I own none of the characters of October Road of the song "Streets of Heaven" By Sheree Austin – This isn't a well known song but it's one that I think is beautiful.
Hello God, it's me again, two a.m. room 304,
Visiting hours are over, time for our bedside tug 'o' war,
The sleeping child between us, may not make it through the night,
I'm fightin' back the tears, as she fights for her life.
(CHORUS)
And it must be kinda crowded, on the streets of heaven,
So tell me, what do you need her for?
Don't you know one day she'll be your little girl forever,
But right now, I need her so much more,
She's much to young, to be on her own, barely just turned seven,
So who will hold her hand when she crosses the streets of heaven?
Tell me God, do you remember, the wishes that she made,
As she blew out the candles, on her last birthday cake,
She wants to ride a pony, when she's big enough,
She wants to marry her daddy, when she's all grown up.
(CHORUS)
Lord don't you know, she's my angel, you've got plenty of your own,
And I know you hold a place for her, but she's already got a home,
Well I don't know if you're listenin', but prayin's all that's left to do,
So I ask you Lord have mercy, you lost a son once too.
And it must be kinda crowded, on the streets of heaven,
So tell me, what do you need her for?
Don't you know one day she'll be your little girl forever,
But right now, I need her so much more,
Lord I know, once you've made up your mind, there's no use in beggin',
So if you take her with you today, will you make sure she looks both ways?
And will you hold her hand when she crosses the streets of heaven,
The streets of heaven
Eddie and Janet Latekka were sitting on opposite sides of the hospital bed, each of them holding a tiny hand in their own hands and the owner of the tiny hands was their seven year old daughter, Melanie, the precious innocent creature that meant the world to her parents sitting on either side of the bed.
After dating for six months, Eddie and Janet determined that they were hopelessly in love and were married one month later. They were twenty two. One month later, Janet learned that she was pregnant. Rumors flew through Knights Ridge that Janet and Eddie rushed into marriage because she was pregnant and in an attempt to hide that fact but when Eddie and Janet said "I Do", neither of them knew she was pregnant but as it turned out Janet was pregnant when they said their vows.
The couple had talked about having children but not for a few more years so this pregnancy came as an unexpected shock to them but they quickly embraced it and seven months later when Melanie Jane Latekka joined their small family of two their life seemed complete and perfect. Melanie was the perfect baby. She had her father's facial features, her mother's blue eyes and dark curls. She was a happy baby and child. She always was smiling and laughing and she was very affectionate. Melanie was full of hugs and kisses and would give them to anyone without provocation. The only rough patch was when Melanie was two and a half and lasted for about a year. It's referred to as the terrible twos. Melanie would be sweet and loving one minute and throwing a tantrum the next because her mother or father said that she couldn't have a cookie for example. It was a long trying year but like all children, Melanie eventually turned back into the loving child she was before the terrible twos.
Three months after Melanie's fourth birthday her energy level began to falter. She was napping a lot more than she had been in recent past. She was pale and listless and along with that she had been the victim of quite a few infections. Her pediatrician would give her an antibiotic and she would get better but a few weeks later, she would get sick again and in between those infections when Melanie was supposed to be "healthy" she remained tired and pale.
Finally her doctor did some blood tests because he thought she may have mono and the results were devastating. Their baby girl had cancer. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia; ALL for short. Eddie and Janet were terrified but they did the best they could to remain positive and brave around their little girl and it was the hardest thing they ever had to do. They shed their tears behind closed doors and into their pillows so Melanie wouldn't know.
Melanie was immediately started chemotherapy and the next few months were a living hell for both Melanie and her parents. Eddie and Janet were by their baby girl's side as she vomited over and over again; they tirelessly put lotion on her tiny body to cover the numerous rashes that had appeared; they held up the cup and straw to her mouth for her to drink the protein shake that was made for her since she couldn't eat any solid food and both of them cried when Melanie's dark curls fell out in their hands but it was all worth it because once the chemotherapy was complete they received the news that the cancer was gone and Melanie would be fine.
Melanie was almost five when her leukemia went into remission and for the next two years Eddie, Janet and Melanie were happy. Eddie and Janet spoiled their daughter as much and as often as they could because after what she had been through she deserved it. When Melanie was six she learned that she was going to have a baby brother. Janet and Eddie weren't trying to have a baby but they also really weren't taking precautions not to have baby. If a condom was convenient they used it if it wasn't then they made no effort to get one and the end result was a baby.
When Janet was twenty six weeks pregnant the world of the Latekka family crashed down around them again. Melanie's cancer came back.
"Thanks for coming back in." Melanie and Janet were at the doctor's office earlier that day and while they were there she had her blood drawn. An hour ago, Janet had gotten the call to return and she and Eddie were in the doctor's office while Melanie was playing a video game with a nurse.
"It's back isn't it?" Janet asked Deep down, she knew that Melanie was sick again. That's why she moved up her normally scheduled appointment. Melanie was tired and pale again and her motherly instinct told her to get her checked out and unfortunately, Janet's instinct was right on. Eddie reached out and took his wife's hand.
"I'm sorry but yes."
"So what do we do? Does she have to go through chemo again?" Eddie asked with a shaking voice. Neither of them wanted to watch Melanie go through that again but if it helped then it would be done.
"At this point, since it is a relapse chemo isn't the best option for her."
"What is?"
"A transplant."
"What kind of transplant? I don't understand." Eddie was so confused and by asking questions he was trying to understand. Subconsciously, Janet rubbed her growing belly.
"Your daughter's best chance of survival is a stem cell transplant."
"Where do we get those? Is there a list that she will be put on?"
"There is a list but the likely hood of finding a match is rare."
"Please level with me Doc. I don't understand."
"The stem cells that work best in cases like Melanie's are embryonic stem cells. Did you save and have Melanie's umbilical cord stored when she was born?"
"No we didn't." Janet answered.
"What do we do? We don't have Mel's cord?" Eddie was beginning to panic.
"The next best option would be a full blood sibling."
"This baby's cord."
"Huh?"
"The cells from your unborn child's umbilical cord have the stem cells that we need to save Melanie's life."
"How do we get them? Is there a surgery before he is born?" Eddie didn't understand.
"There is no surgery Mr. Latekka. We can't get the cells until the baby is born." Eddie went pale because their son wasn't ready to be born yet. "How far along are you Mrs. Latekka?"
"Twenty six weeks." The doctor nodded.
"So what you are saying is once the baby is born we can use his umbilical to save Melanie?" Eddie was trying to make sense of the situation.
"That is correct."
"Will she be okay until the baby is born?"
"I can't answer that. Right now, she is stable."
"So what do we do?"
"Since you are only in your second trimester Melanie will go on a national donor list and maybe we will find a match. In cases that a match is readily available the patient goes on a high dose of chemo and radiation to kill the blood cells but since we are waiting for a match we will give her a low dose of chemo and radiation and by the time your baby is born that should be sufficient."
"Should be?" Eddie would not accept should be.
"The closer we get to your child being born we will check her blood results to make sure her cells have been destroyed and if not, then we will give higher doses."
"I still have three and a half months until I deliver. Will she…" Tears were rolling down her face and Janet couldn't finish her question.
"I can't answer that Mrs. Latekka. Every patient is different. I have seen patients go six to nine months being stable and I have seen patients go downhill within weeks." As that information settled into Eddie and Janet's brain, they were overcome with fear and dread.
When movement and a sigh came from the bed Eddie and Janet turned their eyes to their daughter. A minute later her eyes fluttered opened and focused on her parents.
"Heya Belly." When Melanie was born Eddie began calling her Melly-Belly. As she got older the nickname stuck but the Melly was eventually dropped and now he lovingly refers to her as Belly. Usually, she giggles when she hears her nickname but today she didn't giggle. She just smiled weakly.
"How are you feeling?" As soon as the words were out of Janet's mouth Melanie began to gag. Janet grabbed the emesis basin beside her bed, Eddie helped her sit up and he held her as she threw up.
It had been six weeks since they found out that Melanie's cancer returned. Because all of her cells were being destroyed she had to remain in the hospital in a private sterile room which meant that any visitors had to put on a gown, gloves and mask. Since she was getting the low dose treatments, the side effects weren't as severe as the last time but to a seven year old the effects were miserable and her parents' heart was breaking.
"Why am I sick again?" Melanie asked when she finished vomiting. Janet climbed up on her daughter's bed and pulled her onto her lap. Melanie snuggled against her mother while Eddie had to turn away for a minute so Melanie wouldn't see his tears that were threatening to fall.
"I don't know baby but you will get better soon."
"My baby brother is going to make me better."
"Yes he is Belly."
"When?"
"Soon honey."
"Hey gorgeous." Three heads turned to the door.
"Nana. Grandpa." Janet's parents walked in the room and straight over to the bed to kiss their granddaughter and then their daughter and finally their son in law. They came in every other night to relieve them for an hour for dinner. On the nights that they didn't come Eddie's parents came.
"How are you feeling sweetie pie?" Tears began to fall from Melanie's eyes.
"Bad Nana. I keep throwing up and everything hurts." That was Eddie's cue. He hit the call button for the nurse. "I hurt." She cried.
"This is Jamie. Can I help you?" Eddie hit the intercom response button.
"Melanie needs some pain medication." He answered.
"I'll be right in." Eddie went and sat on the edge of her bed.
"Did you hear that Belly? The nurse is going to bring you some medicine." Melanie nodded. A minute later Jamie came in and injected Melanie's IV with some pain medication. Janet held Melanie, singing softly to her as the medication took effect and she drifted off to sleep.
"How is she?" Janet's dad asked Eddie softly. Over the past two weeks, Melanie's condition has deteriorated.
"Not good but she is holding her own." Eddie's voice cracked with emotion. Janet walked over to them and Eddie put and arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
"She's sleeping." Janet told them.
"Why don't you two go and get something to eat." Sarah suggested.
"We'll have our phones on. Call if…" Eddie began and Michael placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll call." Janet's father assured him.
"We'll only be gone an hour max." Janet told them.
"Take your time sweetheart."
Eddie and Janet stepped out into the spring night from Boston Children's Hospital. Since it was such a beautiful night they decided to enjoy the fresh air and walk the few blocks to a sub shop that they often ate at.
They ordered a couple of sandwiches and as usual they hardly ate anything. Food was the last thing on their mind. If it wasn't for the baby, Janet probably wouldn't be eating at all but she forced food down her throat for the sake of her baby. They ate in silence since their thoughts were on their daughter.
"I'm scared Janet." Eddie admitted softly. They were seated in the back of nearly empty dining area.
"So am I."
"She's dying Janet."
"I know that Eddie."
"She's in so much pain."
"I know." Janet repeated. "I see exactly what you see."
"We can make her better."
"I am thirty two weeks."
"I am aware of that."
"It's too soon."
"Our daughter is dying." Eddie hissed through clenched teeth.
"And our son is still growing." Janet threw her napkin down, grabbed her purse and stormed out of the sub shop with Eddie trailing behind her. They walked in silence, Eddie a few feet behind Janet all the way back to the hospital. They rode the elevator in silence up to the third floor and when the doors opened Janet turned right out of the elevator instead of left and walked into a small family room that was empty. Eddie followed and Janet locked the door behind him.
"How dare you Eddie."
"She's dying Janet. Our baby girl is dying."
"I still have two more months. Our son is not ready to be born."
"Melanie doesn't have two more months." Their voices were loud and tears were falling.
"I know. I think of that every time he kicks me. I think of that every day."
"Then ask the doctor to induce your labor."
"I can't."
"If you don't Melanie will die."
"You can't put this on me." Janet shouted.
"Yes I can." Eddie shouted back. "It's your decision." Janet took a minute to compose herself and calm down before she spoke again.
"Dr. Echoles said it's not safe for the baby to be born yet."
"But he also said that it's your decision so make it."
"You are asking me to choose one child over another. I can't do that."
"No I'm not. I would never ask you to do that."
"You are Eddie. If he is born now, he could have serious medical problems and die. If I induce labor I will be killing one child to save another. I can't do that Eddie." She began to sob. "This baby has been inside of me. I have felt his movements and kicks and because of that you may not understand but I love this baby as much as I love Melanie."
"I love that baby too Janet. Don't think that I don't."
"Then how can you ask me to choose? I can't Eddie. I can't." Janet collapsed on a couch, head in her hands sobbing softly while Eddie went and stared out the window at the dull hospital. As he listened to Janet's quiet sobs the gravity of what he was asking her to do hit him. Turning, he went and sat on the couch next to Janet and took her in his arms.
"I'm sorry baby. I am so sorry." He cried into her hair.
"I can't choose Eddie. I can't. Please don't make me." She begged.
"No you can't. I'm just out of my mind with fear. She's dying and we have her cure but it's out of our reach."
"I don't want her to die Eddie and I don't wait this baby to die either. I don't know what to do."
"We wait honey. We wait and pray." The two of them held each other and sobbed for their daughter.
"Daddy it hurts so bad." Melanie cried a week later. She was miserable and constantly in pain. "Please daddy make it stop." Eddie didn't bother to hide his tears. Hearing his daughter begging him to stop her pain was too much for him.
"Can you give her more pain medication?" Janet asked the nurse.
"I'm sorry but not for another hour and a half Mrs. Latekka."
"But she's in so much pain."
"If I give her more, it could depress her system so much that she could go into respiratory distress and cardiac failure."
"I understand." Defeated Janet returned to her daughter's beside in an attempt to comfort her.
The next hour and a half was a nightmare for all three members of the small family. Melanie was crying and inconsolable because of the pain and Eddie and Janet were helpless and they cried right along with her. Once the nurse was able to give Melanie another dose of pain medication, a higher dose than before thankfully Melanie drifted off into a listless sleep around two in the morning.
"I need to take a walk." Eddie told Janet and she nodded. "Do you need anything?" She would kill for a cup of coffee but that was a no-no because of the baby.
"No thanks." Eddie kissed her softly.
"I'll be back soon. Call if you need anything."
'I will." Janet watched her husband leave the room and then she turned back to her daughter and took her hand.
"Dear Lord." Janet began to pray. "Here I am again in the middle of the night begging you not to take my little girl. It's close. I can feel it. She is so weak, tired and in such pain and it's so hard to watch. Please, we just need a few more weeks and then our son can be born safely and he can save his sister." Janet wiped her tears.
"Melanie means the world to me and her father. She has barely just turned seven. She is still a little girl and has so much life left to live. She wants to ride a pony when she is bigger. Did you know she wants to marry her daddy when she grows up? The day she told me that I asked her why her daddy and she told me she wants to marry him because he is the best man in the world. I want my baby girl to get married to a man as wonderful as her father. Please, please, let her grow up." Janet was sobbing softly. "She is only a little girl. She has to hold my hand when she crosses the street. If she goes to Heaven now, who will hold her hand when she crosses the streets of Heaven? Please, let me continue to hold her hand. Please, don't take her from me."
Meanwhile, when Eddie left his daughter's room he took the stairs down to the first floor and followed the signs to the Chapel. His daughter was dying and he was desperate. Since it was after two in the morning he was alone. He slid into a pew in the back. He placed his arms on the pew in front of him.
"God, it's me. Eddie Latekka. My daughter, my Belly, errr… Melanie is upstairs in room 304 fighting for her life and I am helpless. I'm sitting in her room everyday watching her die and there is nothing I can do and I hate it. She is begging me to stop her pain and I can't." Eddie's body began to shake with sobs. "I'm her daddy. I am supposed to protect her and I can't. I am letting my baby girl down and if she dies that will be the last thing she remembers. She will die knowing that I failed her. Please, please don't let that happen. Don't let me fail my baby girl." Eddie took a few minutes to compose himself.
"She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. If she has the chance to follow through with that dream, think of all the lives that she will save. The Chaplain has been in talking to me and Janet, telling us about your will and you have a place for Melanie. I appreciate that but Melanie already has a home here with us. She has a room, toys and dolls. Let her stay. She is my angel. You have plenty of angels of your own so please, we only need a few more weeks so please, don't take her yet. Don't take my baby, my angel from us."
Twenty two hours later Eddie and Janet were sleeping in chairs next to Melanie when Janet was awakened suddenly by a severe pain in her abdomen. Before she could process what was happening the baby's amniotic fluid was rushing between her legs along with more pain.
"Eddie." She whispered loudly but he didn't move and she couldn't risk being any louder because she didn't want to wake Melanie. She just fell asleep. Another pain ripped through her and it took everything she had not to cry out. When the pain subsided enough for her to focus she grabbed an empty, clean emesis basin and tossed it at Eddie's head.
"Whaa…?" Eddie immediately looked at Melanie. "What's wrong? Is she okay?"
"She is fine." Janet managed to get out. Finally, Eddie looked at his wife after seeing for himself that Melanie was okay and that's when he saw her face contorted in pain.
"What's wrong?" Eddie went to Janet's side.
"I…I'm in labor."
"Are you sure?" Janet grimaced in pain.
"The puddle of water on the floor makes me pretty sure." Eddie glanced at the floor.
"Oh my God." Panic filled Eddie's face.
"He's early." Fear was evident in Janet's voice.
"I know." Both were thinking that God answered their individual prayers. The decision on how early to induce labor has been made and neither of them were the ones who made it. Suddenly, Janet reached out, grabbed and squeezed his hand while groaning in pain."Okay. We've got to get you to the hospital."
"No."
"Janet we have to go to the hospital."
"I'll go. You stay."
"But…"
"Melanie needs you more than I do." Eddie looked miserable but he nodded. The thought of Janet giving birth alone, without him did not sit well with him at all but he knew she was right. He couldn't leave Melanie.
"How is our patient?" Sandy, Melanie's nurse asked, walking in to check on Melanie. "Mrs. Latekka, are you okay?"
"She's in labor." Sandy, as were all the nurses were keeping track of Janet's pregnancy and she knew that this labor was early. "She needs to get to the hospital."
"Just call me a cab." Janet grunted.
"You're in labor babe. You can't take a cab to the hospital."
"My boyfriend is a paramedic and he stopped in to have lunch with me. He and his rig are still downstairs. He can run you over to Boston Memorial." Janet was in too much pain to respond.
"Does she really need an ambulance?"
"Don't think of it as an ambulance. Think of it as a ride. I'll be right back."
"Call…Dr. McDowell…tell him…ohhh…"
"I'll have him paged. You need to breathe babe." Janet's face was bright red so she took a deep breath.
"It hurts. I don't remember it being this bad with Mel."
"You had an epidural when Melanie was born."
"I would kill for an epidural right now." She cried out as another contraction hit her. A minute and another contraction later Sandy returned with a wheelchair.
"You're chariot Mrs. Latekka." Janet didn't even argue as Eddie helped her from the chair to the wheelchair. "Todd is pulling his rig around as we speak."
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate this."
"It's not a problem at all." Sandy looked at Janet. "He'll have you at the hospital in just a few minutes because I talked him into using the sirens.
"Sirens sound good." Janet said between gritted teeth. "I want…drugs." Eddie smiled. "Tell Melanie…tell her…she's going to be fine…"
"I will. I wish I was going with you."
"Me…too…" Another contraction overtook Janet.
"We should probably go Mrs. Latekka." Janet nodded.
"Take care of her…"
"I will. You take care of him and call me the second you can."
"You know I will. I love you." Eddie kissed Janet softly.
"I love you too." Eddie watched as Janet was wheeled out of the room and when he could no longer see he returned to Melanie's bedside and kissed her softly. Melanie's eyes fluttered opened.
"Hi daddy." She said through the oxygen mask she was wearing. Eddie had to fight to keep his tears from falling. Melanie looked so fragile lying on the bed. She was having trouble breathing hence the oxygen mask. She was so thin that her bones were sticking out. Her skin was pale with dark circles under her eyes.
"Hiya Belly."
"Mommy?" Melanie's sunken in eyes darted around the room.
"She went to the hospital to have your baby brother. Do you know what that means?" Melanie nodded weakly. "You're going to get your medicine." Another nod.
"I'm tired daddy."
"Sleep honey. I love you."
When Janet arrived at the hospital she taken straight back to labor and delivery and learned that she was eight centimeters dilated. After talking with the doctor she figured out the back that she had been experiencing over the last few days was in fact labor. If her mind hadn't been on Melanie's deteriorating condition she probably would have realized it.
An hour later the room was full of doctors and nurses and she was pushing her son out into the world without the benefit of an epidural.
"Push Janet." The on call obstetrician instructed.
"His umbilical cord…"
"We know Janet. Dr. McDowell is in the hallway waiting for it. We are doing our job now you need to do yours and push."
Four agonizing pushes later Riley Edward Latekka entered the world with a loud scream. Janet fell against the bed, exhausted, shedding tears of her own. "Is he…"
"The doctors are examining him now."
"He sounds good. He sounds healthy."
"We'll know in a few minutes." The nurse assured her.
During the next thirty minutes Janet watched everyone in the room with a critical eye as the doctors and nurses properly harvested the umbilical cord for Dr. McDowell to take back for Melanie and as well as the doctors and nurses that were working on Riley.
"Mrs. Latekka, I am Dr. Shaw, the neonatologist on-call. I have examined your son and I happy to tell you that your son is fine."
"Really?" Fresh tears began to fall.
"Yes really. At first glance your son is fine. He weighs four pounds exactly and for his gestational age that is normal. The biggest concern with premature infants is underdeveloped heart and lungs but his heart sounds great and he is breathing without any problems."
"Because my daughter needs his umbilical cord for transplant we knew we would be delivering him early I have been getting steroid injections to develop his lungs."
"Apparently they worked. Now I've drawn some blood to check for anything that isn't apparent right now and in the morning, I am going to transfer him over to the children's hospital for an ultrasound of his heart."
"You said that his heart sounds fine."
"It does. The ultrasound will let me see if there is something that I didn't hear but I expect everything to be normal." A nurse brought over a tiny bundle.
"Mrs. Latekka would you like to meet your son?" Janet nodded and the baby was placed in her arms. Janet looked at her baby boy and began to cry.
"I'll be back first thing in the morning to check in." Dr. Shaw told her. "Congratulations."
"Hello there Riley. I am your mom and I am so glad that you are here and healthy. I love you so much Riley. I want you to know that your daddy would be here if he could but your sister is very sick and he is with her but because of you she is going to get better. Riley, I don't ever want you think that the only reason you are here was to save your sister. I was pregnant with you before Melanie got sick again. It just happened to be perfect timing. You should know that you are so loved by me, your daddy and your sister and you are already the best brother in the world because you are saving your sister's life and regardless if you would have gotten here too late it would not have changed the love that we have for you." Janet lifted the tiny baby boy to her face and she kissed him softly. "I love you my precious baby boy, more than you will ever know."
"I need a phone please." Janet asked the nurse.
"You'll be moved to a room in a few minutes."
"It can't wait. Please. I have to check on my daughter." The nurse sighed and handed Janet a phone.
"Thank you." Janet dialed her daughter's hospital room.
"Janet?" Eddie answered.
"He's fine Eddie. He is perfectly fine." She could hear Eddie crying with relief.
"He's really okay?"
"He's really okay. He's tiny. He weighs only four pounds but he is fine."
"Thank God."
"How is Melanie?"
"The same. Sleeping."
"Did they get the umbilical cord?"
"Yeah. Dr. McDowell got it and in the morning, when the lab opens they will run tests and hopefully, tomorrow they will begin the transplant. When will you and Riley be released?"
"I don't know. I'll ask the doctor in the morning." Janet gazed lovingly at her newborn son in her arms. "I wish you could see him Eddie. He is perfect. He looks just like Melanie did when she was born."
"Mrs. Latekka we need to move you to your room now."
"I have to go now Eddie. They are moving me to a room. I'll call as soon as I am settled. Please, kiss Melanie for me."
"You know I will as long as you kiss Riley for me and tell him I love him."
"I will. I love you too Eddie."
"I love you."
It had been two weeks since Riley had been born and twelve days since Melanie received her brother's umbilical stem cells and she had shown remarkable improvement. The doctors agreed that as long as Riley was gaining weight he could go home so since Janet was nursing she and Riley went home at night and returned every day to the hospital with Riley while Eddie stayed with Melanie.
"There is my little man." Eddie was waiting outside of Melanie's room when Janet and Riley came up.
"What about me?" Janet joked as Eddie reached for the carrier.
"There's my beautiful wife." Eddie kissed her and then he pulled his son out of his carrier. "How is my bruiser?" Riley didn't even bother to wake up. "What was his weight today?"
"He's up an ounce."
"That's my guy."
"How is Melanie?"
"Amazing Janet. She is so much better than she was yesterday. Her color is coming back. She's got more energy. She actually ate breakfast today, not a lot but it's something. She's getting better Janet. She really is."
"I'm going in. You got this?" Janet said motioning to Riley.
"I got this. We're going to have some daddy and son time while you have some mommy and daughter time with Mel." Janet grinned and went to put on the sterile items needed to enter her daughter's room.
"Hi mommy."
"Hi sweetheart." Janet kissed her daughter through her mask.
"Is Riley here?"
"He is with daddy in the hall."
"Dr. McDowell said that Riley can visit me today."
"Yep. As soon as Dr. McDowell get here daddy will bring Riley in." Melanie grinned excitedly. "How are you feeling? Daddy told me that you ate some breakfast today."
"I'm feeling better mommy. Everything doesn't hurt anymore."
"I am so glad baby."
"Riley's medicine worked."
"It sure did."
"I need to tell him thank you."
"You can as soon as daddy brings him in."
Melanie got her wish twenty minutes later when Dr. McDowell and Eddie who was carrying Riley in his arms. Melanie squealed as soon as she saw the bundle in her father's arms.
"Is that my brother?"
"It sure is."
"Can I hold him?"
"As soon as the doctor checks you out." Melanie stuck out her lower lip in a pout and Eddie laughed because it was a look that he had seen her mother make, many times. Reluctantly, Melanie sat back and let her doctor examine her.
"Well everything is looking good." Dr. McDowell looked through Melanie's chart. "Her blood counts are rising and are exactly where they should be. I'd say if her blood counts continue to rise, if she starts eating…"
"I ate some breakfast today."
"You did but it wasn't enough sweetheart. You need to start eating more and gaining weight and if you do that then you can probably go home in a couple more weeks."
"Finally." Everyone in the room laughed.
"I'll be back later to check on you kiddo. Stay out of trouble."
"Yes sir."
"Thank you so much Dr. McDowell." Janet said as she hugged the doctor.
"This is why I do my job." The doctor said, returning her hug. Janet wiped her tears as he left the family alone.
"All right Belly. It's time to meet your brother." Eddie walked the baby over to the bed and sat on the edge with Janet on the other side. Eddie placed the baby in his daughter's arms. "Melanie, this is your brother Riley. Riley this is your big sister Melanie."
"Hi Riley. I am Melanie, your big sister. I have heard that most big sisters are mean to their little brothers but not me. I am going to be the nicest, bestest big sister ever because you gave me my medicine to make me feel better. I love you Riley and thank you for loving me and giving me medicine." Melanie looked at her parents who were crying silently. "Can I kiss him?" Eddie and Janet could only nod and watch as Melanie kissed the child that saved her life. "I love you Riley. Thank you for saving me." Janet and Eddie embraced their daughter and son and cried tears of happiness as they sent up a silent thanks for their answered prayers.