the treatment were going to be expensive, like he had predicted, and finances quickly became a concern. Taking care of the farm had been easy. Coy and Vance were coming to stay and work, and Cooter and Enos promised to help them. Jesse was beginning to wonder if their presence would even be required, re-adding the numbers he already knew were correct. Seeing the amount they'd need in black and white, there was no way to do it without selling the farm, and even then, it wouldn't be enough. His land had always been important to him, but he didn't have to think twice about whether Bo or the soil was top priority; land without family wasn't much good. He knew that Luke and Daisy felt the same way, but he worried more about Bo. His youngest would be heartbroken and guilt-ridden, knowing that they'd all lost their home because of him. They'd never convince him that it was well worth it, and Jesse could already see the effect it was having. His nephew needed to have a positive attitude to face and beat what lie ahead, but Jesse's decision wouldn't do anything for Bo's mental state. Planning to visit J.D. Hogg to arrange the sale, he hoped the fat man would agree to keep it quiet until after they returned. Knowing him as well as he did, he didn't see that as being a problem. He'd be so happy to get his hands on Duke land, that waiting a little while to announce the transfer of title wouldn't pose much of a threat. Selling was bad enough, but selling to Boss was almost like treason. Yet, there just wasn't any other way, or so he thought.
Jesse Duke seemed to forget that his family had people who loved them, many of them. Unknown to the Dukes, a collection had already been started, and Lulu Hogg had put her husband down for a sizable gift. Her husband didn't know it yet, but she'd make sure he didn't welch on her word. It looked like Boss Hogg was going to be instrumental in their plan, but for very different reasons than Jesse had originally envisioned.
Then, the family doctor, who hadn't given them good news for many months, now showed that he was full of it. When Doc Appleby informed them that he'd submitted a request for financial aide and that it had been approved, they really didn't know how to thank him. In addition to the hospital bills being covered, the University offered to let the family stay in two rooms in one of their dorms, free of charge. It seemed that they needed the Dukes as much as the Dukes needed them. The more successful transplants they performed, the more federal funding and grants they would be considered for. To the Dukes, that was better news than being told that the only expenses they'd have to cover were transportation and food. It meant that they really did believe they'd be able to help Bo.
If worrying about money hadn't been bad enough, worrying about time was worse. There was no collection in the world that could give them that. Yet, a transplant wasn't something that could be squeezed in; it had to be planned for. Both the facility, the patient, and the donor had to undergo a series of preparatory measures.
Luke was being given a series of IVs to increase his own blood and marrow production. As soon as they began, Bo's fear factor increased dramatically. He worried about what would happen if they gave his cousin too much, or it reacted differently than it was supposed to. All the doctors assured him that it was safe, and Luke told him that he never felt better, but the boy couldn't stop worrying.
However, Bo's time factor was the one that was the most important. Since they'd stopped the chemo therapy treatments, and it had been a while since he'd had one, the disease started to progress. They couldn't allow it to deteriorate too much. If Bo got too sick, they wouldn't be able to perform the transplant. Needing to keep him at a certain level, they hospitalized him for two days and gave him a mild dose. It wasn't meant to save his life, just slow down the progression of the disease, if only a little. Due to it's mild form and the fact that he'd been given continuous IVs, Bo hardly felt any effects from the treatment, unlike the others before. Once that had been completed, he also started receiving systematic injections to boost his system while they waited.
As everything played out, Doc Appleby finally told them that they'd been worked into the clinic's schedule for the third week in May. Bo shocked everyone when he asked if they could postpone it for two weeks. He was still alive and eligible to graduate from high school, and he wanted to receive his diploma like the rest of his classmastes. After numerous consultations, their country doctor told him that they could, but the family wasn't happy about it. It was one time they all thought lying might have been a better alternative to a truth they weren't sure they believed. Yet, they knew that this was something Bo desperately wanted, and they didn't want to cheat him out of a ceremony he'd earned the right to attend; they just didn't want time to cheat them out of having Bo. The graduate couldn't be talked out of it, and eventually they gave in, praying that it was the right decision.
As Bo was handed his high school diploma and shook hands with the principal, no one was prouder of their own graduate than the Duke family was of theirs. Bo had always had the hardest time in school, and what he'd had to do to finish that final year would have been difficult for a Rhodes Scholar. Bo was beaming from ear to ear as the flash bulbs snapped. He didn't even need his ball cap for that ceremony. The traditional cap served the purpose. It didn't even seem to bother him when he, and the rest of the class, threw them up in the air, leaving his head temporarily exposed.
"I'm proud of you, Bo," Luke told him, pulling him into a hug. "After we come home, and your hair grows back, we'll borrow one of these caps and gowns and take another picture, ok?" he asked, whispering in his cousin's ear.
"Thanks, that means a lot to me."
Luke didn't know whether Bo was referring to the compliment or the promise, but it didn't matter. His cousin was smiling and that was all that was important. "I got you something, too," he said, thinking that would make Bo even happier.
"Luke, you already gave me something," Bo replied, taking the key ring out of his pocket to remind him.
"I know," Luke grinned. "Believe me, this is just something little, and I have a feeling you're going to be appreciating it more than you think."
Bo ripped up the paper, looking in the box. Another stack of new car magazines caused Bo to grin. "Thanks Luke. I think you're right. Know what else I think?"
"What's that cuz?"
"That this is a gift you're going to get to enjoy, too."
Luke just chuckled, knowing that he'd been found out
Keeping the party simple, they had a little get together at the farm. Daisy had made up sandwiches and baked Bo a cake. Feeling bad about also keeping it short, they had no choice. They needed an early night. Long before the roosters crowed the next day, they'd be crossing the Georgia state line.
The Dukes were used to getting up early on a farm, but there was something about rising early for chores that was very different than going on a trip. Most of their stuff had been packed the night before, easily filling Daisy's car to maximum capacity. There was no way that they could take Bo in Jesse's truck for that long of an excursion; Georgia to Minnesota was over a 16 hour drive. Under normal circumstances, that would have been a two day event. With Bo's condition, they decided to alot three days. One of the things Bo had to endure at times was severe joint pain, and nothing could inflame that like sitting in a cramped position for long periods. If they all hadn't been going, Bo might have been able to have stretched out in the back, but with four of them in the car, he was only going to have so much room, and he had the longest legs. The family was going to need to stop frequently for him to stretch, and they wanted to give him as much time out of the car as possible. Stopping by late afternoon or early evening would mean that they'd all get a good dinner, and a good night's rest in a motel room.
With their agenda in one hand, and a map in the other, they bid their friends and relatives goodbye, thanking them for their support and continued prayers. Daisy crawled in the back seat, fluffing pillows while Luke helped Bo follow. Letting him lay against her, Daisy covered him with the blankets they'd brought along, making sure he was comfortable. With Luke at the wheel and Jesse in the passenger seat, the Dukes headed off to the Land of the North Star. Three days later, they pulled up right on time.
Bo was admitted immediately, having to undergo more procedures before they'd be ready for Luke. They were introduced to the doctors who would be treating him, and everything was explained in greater detail. Two doctors were assigned to Bo: an oncologist, who dealt with the leukemia, and a hematologist, who would be handling all aspects of the transplant, blood, and marrow. For Bo, it wasn't going to be fun and it posed a numerous amount of risks, but it was his only hope. After getting him settled, Jesse and Daisy went to set up house in the rooms that had been donated for their stay. Luke could have been admitted, too; he refused to leave the hospital, regardless of the numerous threats given by the staff and his family.
The nurses wanted Bo to sleep, but he had other ideas. He knew that this was probably going to be his last night in quite a while that he would even be able to converse pleasantly. There was a possibility that it might be the last night he'd ever be able to talk at all. He wasn't about to squander away the time by doing something he might be doing for eternity. He wanted to spend the time with Luke.
Bo wasn't the only one aware of the circumstances. The doctors hadn't sugar coated the details nor tried to buffer them. It wasn't that Daisy or Jesse didn't want the time with Bo, but the staff absolutely refused to allow all of them to stay. It had taken a very long and heated argument to get them to agree to let Luke remain. In fact, they hadn't agreed. Luke informed them that he wasn't going anywhere, and they hadn't called security, yet. He wanted to be there, but he didn't want his presence to adversely affect his cousin, either.
"Bo, go to sleep or they'll probably have security remove me."
"I don't want to sleep, Luke, and if they try, I'll throw em out."
They both laughed at that comment, knowing that Bo couldn't have swatted a fly in the shape he was in. It hadn't been said as a serious threat, and Luke hadn't taken it as one, knowing that the guards wouldn't either, if they were asked to intervene.
"You remember when we was kids, Luke? All the fun we had?"
"I remember, Bo."
As the minutes ticked away, Bo recalled memory after memory. More than once did they have to tone down their chuckles, fearing that Luke would be dragged away at any moment.
Luke knew that Bo was really just trying to reel him in, talking about the past so that he could bring up the future. His little cousin always had been persistent when he wanted something. They still hadn't talked about a life that didn't include both of them, but Luke still refused to even entertain the notion. He wasn't ready, and he finally had to admit, he never would be. Everytime Bo tried, Luke steered him back toward the days of their childhood. His cousin was persistent, but Luke could be even more stubborn when he wanted to be, and this was one subject, he wanted left alone. When Jesse and Daisy arrived at the crack of dawn, the opportunity was lost once again.
The Dukes were told that they needed to be there that early if they wanted to see Bo before things got underway. Thinking they'd alloted extra time, they were surprised when the nurses told them they only had ten minutes left. One by one, they hugged the baby of the family, promising to see him in a little bit, though it would be from a distance.
In order to prepare Bo for the bone marrow that Luke was going to donate to him, they first had to kill his. Since the leukemia was a cancer of the blood, and the marrow was responsible for its production, the belief was that if they killed all of the blood and marrow, it would eradicate the disease itself. Then, they could replace it with Luke's healthy marrow, which would in turn produce healthy blood. It also had to be eliminated so that the two marrows, though compatible, didn't start an internal war. It was a simple enough concept, but it was extremely dangerous. The only way to accomplish it was to administer a dose of chemo therapy like no normal patient would ever experience. Bo had already indicated a severe intolerance to regular chemo, so he was at an even higher risk. They promised him that they would be giving him all the medication that they could to minimize the effects, but they guaranteed that he would still be extremely ill.
If that wasn't bad enough, the toxic drugs were dangerous in other ways. They reduced normal blood clotting even further, leaving the patient at risk for internal hemorraging, and they were dangerous to a patient's organs, mainly the liver and lungs. It seemed that Bo had every strike going against him. He was already susceptible to bleeding, and with his earlier lung problems and injury, he just couldn't get a break. The hematologist, Dr. Frenzi, had been very honest with them about the fact that Bo's chances of dying before he even got the transplant were higher than the average patient's.
As soon as the chemo was administered to Bo, they had to be extremely careful. Besides the immediate concerns, the system they were wreaking havoc with was the one in the body that fought off infections. From the minute they started to several weeks later, Bo would have no defense against simple germs. The common cold could kill him. To reduce the risk of that happening, the room had to be completely sterile and anyone entering Bo's room would have to be outfitted with a gown, mask, and gloves. Except for immediate family, no one was allowed on the sterile ward, and visits would be limited. Bo's room had a window, though, so he'd be able to see them and they could see him, but this wasn't something that they were going to be able to be right at his side for. It really did make it Bo's fight, and in many ways, he was going to have to fight it, alone. It made those final few minutes so very precious.
"I love ya sugar. We'll be right out there, so you just look toward the window if you need us. When you get home, I'm gonna feed ya til you bust," Daisy told him.
Bo laughed. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Daisy."
"I love ya, Bo."
"I love you, too."
"Now listen here," Uncle Jesse said, leaning over his baby, "I'm too old for you to be giving me any scares. This Minnesota is nice, but it ain't Hazzard. You get better so we can go home," he said, as his voice cracked. "I love you, son."
"I love you, too, Uncle Jesse. Thanks for taking such good care of me my whole life. I know I wasn't the easiest to raise."
"You always were a great kid, Bo. You was easy."
Bo chuckled, as did the other Duke cousins, knowing that Jesse hadn't always said that under different circumstances.
Turning to his oldest cousin, Bo reached out his hand. "Luke, if you changed your mind, if you don't want to do this, I will understand."
"Not a chance, kiddo," Luke told him, taking Bo's hand in both of his.
Bo nodded, knowing his cousin was going to say that, but wanting to give him every opportunity to back out. Bo didn't know why he was so fearful of what Luke was doing for him. Dr Cracten, the oncologist, had assured them that it was a safe and relatively pain free procedure for the donor. It was the recipient who got all the fun.
"You fight, you'll win. I love you, little cousin."
"I love you, too, Luke."
"You know something, Bo?
"What?"
"When this is over, we really will be blood brothers," Luke said.
Bo's face lit up like a Christmas tree, never before having thought about that. "Yeah," he replied, obviously pleased by the revelation. "Maybe that was the plan all along. I mean it is a little strange, getting a disease with your name."
"Huh?" Luke asked.
"Luk-e-mia?" Seeing Luke's surprised expression, Bo saw that his cousin had not thought of that on his own. It had occured to Bo some time ago, but he had never been able to find a way to bring it up. Wishing he hadn't then, either, he tried to assure his cousin. "It'll work. How could it not? You've always been there to save me. This is just taking it to new extremes."
Luke couldn't help but grin at his cousin's innocent views of complex material, but he couldn't help but agree that the entire situation was a little eerie. Hugging him again, he told him he was sure that he had figured it all out.
The nurse had been waiting patiently by the door. Their few minutes had expired quite a few minutes ago. She was just about to kick them out when she heard them finishing up.
"Okay, I need to have you leave now. You can observe from the window, though I'd suggest you go get some coffee or breakfast. There's really nothing to see here right now. If any of you went with Bo for his chemo therapy before, that's all that's going to be going on. We're going to get started in a few minutes, and we'll be doing it here in his room. We'll also be starting a continuous transfusion, and both will simply appear like Bo's being given an IV."
Thanking her in advance for taking care of Bo, they each gave him one more hug, then exited his room. They hated not being able to be with their boy in person. Understanding the reason and liking it were two different things. Forming a plan, they decided that from that moment on, at least one Duke would be outside the window at all times. They couldn't know when Bo would look to see them. He hated being in hospitals alone, and it was bad enough that they couldn't be with him, but they wanted him to be able to see the face of one his family members whenever he needed. Jesse announced that he'd take the first shift, sending Luke and Daisy to the cafeteria, then telling Daisy to take Luke to their room. His eldest tried to argue with him, but Jesse stopped him, reminding him that he had just sat up all night with Bo. The upcoming days were going to be long, and Luke was only hours away from donating his own cells. They all needed to stay rested, so that they could concentrate on Bo. Luke tried to open his mouth to argue, but Daisy placed one hand on top of it, tugging him toward the elevators. Giving in, he knew when he'd been beat.
