Hey guys, new chapter here. Judging by the comments, you are really liking this story. I hope I can maintain you guys entertained.
LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET's GO
When Lincoln opened his eyes, the television was off, and the sun was invading the room through the window. He noticed his sister right by his side, however, she was still sleeping. Checking the clock by the side of his bed, he found it it was almost eight in the morning. He took a glance to his side, and saw his sister breathing softly, with a smile on her face
He struggled to get out of the bed without waking her up, plus the needle didn't help. Taking a closer look, he noticed his father was sleeping in one of the chairs, and he didn't even had his sleeping clothes. Probably the day before was too much for him to bother with what he was wearing to sleep. Lincoln didn't planned to have them awake, he deserved some rest.
He went to use the bathroom, and closed the door, and he took a quick glance towards the mirror. He also lifted up his shirt with his left hand. Sure, he was still very thin and weak, but he was feeling much better than before. At the very least, he didn't feel like he would simply faint due to lack of energy. He washed his face and brushed his teeth.
After finishing his business, he went back to the room. In order not to bother neither his father nor his sister, he grabbed the videogame Luan had brought him yesterday. He had to keep the volume down, and his arms had to remain stretched, in order to not be annoyed by the needle in his elbow. He still managed to fold it just a little bit.
Then, a nurse, a different one from yesterday, took a quick glance towards the door. She noticed Lincoln was awake and, quietly, she repeated the process of stinging his finger, and injecting insulin through his elbow. Next, she came inside with three trays, two of them were white, and almost completely identical in their contents. The last one was blue, and some things were different.
Lincoln took a glance towards it, and saw that all of them had food in it, like expected. It didn't require a genius to understand that the one with whole grain bread and diet jelly, and even then, in smaller quantities, was the one destined to the patient which was himself. There was also fruit salad, a mug of milk and water for each one of them, but those were the same for everyone.
Lincoln took a sip of the milk and took the fruit bowl. Breakfast was the most important meal of the day, most people said. However, the same nurse that made the 'operation' on him earlier appeared inside the room. She signed him to come outside, and he followed her. After getting outside, he saw that a girl was waiting for him, seated down in a chair the other side of the hallway. He recognized her in the same instant. Her clothes were a bit sweaty, and she was apparently trying to recover her energy
"Lynn?" Lincoln asked, confused. Is not that he wasn't happy to see his sister, but he didn't expected to see someone from his family so early, apart from Luan and his father, of course. Besides, he imagined that the rest of his family would come all together. "How are you here?"
"I...couldn't…wait…" Lynn said, taking a deep breath between each word. Lincoln went inside his room and brought back a bottle of water from the trays the nurse had brought. Lynn drank almost half the bottle before placing it aside the chair.
"Thanks," Lynn's said, apparently recovering from the fatigue. She used her hand to clean her mouth. "I needed that,"
"How are you here?" Lincoln asked again. "And how are the others?"
"We are all fine," Lynn said. " We were all going to come later, but I woke up early, and I couldn't wait, so I decided to come here," Lynn said. "Man, it's been a while since I've been here," she said. Some injuries required a bit more attention then a school nurse could provide.
"Wait, you walked the whole way here?" Lincoln asked. It was nothing impossible for someone with Lynn's determination and stamina to make it, but it was really impressive nonetheless.
"No, I was running," Lynn said, with a bit of sarcasm. "But enough about me. How are you? Feeling sick?" she asked
"I don't feel sick, and I'm capable of staying awake for more then a few hours, so you can say I already had an improvement," Lincoln said, and then he showed his right arm. "Even if I have this stuck in my arm,"
"Yeah, the only thing you did was eating and sleeping," Lynn said. "I was surprised that you wouldn't fall asleep in class,"
"Let's say one of Luan's joy buzzers was useful for once," Lincoln said. "Thanks for that message you send me yesterday," he said. "I really appreciate,"
"It was the least we could do at that time, since only Luan could come," Lynn said. "And I keep my promise, I'll take care of you, make sure you're healthy," she added
"Cool," Lincoln said, even though he hoped his sister wouldn't push him to far upon his limits.
"We'll begin your exercise routine as soon as you leave this place," Lynn said. "You'll get stronger, faster, and get more attention from the ladies," she said, teasing him.
"Seriously?" Lincoln asked, nervously
"Come on, Lincoln, soon enough you'll be looking at girls differently," Lynn said, obviously making fun of his embarrassment
"Lynn," Lincoln said, trying to change the topic. "Come on, you know I…"
"Unless you aren't already," she said, and saw his face was going red "What is her name?" Lynn asked.
"There is no one," Lincoln said, blushing a lot. "I swear,"
"Yeah, I can tell it. Your face shows it," Lynn said. "Is it that girl you've sent the letter? Paige is it?"
"Lynn," Lincoln almost screamed.
"Relax, I'm just messing with you," Lynn said. "Things happen at their you find the right person, things will happen naturally. No need to rush," she said.
"Thanks," Lincoln said, with a smile.
They remained silent for a little bit.
"But it's Paige,isn't it?" Lynn asked. "Or your still up with Ronnie?" she added
"God dammit, Lynn," Lincoln said. Lynn got up and backed away, laughing. Lincoln tried going after her, but even if he was fully recovered, which he wasn't, he could never beat his sister in a race nor a fight.
"Can you make silence out there?" they heard a voice coming from Lincoln's room. "Dad's trying to sleep," they saw a teen say, she was with an annoyed expression. Lynn gave a small wave with her hand
"Hey Luan," Lynn said.
"What are you doing that is making Lincoln so mad?" Luan asked, as both Lynn and Lincoln entered the room. Luan had a sort of serious express, but it was obvious she was just faking it.
"She's just being annoying," Lincoln explained, actually falling for her acting.
"I was just saying that exercise would help him get stronger, and he would attract more girls," Lynn said. "Specially, the one…" Lynn teased
"He told you?" Luan asked, surprised.
"Luan, come on," Lincoln said, sort of annoyed.
"Come on, Lincoln, like you never had interest in another girl," Luan said, then she faced Lynn. "Well, he needs to grow more muscles anyway," Luan agreed. "Have you seen his chest?" She asked
Both girls looked at Lincoln, that tried to sneak towards the bathroom. He froze when their eyes met.
"Lincoln…" Lynn said, making a sign with her finger for him to come back, like he was just a puppy
Lincoln sighed in defeat, and walked towards the girls, and lifted his shirt, revealing the ribs almost popping out from his skin.
"Wow," Lynn said. "This looks like dad's Turkey after dinner, only the bones," she said. "How did you lost so much weight?" Lynn asked, and Lincoln wasn't sure on the answer "Don't worry, bro, we'll work on that," Lynn assured.
The day before
Lynn sr was exhausted. What was supposed to be a quick trip to the doctor, ended up with his son in the hospital. And something that wouldn't get out of his mind, is that it was his fault to begin with.
It has been a while since Lynn sr began feeling he was too busy or too tired to make proper food for the kids. That resulting in bad habits like eating a lot of fast food and other unhealthy options. He couldn't believe that he allowed something like that happen to his one and only son. He remembered the words of the doctor. Things could get worse if they remained that way any longer.
He knew he had to change, the whole family for that matter. He would go to the kitchen, and the menu would be changed, making sure all of them wouldn't end with the same fate as the white haired boy. But the damage has been done, even if Lincoln managed to reverse his sickness, the damage was done, simply because this whole thing could have been avoided if he was more careful.
After he received his daughter, Luan, in the hospital, one of the employees asked for Lynn to follow him. He did as asked, and soon enough he had entered a room, it was pretty similar of the first doctor, Lingard. He was alone on that room, until a blond woman, in her mid forties, entered the room. She was wearing a closed lab jacket, along with red short heels and a pair of glasses. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she had a few papers.
"Hello, Mr. Loud," the girl said, in a german accent. " I'm doctor Sofia Müller, co worker of doctor Conner, and also nutritionist," she said, offering her hand. Lynn took the hand and shaked it. "I'm sorry for your son's condition," she said
"Thanks, we weren't really expecting diabetes," Lynn said. "So, why exactly have you called me here?" Lynn asked
"I'm here to talk a little bit about your son, Mr Loud," Sofia said. "More specifically, his food habits," she added
"Oh yes, of course," Lynn sr said, giving a nervous laugh. She was a nutritionist, of course it had to do with feeding. "Sorry, I'm a little messed up today," he said.
"Don't worry Mr. Loud, your son's condition isn't the worst we have seen," Sofia said. "I know it might sound bad, but some people say diabetes change their lives for better," she added
"How exactly?" Lynn sr asked.
"Mr. Loud, you will notice that the lifestyle we recommend for treating diabetes is actually one of the best for almost everyone," she said. "I've had a patient once who never got out of the couch of his house. Today, he is competing in a few local races," she said.
"Wow, I never thought about it that way," Lynn said.
"I won't hide it, Mr Loud, there are some things that are rather annoying, but some say with diabetes actually leave happier and healthier lives," she said. "But I'm getting out of topic here, let's focus on our little patient, Lincoln," Sofia said
"Of course. So, what exactly do you recommend?" Lynn asked. "I'll do anything necessary to correct my mistakes," Lynn said.
"What mistake, Mr. Loud?" Sofia asked
"It's just that… you know what, it's not important, what do we have to change?" Lynn sr asked.
"Okay, so let's see..." she began taking a look at some of the papers. "Before we start, I just want you to confirm this information for me," Sofia said, passing the paper towards Lynn. On it, there were three topics, named the different meals throughout the day, and what each one of them were composed by. Everything was pretty accurate. Lynn nodded and retrieved the paper.
"We will speak tomorrow with the boy to explain a little more about what can he chose from," Sofia said. "However, there are some things that have to be changed," Sofia said, and Lynn nodded. She had a serious voice, but it wasn't threatening
"First of all, and that's for everyone, not only Lincoln, this meals aren't healthy at all," Sophia said. "There is no salad or vegetables whatsoever, and there is an absurd excess of carbohydrates, which is probably the main issue causing your son's condition. Do you understand me?" Sofia asked, and Lynn nodded.
"So, we can cut out carbohydrates to solve the problem," Lynn concluded
"Not exactly." Sofia said. "Your son it's still a kid, he is in still growing up. He needs carbohydrates to help develop his body," she said
"So, what do we do?" Lynn sr asked
"All foods have carbohydrate, Mr. Loud. Lincoln needs what we call healthy carbohydrate, which revolves around foods, vegetables, whole grain food, and others," Sofia said.
"So, what do you suggest?" Lynn asked
So, let's go with breakfast first," she began. "For Lincoln, the worst of them are the waffles and the pancakes, since they have high concentration of carbohydrates, not to say about the fat of the bacon and eggs" Sofia said. "Here, I would suggest something more light, like a fruit, or a bowl of cereal," she said. "Not one of those covered in sugar, but rather the whole grain ones," she added. "If possible, with low fat milk," she said
"Okay, sounds easy enough," Lynn sr said
"For lunch, I don't even have to say it's completely unbalanced," Sofia said. "There is no problem in having pasta in your plate, it just can't be the only thing in the plate," she said. "First of all, let's reduce the pasta, and change it to whole grain, or brown rice," she said. "Then, we can add vegetable. Broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, just to say a few. And also, the protein. My suggestion is fish, and other white meat. Try to avoid red and other processed meats," Sofia said
"It's a bit more complicated, but I can handle it," Lynn sr said with confidence.
"Good," Sofia said. "For dinner, there is not much difference as to lunch. The only thing is, always make sure that the dish is light. It's the last meal before the kids going to bed, so it's the best for their stomach if it isn't totally full," Sofia said.
"That's it?" Lynn asked
"There are more things, which I will cover with more detail with you tomorrow, but this is it for know, I'm pretty sure you want some rest," Sofia said. "I just wanted to set you to some changes that will have to be done, for the sake of your family," she added
"Thank you, doctor," Lynn said. And they both shaked hands
When Lynn left the office, he saw that things, which didn't seemed to be so hard at start, could get a little bit complicated. His family wasn't used to that type of food. How much would it cost? How hard was to cook some of those things? And worst of all, what if someone in the family refused to eat? Those were some of the questions on his head.
When he entered Lincoln's bedroom, he saw that the lights were off, and both his son and daughter were sleeping in the bed. he gave a kiss on each one of their foreheads, and he seated down on the chair. It wasn't the best bed in the world, but he didn't cared, because he knew he would have another long day tomorrow.
Well, Lynn will strugle to make sure his family creates better habits. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you are thinking of this story so far, and I see you next chapter.