Matt had little time to absorb the blow that had been handed down to him. The conference championship game was on Sunday and there was no time to brood. But Lexi's health was improving, at least. She was no longer on the ventilator and had graduated to ordinary nasal prongs.
A week after her birth, the doctor said, "We should probably do a blood test on Lexi, just to rule out cystic fibrosis. Because CF is genetic, sometimes the siblings have it as well."
Matt objected, saying, "Lexi's breathing is improving, not getting worse. CF patients have greatly reduced respiratory function. Landon was only diagnosed a few days ago and even I know that. We're probably in the clear with Lexi."
The doctor said, "We should do the blood test, just for peace of mind."
Julie said, "It would give us peace of mind to do the blood test and just rule the thing out now."
Although Matt had qualms about it, they finally let the doctor do a blood test on Lexi. She was much better behaved than Landon had been for his blood test. The doctor said he would call them when the results came back.
The next day was the conference championship game. Before the game, Julie surprised Matt by showing him that she had made a miniature, baby-size jersey for Lexi.
Matt said, "You actually made that?"
Julie said, "Yes, I did. I needed to do something those five months I was on bed rest. The things we do for our kids, huh?"
Matt said, "That's right." He put the jersey on Lexi as best as he could and said, "Lexi, Daddy's going to win this game and go to New Orleans to win the Super Bowl for you and your big sister Lily and your big brother Landon. This is a promise I am making to you."
Matt went out and played very well and did end up winning the game and was back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. He was coming through for Lexi.
The next day, Matt received a phone call from the doctor who had done Lexi's blood work.
"Hello?"
"Hello. "
"So, what's up?"
The doctor said, " We got the results of Lexi's blood test back."
"Yeah?"
"Unfortunately, she has an elevated level of the same blood marker as Landon." Matt's heart sank; he knew what that meant. The doctor continued, " But a blood test is not always a reliable indicator of cystic fibrosis, so she needs a sweat test, which is the confirmatory test for CF. I'm very sorry to have to tell you this."
Matt hung up and cried. He thought, Not only is my only son suffering from a disease that I've barely heard of and has no cure, but now my daughter, born on my birthday, is sick, too. Even though the doctor said they needed a sweat test, Matt knew that was just to cushion the blow. He knew what the sweat test would show. Lexi had cystic fibrosis, too.
Matt knew he would have to call Julie, and he wasn't looking forward to it.
Luckily, he didn't have to; Julie called him right then.
"So, what's up?" she asked.
Matt sighed and said, "You're not going to believe this."
"What's wrong?"
"They got Lexi's bloodwork back."
"And?"
"She has it too."
Julie was stunned. The doctor had done the blood test to give them peace of mind and rule out the possibility of Lexi having CF.
"Are you sure?"
"She has an elevated level of the same blood marker as Landon. They said they wanted to do a sweat test, but I don't think it's a coincidence that they have an elevated level of the exact same blood marker. Do you?"
"No, I guess not."
They both just stood there crying for awhile, stunned and saddened by the suddenness of the two diagnoses.
Matt had even less time to focus on this with the Super Bowl ahead. But it was hard. Landon and Lexi were sick. But they weren't typical sick kids; they had a serious, incurable genetic disorder. It was hard to fathom because they both seemed fine. Except for being very skinny, Landon looked and seemed perfectly normal. There were so many thoughts going through Matt's head and so little time to think.
In the Super Bowl, Matt was the MVP and a champion for the second time in three years. But he didn't go to Disney World like he had two years earlier. He had undergone a long, stressful season and was glad it was over. As a result, he didn't enjoy his second Super Bowl win very much.
Two days after the Super Bowl, Lexi came home from the hospital after spending two and a half weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When Matt strapped her into her car seat and Lily and Landon were fighting over who would hold her first when they got home, Matt leaned down so only Lexi could hear him and said, "Lexi Saracen, you are not going to get sick. No way you get sick. You're too much of a fighter."
Author's Note: My longest chapter yet. I've decided to go into more detail now that a lot more things will be happening from here on out. Please review!
