Chapter 42
A Day of Celebration
Dr. Ryan reread the lab report from this morning. It wasn't the good news she was hoping for, but it was promising. This was the third test in a row that the red blood cell count didn't fall. What Dr. Ryan was hoping to see was the count going up. Some marrow must be working to keep the count at a basically level reading, but not enough of it is working yet. Dr. Ryan decided she could cross her fingers and hold her breath. But she would wait for the next test before she said anything to Sara and Jim.
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…beep…beep…beep…
Miley turned her alarm off and jumped out of bed. She wanted to make breakfast for Jackson. She had never been prouder of her brother. As she went down the stairs after getting dressed, Miley noticed that her dad had beat her to the punch.
"Awww….I wanted to do that." Miley complained to Robbie.
"Sorry bud. If you would have said something then I would have gotten you up."
"That's okay daddy. I'll go up and check on Jackson."
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Miley turned around and headed back up the stairs. She wondered if Jackson was awake or not. That was soon answered by Jackson swearing as he let out a yelp of pain. Miley knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Are you okay?" Miley asked as she came into the room. She then looked at the ankle. Her mouth fall open. The ankle had swollen overnight. The skin that could be seen above and below the elastic warp where VERY black and blue.
"What happen?"
"I sat up."
"Can I get anything?"
"Shorts and a shirt would be nice." Jackson said as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and let out another grunt.
"That hurts!" Jackson said as he brought his right ankle back up and onto the bed.
"Do you need me to get dad to help you get dress?"
"No. I think I can handle it."
"Here are you clothes. I'll be back in ten minutes to help you down stairs."
"Okay. Thanks."
Miley went downstairs to let her dad know what was going on.
"Miles, the medic said to ice the joint to reduce the swelling. Why don't you get a big bag of ice ready."
"Okay daddy."
Miley went to the pantry and got a large Ziploc bag and went to the freezer. She opened it and looked in to the ice. As she reached her hand in, she remember something the medic had said.
"Daddy, didn't the medic suggest using frozen peas?"
"Now that you mention it, he did. Guess we'll need to get more peas then."
Miley took a few small bags of peas and put them into the plastic bag and close it.
"I'm going to get Jackson." Miley told her dad and then headed upstairs.
"Are you ready Jackson?" Miley asked when she was back at the door.
Jackson opened the door. He was on his crutches. They headed to the stairs together and Miley went in front of Jackson as he worked his way down the stairs.
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Miley spent the morning helping Jackson. Meanwhile, Robbie was in the office. He was 'working' as he put it. What he was really doing was setting up a small celebration for Jackson and Cooper. It was a simple list really. Robbie had called Cooper's parents and they quickly decided that small was good. Especial with Jackson's injury. The final list was made up of Helen and her parents, Cooper and his parents, Carey and the twins, Maddie, Oliver, Lilly, Jake and Miley and his self. Since everyone like singing, Robbie was going to break out his karaoke machine. The kid's would probably go for video games. Plus some board games. That should handle the entertainment part of the party. Now just the food. Party platters would be the easiest way to go. Plus, must remember a cake. If there was cake, then there had to be ice cream too. What about an ice cream cake?? Bad idea Robbie thought as he remember Oliver knocking Miley into a pool one time as he made his way to the ice cream cake. Okay, now for the phone calls.
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"Lilly landing in ten." Lilly announced over the cell and hung up. Miley quickly run to the front doors and threw them open as Lilly came flying in and leaning back, she dropped to her hands and brought the skateboard around to a dead stop. Then she kicked off the board and did a walkover to a standing position. Lilly took two steps forward and step on the back of the board and caught it as it flipped up.
"And she sticks the landing!"
"Where's Oliver?"
"He's coming Miley."
"Do you know there's a bag of peas on Jackson's ankle." Lilly asked as she looked at the ankle.
"No. But if you hum a few bars, I'm sure I can fake it."
"Oh that was so funny Miles I forget to laugh."
"Don't make me bump into your ankle."
"That's what the crutches are for." Jackson waved one in the air towards Miley.
"Well someone please answer my question!"
"The peas are small so they make more contact with the ankle and provide better cooling surface." Robbie answered
"Huh?"
"The medics told us to use them." Jackson interjected.
"Why did you say so in the first place."
"Right. Who wants to go see Maggie?"
"We do! We do!" Miley and Lilly jumped up and down.
"Jackson?"
"Sure. Why not. Beats sitting around here doing nothing." Jackson moved to get up and Miley went to help him.
"What about Oliver?" Lilly asked.
"What about me?" Oliver asked from the door.
"I already called Oliver." Robbie told Lilly.
"Then lets get going." Miley decided for all of them.
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For a change, they took Jackson's car to the hospital. However, Robbie drove. Jackson sat in the front seat with his foot up. Our trio seat in the back. Oliver got stuck in the middle. Being stuck in the middle meant getting smashed on all the turns. It wasn't to bad for Oliver. Miley and Lilly didn't have that much weight to throw around. By the time they reached the hospital, the back seat had lost control.
"We're here. Let's get it under control back there." Robbie cautioned.
The way to Maggie's room was slow until a staff member offered a wheelchair to Jackson. After that, they made better time. Jim and Sara were surprised when they came into Maggie's room.
"Wow Jackson. The papers made it sound like it was same thing minor." Jim said looking at Jackson's foot.
"Well, it's not as bad as it looks."
"I don't know. It looks pretty bad to me." Dr. Ryan said as she came into the room. "And congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you Dr. Ryan. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow."
"Well I have some news to tell everyone."
"What is it?" Sara asked.
"Maggie's red blood cell count dropped as you know when we started the second transplant. Later, the count stabilized. It was like that for eighteen hours without dropping."
"That's a good sign?" Maggie asked hopefully.
"It not a good or bad sign with in itself. But it gave us some hope. Now the good news. The last two test that we ran showed her red blood cell count starting to come up slowly." Dr. Ryan stopped and wait for everyone to calm down as they got excited by the news.
"When can she come out of the other room?" Miley asked.
"We won't start looking at that for another twenty-four hours dear. What we want to do know is to watch as the white blood cells come back."
"Why?" Jim asked.
"Well the leukemia was in her white blood cells. So if they come back as normal, then the transplant worked."
"Thank you for curing me Dr. Ryan." Maggie had a smile that wrapped around her face.
"We're not out of the woods yet Maggie. I just gave everyone permission to hold your breath and cross your fingers. Okay?"
Maggie nodded her head.
"Try to get some more rest sweetie." Then Dr. Ryan turned to Jackson.
"I just happen to know Dr. Franklin and I'm sure he wouldn't mind checking out an Olympic hopeful."
"Who's Dr. Franklin?"
"He's the sports medicine doctor for the Rams. He's doing his rounds right know. Would you like me call and see if he'll see you?"
"What do you think dad?" Jackson asked.
"It's up to you son."
"Thanks Dr. Ryan. Would you call him?"
"Sure. Be right back." Dr. Ryan left the room.
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Dr. Franklin came into his office where Jackson and Robbie were waiting.
"Well Jackson, I have good news and bad news."
"What's the bad news?"
"The bad news is the MRI shows that you tore forty-five percent of you outside tendon. The some what good new is that it's a fifty-fifty option."
"Fifty-fifty option?"
"Well, it's like this. Your tendon will need to be sewn back together. But it's not an emergency. You can play on it the way it is. You'll just have to have it wrapped the whole time. Or we could do the surgery and repair the tendon. That would take a month to recover from. But it would also take another month for you to work your way to the point you are at now in terms of strength. The problem there is you will lose two months of prep work going into the trails. But then again, you could finish the tear at any time if you're not careful. Fifty-fifty option."
"How long before I can start working out on it now?"
"Without help, three weeks. If you come in every day to see me, seven to ten days."
"Dad?"
"Okay Jackson."
Dr. Franklin handed a card with a number on it to Jackson.
"Call first thing in the morning."
"Thanks Dr. Franklin."
"You're welcome."
Everyone shook hands and they headed back to Maggie's room.
Everyone spent another thirty minutes with Sara, Jim and Maggie before having to leave so Robbie could get his party set-up. Before leaving he invited Jim and Sara to come too. He knew that only one of them would come if they came at all. He just went to be sure they felt welcome to come.
Once in the car again, Robbie had Jackson call the limo to pick up Carey and the others. Then Jackson called Carey and the others to let them know the limo was coming. After that, Jackson talked to Maddie all the way home.
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When Carey and the others got there, Robbie sent the kids to the mall to buy party decorations. Maddie stayed by Jackson. Carey and Robbie went out to the store to get the food for the party. The kids got back first and started to decorate the place. When Carey and Robbie got back, the decorating was almost done. Robbie directed Miley and Lilly to get the karaoke machine and games out. Miley moaned about the karaoke machine but did as she was told. Cooper, his parents, Helen and her parents showed arrived about four o'clock. Jake got there a little later.
Jackson filled everyone in on what Dr. Franklin had told him. Cooper was just as happy about that news as Jackson was. Their dream was still on track. It just hit a small speed bump was all. Miley told everyone about Maggie and how things were finally starting to come together. Robbie had to remind her that it was not one hundred percent yet. After everyone was feed and happy, Robbie suggested doing some karaoke.
"I know." Helen spoke up at Robbie's idea. "Let's have a contest. Adults against kids!"
"That's a great idea." Carey agreed.
"Yeah. You guys seem to forget that you have two professional singers on you team."
"Who are they?" Helen asked.
"My dad was 'The Honkey Talk Heart Throb' Robbie Ray and Carey's the featured singer at the Boston's Tipton Hotel."
"Your Robbie Ray?" Helen's mom asked.
"Yes I was."
"I loved your music."
"Thank you."
"Come on Miley, it'll be fun. Besides, I can sing pretty good." Helen told her.
"And I sing pretty good too." Maddie added.
"Besides Miley, you're not to bad of a singer too. But if you're afraid of the old man, I understand."
"Oh no you didn't." Miley waved a finger at her dad.
"Oh yes I did." Robbie waved a finger back at her.
"Oh it's on. Just me and you."
"Prepare to go down bud."
"I'll be going down to pick you up after I whoop your but."
"Bring it on."
"Okay. Enough of the trash talk. What are the rules here?" Jake asked.
"The older people", Jackson started, "can pick out a song for Robbie to sing. We kids will pick one for Miley to sing. Then we kids will pick on for the old timer to sing. And you older folk can pick one for Miley."
"Agreed." Miley said.
"Okay. And watch who you call old son."
The adults and kids huddled together.
The kids got together around Jackson.
"What should we have you sing Miley?" Lilly asked.
"What about something from Hannah Montana?" Jake asked.
"That's a great idea Jake." Helen was getting excited.
"this is getting better by the minute." Miley whispered to Lilly.
"What song should we pick then?" Zack asked.
"Are we really going to pick something Hannah?" Miley asked.
"Why not?" Jackson asked looking right at Miley.
"This is for bragging rights Miles." Jackson smiled at her.
"Okay, what about 'If We Were A Movie' or 'Just Like You'?" Miley asked.
"I really like 'I Miss You'." Helen told everyone.
"Yeah that would be a good one. Hannah doesn't sing it all. The only time you hear it is on the radio." Jake commented.
"Isn't it her biggest selling song?" Cody asked.
"Yeah. Its sold more records than another song she's done." Helen answered.
"Hannah did say it was about her mom. So maybe that's why she doesn't sing it at concerts. It's to SAD for her." Jackson looked right at Cooper.
"J-man's right guys lets pick another song." Cooper got the hint from Jackson. Miley smiled at Cooper and Jackson.
"I like 'If We Were A Movie'." Jake said looking at Miley and smiling.
"Well?" She asked everyone.
Everyone nodded and it was decided.
"We're ready daddy." Miley said.
"We're ready too bud."
They decide to flip a coin to see who went first. Robbie won and went first.
(A/N: I'm making an exception to my no songs in a story rule.)
Could've Been MeRobbie Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus)
I hear you just got married
Had a month long honeymoon
And you were all smiles at the wedding
And you cried when you kissed the groom
I got no invitation
I guess the mailman didn't bring it to me
But I see the whole thing in slow motion
Every night as I try to sleep
My buddy John said you looked real pretty
And you acted like you were in love
He said the preacher asked for objections
And he tought about standing up
I told John he must've been crazy
'Cause you were just about to say I do
He just gave me a wink and said all he could think
Is it could've been me with you
It could have been me standing there with you
It could have been me and my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me till now to see it could have been me
I don't guess I ever told you
That I went out and bought you a ring
I even carried it around in my pocket
Waiting to say the right thing
I pulled it out the other day
But the diamond had lost it's shine
Well I know how it feels 'cause my eyes grow dim
When I think you could've been mine
It could have been me standing there with you
It could have been me and my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me till now to see it could have been me
Oh I called her just in time to be too late
You know those dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me till now to see (it could've been me)
It could have been me standing there with you
It could have been me and my dreams coming true
But those dreams move on if you wait too long
It took me till now to see it could have been me
It could have been me...
When Robbie was done, everyone clapped. Then Robbie bow to Miley and handed the karaoke machine over to her.
Uh oh, there you go again talkin' cinematic
Yeah you, you're charming, got everybody star struck
Miley wasn't to worried about being pegged for being Hannah. Only Jake and Helen didn't know. She wasn't worried about Helen's or Cooper's parents figuring anything out at all. Plus she wanted to bet her dad. So Miley concentrated on the song as if she was in a recording studio.
Fade to blackShow the names
Play the happy song……
Everyone clapped for Miley when she was done singing. She looked at her dad and smiled in return to the special smile he saved for her.
"WOW Miley!! You sound just like Hannah!" Helen exclaimed.
"Yeah, I hear that a lot." Miley smiled at her.
After that, the contest was never decided. Everyone else got into the singing act.