Chapter 3
The News Spreads and Treatment Schedule
Bart and Lisa and standing in front of their house waiting for the school bus, it had been a fretful night for Lisa who had woken up several times in the night due to nightmares, making her look extremely tired with dark rings around her eyes. Bart keeps looking at his sister in concern, noticing her tired expression and the rings around her eyes, he as well hadn't had the best night's rest, while not waking up due to nightmares as Lisa had been he certainly hadn't had the most pleasant of dreams in the night either.
The bus driven by Otto soon arrived and Bart makes a move to get on but stops when he notices Lisa standing frozen, today her condition would be made known to the school populace and she was worried about how they would react, would the bullies target her more frequently? Would the few friends she had abandon her? These questions made her dread going to school something she never before would've believed possible. Suddenly she notices Bart holding his hand out to her, smiling she takes his hand noticing him giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, before allowing him to drag her onto the bus.
This didn't go unnoticed by the kids already on the bus notably Nelson and his cronies Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, and the twins Sherri and Terri.
"Hey look it's the Huckleberries, haw haw." Nelson says jokingly due to the fact that Bart and Lisa are brother and sister yet are holding hands.
Several kids giggle while Sherri and Terri begin singing the sitting in a tree song with Bart and Lisa. Lisa looks down while Bart glares at the offending kids. Both make their way to their usual seats Lisa next to Janey and Bart next to Milhouse.
"How come you were holding Lisa's hand?" Milhouse asks suspiciously.
Bart doesn't answer Milhouse but instead looks toward Lisa silently asking if she wanted to tell them all now, Lisa catches his look and silently nods while Janey looks at her with worry.
"Okay, folks listen up me and Leese got some news to drop on you all." Bart says standing on his seat.
Seeing that all their attention was upon him.
"Now as some of you may know Lisa wasn't in school yesterday, the reason being that she was taken to the hospital due to severe headaches as well as blurred vision-" Bart looks at his sister silently asking if she wants to be the one to break the news, to which she shakes her head- "They found a tumour on her brain." Bart announces dropping the bomb.
It takes a few seconds for Bart's words to sink in and when they do there are several reactions, Nelson and his gang pale to the point they almost become see-through, Sherri and Terri gain looks of horror upon their faces, the kids who had been laughing at Nelson's joke and Sherri and Terri song gain uncomfortable looks on their faces, Janey gasps before hugging Lisa and reciprocates barely managing not to break down in tears again, Milhouse however merely punches Bart while shouting "That's not funny Bart." As Milhouse believes that Bart is playing a sick joke again.
"What was that for?" Bart a mixture of anger and hurt at his best friend.
All the other kids look on confused why Milhouse punched Bart after Bart had dropped a major bombshell.
"For making a sick joke you asshat." Milhouse answers still angry with Bart.
"Milhouse Bart's not joking, I really do have a brain tumour." Lisa says speaking for the first time that day.
Milhouse, who had been hoping that Lisa would confirm that Bart was just playing a sick joke, turns to look at Lisa in shock unsure how to respond.
"I'm going to go sit next to Ralph." Bart says moving down to sit next to the boy in question.
"Is Lisa going to be okay?" Ralph asks tentatively once Bart has sat down.
"I hope so Ralph, I hope so." Bart answers.
(X X X)
At Springfield Elementary the faculty are confused as to why Principal Skinner has called an emergency meeting this early in the morning, Superintendent Chalmers had also been called in and was as confused as the rest of them.
The door to the staffroom opens and Seymour Skinner enters.
"Oh good, you're all here." Skinner says relieved that he didn't have to wait for any stragglers.
"SKINNER! Why have you called an emergency meeting?" Chalmers asks wondering what emergency had cropped up.
"Well sir, yesterday after school Marge Simpson brought some grave news to me..." Seymour begins but gets interrupted.
"What, did she find all the plans for Bart's pranks?" Mr Largo the music teacher jokingly asks making a few teachers snicker.
"No Dewey the news she brought me was that they found a tumour on Lisa's brain." Skinner says dropping the bomb.
Several teachers stare at Seymour stunned by what he just announced, including Lisa's teacher Ms Hoover and Mr Largo who heads the school band of which Lisa is a part of.
"A tumour, but she's so young and innocent." Groundskeeper Willie says breaking down and sobbing.
"Get a hold of yourself man, I'm sure that the tumour can be surgically removed." Superintendent Chalmers says trying to get Willie to calm down.
"Actually Superintendent according to Mrs Simpson, the location of the tumour means that it cannot be surgically removed." Seymour states.
This news makes Willie sob harder.
"Oh well, I'm sure that she'll be fine regardless." Chalmers lamely responds to the news.
"Now this is a serious issue, Lisa is one of the brightest students this school has ever seen and one of the few students keeping this school going. She has also been the victim of bullying in the past, so Elizabeth I want you to keep a very close eye on Lisa if any students harass her I want you to put an immediate stop to it." Seymour orders.
"Fine." Ms Hoover says trying to keep up her disinterested demeanour but inside she is worried about Lisa.
"What about Bart?" Rayshelle asks speaking for the first time in the meeting.
"Yes, keep an eye on him as well, he might become more disruptive as a result of his sister's condition." Seymour says dismissively.
"Or he might be less disruptive." Rayshelle argues.
"Maybe for a few days a week at most, but I guarantee that once the news about Lisa's condition has settled, he'll be back to his usual ways-" Seymour concedes. "Now come we have an assembly to do." Seymour says leaving the staff room the faculty members trailing after him some of which are still shellshocked by what they've heard.
(X X X)
For the second day in a row, the workers at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant are confused about Homer Simpson, not only is he doing his job again, but he is also weeping uncontrollably. His weeping is so loud that it catches the attention of his boss Mr Burns and his personal aide Waylon Smithers. Who are watching the security monitors located in Mr Burns' office.
"Smithers who is that weeping imbecile?" Mr Burns asks not remembering Homer Simpson despite the numerous encounters they've had.
"Homer Simpson sir one of the oxygen wasters from Sector 7G." Smithers responds used to his boss forgetting who Homer Simpson was.
"Well, why is he weeping while working? Is he not happy with the opportunity I have provided him?" Burns asks unable to comprehend why one of his workers would be unhappy, despite the 'wonderful' opportunity he has provided them.
"It seems his friends would like to know as well-" Smithers points out as Lenny and Carl enter Homer's workstation- "Shall I turn the sound on?" Smithers asks holding the remote.
Seeing Burns nod Smithers turns on the sound on the monitor just in time to hear.
"...Come your so sad Homer?" Lenny asks concerned for Homer.
"Oh, guys it's horrible Lisa she has a brain tumour." Homer chokes out between sobs.
Homer's news gets several reactions, Lenny chokes on the doughnut he is eating, the coffee Carl is drinking goes down the wrong way making him cough and splutter, Smithers drops the remote he is holding in shock, while Burns' eyes just widen in shock.
"Jesus Homer are you sure you should be here working?" Carl asks once his coughing and spluttering have died down.
"Yeah, I need to keep busy, to keep my mind off it." Homer answers.
"Well if you need to talk we're here for you man." Lenny states genuinely.
"Aw, thanks guys." Homer says getting up and hugging both his friends which they awkwardly return.
In his office, Mr Burns wipes a lone tear from his eye.
"Dammit, this display of friendship is restoring my faith in humanity. Smither read me some despicable acts so I can be reminded of my hatred for humans." Burns orders.
"Yes sir." Smithers replies searching the web for the latest despicable acts carried out by humans.
(X X X)
Marge enters the hospital after having left Maggie with her sisters again, feeling a little conflicted that she hadn't told them, her mother, or Abe her father-in-law about Lisa's diagnosis yet. But then she tells herself that it's for the best as she and the others haven't had the chance to fully digest the news yet.
As soon as Marge enters she spots Dr Hibbert chatting with another Doctor whom she doesn't know. He stands at 5ft 10inches, has pale skin, is bald with a long goatee, dull round hazel eyes, thin lips and a long face.
Dr Hibbert upon noticing Marge has entered the hospital goes over to her, the unknown doctor following after.
"Marge thank you for coming in, this here is Dr Aleksandras Mitchell, one of our specialists in treating Glioblastoma." Dr Hibbert says introducing the no longer unknown doctor.
"Hello." Dr Mitchell says with a slight Lithuanian accent while holding his hand out for Marge to shake, which she accepts.
"If you'll follow us please we'll go over the treatment schedule for your daughter." Dr Hibbert says once the handshake had concluded.
Marge nods and begins following the two doctors, to Dr Hibbert's office. Once they all sit down the two doctors behind a desk with Marge facing them.
"Now Marge this is the treatment plan me and Dr Mitchell have come up with, starting from this Saturday. We'll begin with Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, which will involve implanting a laser catheter into the tumour and heating it to temperatures high enough to kill the tumour. And then a couple of days after we'll use a combination of Chemo and Radiotherapy to deal with the leftover parts of the tumour." Dr Hibbert explains.
"We'll repeat this process for the next few months, and after that, we'll see if there are any significant changes which'll help us to determine our plans going forward." Dr Mitchell explains, handing Marge a sheet that has Lisa's treatment schedule for the next few months.
"Any questions?" Dr Hibbert asks.
"J-ust h-ow e-ffective w-ill t-hese t-reatments b-e?" Marge asks with a stutter.
Both doctors grimace wishing that Marge hadn't asked them that, nevertheless they know they can't lie to her.
"I'm not going to lie Marge Glioblastoma is a very deadly Cancer the average survival rate with treatment is 14.6 months, and only 5% survive for 5 years." Dr Hibbert explains as gently as possible.
"Also even if we are able to get rid of this tumour, people with Glioblastoma always relapse." Dr Mitchell adds on.
"I see-" Marge says depressed- "If you'll excuse me." Marge says getting up and leaving the hospital, she manages to keep it together until she reaches her car which is where she breaks down in tears for her daughter.