In the hospital, the first thing that Dr. Decker did was give Hope something to make her fall asleep. Once she was asleep, he drained her bladder. It was full of blood and pus. Dr. Decker frowned, concerned. He sent it to the lab. He drew her blood and sent that to the lab as well. Hope didn't open her eyes.

"Wow," Trudy exclaimed, "She is so deeply asleep."

Dr. Decker nodded.

"She'll be asleep for the rest of the night," he said, "I'm going to put a PICC line in her arm."

"What's a PICC line," Trudy asked.

"It's a device that takes blood painlessly and can put the medications in her painlessly."

Adrian and Dwight came into the hospital room.

"What's wrong with her," Adrian asked.

"Best case scenario we're looking at a major bladder infection," Dr. Decker replied, "Worst case scenario we're looking at bladder cancer."

No shock could be more painful than what they just heard. Hope was seriously ill.

"What is the next step," Trudy asked.

"Assuming it's a bladder infection she's going to need a $&*t load of antibiotics," Dr. Decker replied, "If it's cancer we'll need to remove the tumor followed by six months of chemo and radiation."

Nearly 12 hours passed before Dr. Decker came back.

"She has an awful bladder infection," he said, "We'll start her on antibiotics first thing."

"Is that painful," Dwight asked.

"No. We'll keep her asleep for it," Dr. Decker replied.

Trudy's cell phone rang. It was her mother.

"Hi Mom," Trudy said, picking up the phone.

"Honey, how's Hope," Marsha asked.

"The good news is it's not cancer," Trudy replied, "But she has an awful bladder infection. Mitch has her on antibiotics but it's going to be a long time before she's better."

"The important thing is that she will get better," Marsha replied gently and firmly.

"I'm frightened," Trudy admitted, "The last time I felt this hopeless was when she had Pneumonia."

"She's going to get better," Marsha repeated, "Listen, your dad is coming home now, and I'll be there in a few minutes. I already pumped milk for the triplets in case they wake up."

Ella and Ava came in from the playroom.

"Mommy," Ava asked, "Is Hope okay?"

Trudy knelt to Ava and Ella's level and put one hand on each of their shoulders.

"She's very sick," she said gently, "But she's going to be okay."

"Can we stay with her," Ella wanted to know.

Trudy and Adrian looked at Dr. Decker who nodded.

"Just understand," he said, "She's going to be asleep."

"So, she won't be hurting?" Ava asked.

Adrian nodded.

"That's exactly right honey," he said.

"How will she eat," Ella asked.

"She has a feeding tube," Dr. Decker explained.

"What's that?" Ava asked

Dr. Decker explained what a feeding tube was.

"How long will it take before she's better," Ella asked.

"We don't know exactly," Dr. Decker said.

"But she'll be better by her birthday right?" Ava asked.

"My best guess is it may take about 2 ½ months," Dr. Decker said honestly, "But it depends on several things."

Tears pooled in Ella's eyes and then in Ava's.

"Is she gonna die?" Ella asked.

"I doubt it," Dr. Decker replied, "Thankfully we caught the infection in time. I have no doubt that she's going to get better."