Hope and Memory
By
Numb3rsfan
Chapter Four: Cards
The operation to put the shunt in to Keith's brain went smooth as silk. During the operation, Doctor Ftesi and the nurses removed 12 ounces of fluid, which was a lot considering the size of the tumor. Over the course of the next few days, Shirley was very vigilant; staying by Keith's side for as long as she could. Laurie would stay at home with the kids; she would cook and clean house while Reuben did the school transportation bit. Shirley really appreciated the both of them because with Laurie basically taking over her role, and Reuben providing transport, it allowed Shirley to spend more time with Keith.
As day turned in to day, Keith showed little sign of improvement. Each day Doctor Ftesi would come and check his pupils, perform some hand/eye coordination tests and strength tests and each and every time Keith seemed as weak as a jaybird. After the 4th day, Doctor Ftesi drew Shirley and Reuben (who had stopped in after dropping Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy off at school) aside and said "We are going to have to postpone the operation, I'm afraid. It is a long operation and with Keith as weak as he is, there is no way he could survive at this point."
"There must be something you can do, some medication you can give him." Shirley said in a desperate manner. She hoped the doctor wasn't just going to give up because if he did then Keith was a goner, and Shirley couldn't even begin to fathom the possibility that she could lose her son to something as small as a brain tumor.
"Mrs. Partridge, we are doing everything we can; everything medically possible. Now, the rest has to come from Keith. Determination…inspiration…whatever you want to call it, that has to come from him." Dr. Ftesi replied.
Shirley nodded in understanding, glancing back at Keith who had rolled over on to his side, facing away from the window that had the sunlight pouring in.
"Thank you, doctor." Shirley replied.
Dr. Ftesi nodded, understanding that it was now time to move on to check on his other patients, so he excused himself and left Shirley and Reuben to think.
Licking her lips, Shirley folded her hands and leaned her backside against the wall. She couldn't just tell her son to buck up and think positive; that would never work with Keith. No, he would need a reason to get better; a reason to want to get better, and telling him about upcoming concerts wasn't going to do it. Concerts were more of a Danny thing than a Keith thing, and dating girls…well…he hardly ever spoke about the girls he was dating, and truth be told, the girls never really panned out anyway.
"Shirley, maybe…maybe this is for the best. Maybe…you know…maybe God is calling Keith home." Reuben said. Reuben wasn't a Christian; wasn't even close but he knew that Shirley was, and so he was just trying to say something that perhaps would comfort her. However Shirley just shook her head, not wanting to accept that. "Don't you say that Reuben, don't you say that. Keith needs to have something to live for…I just have to find out what that something is, but what Keith doesn't need right now is that kind of talk. He's going to survive Reuben…he is!" she shot back angrily.
Reuben held up his hands in surrender. He knew where the anger and hostility was coming from and he supposed, if he were in her shoes, he would be as equally angry right now, but Shirley had to see reason. Opening his mouth, Reuben was about to continue when Shirley just walked past him and returned to Keith's side.
Two days later Laurie came up for a visit, and with her she brought two sacks filled with cards. Danny, Tracy and Chris had each bought a card, and all of the kids from all of Keith's classes and bought get well cards, signed them and had given them to Laurie. After opening them, Keith gave the cards to Laurie and Shirley who had come up with an ingenious way of hanging the cards on the wall. After they were finished, Keith leaned back and watched the cards glisten in the morning sun.
"I have 84 cards…" he mumbled.
Hearing that comment, Shirley said, "And each one is a prayer for you to get well." Seeming to take comfort in that, Keith looked at the cards once more before shutting his eyes and falling asleep.
A few hours later found Laurie and Shirley going down to the cafeteria for dinner. Upon entering, Laurie said "Mom, why don't you come home to eat. Everyone misses you, and you haven't had a decent meal in weeks!"
Shirley smiled, grateful for Laurie's concern, but she replied "I have to get back to Keith."
"Mom, you can't go on like this. I mean…sleeping in chairs? Living off the occasional sandwich and chips? You need a proper meal and a goodnight sleep." Laurie shot back.
She watched her mother grab a tray and place a bottle of fruit punch, a pre made, wrapped turkey sandwich and a plate full of warm, salty fries on the tray.
"I have to stay with Keith." Shirley countered.
"Mom, the doctors can take care of Keith." Laurie said.
"Like they did your father?" Shirley asked.
Hearing that statement, Laurie stopped. This was something new. Her father had died suddenly because of some sort of bleed in his brain, that's what Shirley had told her when it had happened, but now this statement?
"What do you mean, mom?" Laurie asked.
Shirley sighed and put her tray down before turning to face her daughter. "Laurie, your father and I never told you this but…your father had cancer that ran throughout his body. He didn't want to tell you or the others because he didn't want to worry you. I always suspected that the cancer was the cause of his death but the doctors said he died because of a brain embolism."
Laurie didn't know what to say to that. All this time her mother had…what? Lied? Well…it wasn't really lying but it wasn't the whole truth either.
"Why didn't you tell me mom? Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Laurie asked.
"Because…he asked me not to. He didn't want to have you or Keith to have to worry about cancer, because cancer runs deep in your father's family background. His mother and father both died from lung cancer, and he had developed it as well." Shirley replied.
Shaking her head, Laurie said "Well mom…if what you say is true and dad did have cancer, there was nothing that you could have done for him." She was sure her mom did everything she could to comfort him, but in medical terms there was nothing she could have done.
"You don't know that Laurie, and I don't know that." Shirley shot back.
"You yourself told me that dad had cancer all throughout his body." Laurie replied.
Grabbing her tray, Shirley said "There must have been something. Laurie, listen. Doctor Ftesi said that Keith needs inspiration. You saw his face when he looked at those get well cards. What if that's the inspiration he needs? What if it makes a difference?"
Two days later Doctor Ftesi came in to the ICU wing to see something interesting; an entire room basically decked out in get well cards.
"My goodness…look at all this!" He said in amazement, grabbing Keith's chart as he surveyed the cards.
Keith, who had just handed another stack to his mother, glanced at the doctor and replied, "I have 212."
"That's very impressive Keith. You must have a lot of friends." Doctor Ftesi said.
Keith nodded and rattled off the list of friends he had while the doctor studied his chart.
"You should be in the Guinness Book of World Records." Doctor Ftesi said after a moment of studying the chart.
"I doubt that doctor. I bet the Guinness record's a thousand…maybe two thousand!" Keith replied with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh possibly!" Doctor Ftesi said.
He sat down in a chair and withdrew a small, foam ball that was very light. Holding up his left index finger in front of Keith, he waited for Keith to respond. It was a strength test, combined with a hand/eye coordination test; something that the Doctor had been doing since the day of the operation.
After a moment's pause, Keith latched on to the finger and this time he actually grabbed it; the past few days he had missed it and the doctor had literally had to place Keith's hand on the finger. "Okay Keith, squeeze….as hard as you can." Doctor Ftesi said.
Keith obliged and squeezed. A moment later, Doctor Ftesi feigned a breaking sound and made his finger go crooked as if Keith had broken it.
"Very good. Now, catch!" Doctor Ftesi said, gently tossing the foam ball at Keith. Eyes locking on to it, Keith easily caught it and tossed it back.
"Very good." Doctor Ftesi murmured.
Finishing up is exam he left the room, Shirley trailing after.
Turning to face her, Doctor Ftesi said, "Keith is definitely stronger. I wish we had more time but we don't so I will schedule the operation for Wednesday. Now Mrs. Partridge this is important. Anything you can do to get his spirits up, you know…give him the will to live…it could make a difference."
While Doctor Ftesi then turned and walked off, Shirley nodded her head and murmured, "Okay," to his retreating back.