Disclaimer: I don't own Monk. This is the Prequel to the Green Sweater. It begins when Trudy and Adrian are little kids.


Dwight and Marsha sat in the Pediatrician's office in shock. Trudy had been feeling unwell for a few days. They thought it would go away but when she woke up with fever and bruising, they immediately took her to the doctor. The doctor ran a blood test and called them later to come back to her office.

"Leukemia? But she's only 3," Marsha said.

"I know," Dr. Starr replied gently, "It's not fair when kids get sick. The good news is that we caught it early. She'll need chemotherapy→ and there is some new treatment she is going to need…"

"But she's going to be okay?" Dwight asked.

"I'm not a gambling woman," Doctor Starr said, "But odds are in her favor."

"Thank you, Dr. Starr," Dwight said, "When does she need to start?"

"Monday she'll begin Chemo. It will be every other day. We'll do the new treatment at the same time. Don't worry– she won't feel anything because we'll put her to sleep."

"We have to be with her," Dwight said.

"I get it," Dr. Starr remarked, "This is a lot to deal with."

Oh really? Yah think? Marsha thought to herself.

She was the mother of a dying 3-year-old. NOBODY (except maybe Dwight) could understand how she felt. Trudy would have to have Chemo and painful treatments.

"Is she going to feel it when she wakes up," Dwight asked.

"I'll give you something for her to take so it doesn't hurt but it will be sore," Dr. Starr said.

That night Trudy woke up and came downstairs. She heard her parents talking and she knew something was wrong.

"Mommy, Daddy," she said, "Why are you so sad?"

Marsha sat Trudy on her lap.

"You know how you haven't been feeling so good honey?" she asked.

Trudy nodded

"What's wrong with me," she asked.

Dwight put an arm around her.

"You have something called Leukemia honey," he said.

It took everything in him not to cry.

"What's akemia," she asked.

"Leukemia is a type of cancer," Marsha explained stroking Trudy's hair, "It's a cancer of the blood."

"Am I gonna die?" Trudy asked.

"Absolutely not," Dwight said, "The doctor caught it early. But you'll need treatment to get you well."

After explaining the treatment Trudy had some questions.

"Do they have to give me a shot?"

"They're going to put you to sleep," Marsha said.

That made Trudy cry.

"You mean like they put Peaches' mommy to sleep?" she asked.

Marsha dried her tears with her thumb.

"No honey," she reassured her, "It just means the doctors will give you some sweet air to help you fall asleep and then they'll do your Chemo and treatments when you're asleep."

"Is it gonna hurt when I wake up?" Trudy asked.

"No," Dwight reassured her, "The doctor gave mommy and I something for you to take so it doesn't hurt you."

"Will you be there when I have the treatments," Trudy asked, "I don't want to be alone."

"Of course," Marsha replied, "We'll be there the whole time."

Monday came all too quickly. After she was asleep the doctor did the chemo. When he got to the new treatment Dr. Piccare said, "You might want to step out for this part."

"What we want is for our daughter not to be sick anymore," Marsha said, "We're not stepping out for anything."

Dr. Piccare nodded. The treatment took about 1 hour. Dr. Piccare let Trudy sleep a little longer. He woke her up after about 45 minutes.

"How do you feel," he asked her.

Trudy blinked.

"With my hands?"

Everyone laughed.

"A little sore," she admitted.

"That's normal," Doctor Piccare assured her, "It will fade soon."

"Am I going to lose my hair?" Trudy asked.

"Not with this treatment," Doctor Piccare reassured her, "You won't get any of the normal effects of chemo."

"Yay," Trudy exclaimed.

She looked down at her arm.

"What's that thing in my arm?" she asked.

"It's called a PICCline," Doctor Piccare said, "It's a way we test your blood without it hurting. We also give you your medicine through it."

"Cool," Trudy grinned.

"Come on," Dwight said, "Let's stop off at Fairy Tale Island to eat."

"Can we go on the rides?" Trudy asked.

"Yes but not the fast ones," Marsha said, "I don't want you getting sick."

Trudy jumped off the table.

"See you Wednesday Dr. Piccare," she said politely.

They went to the car.

"Can I drive?" Trudy asked.

"We'll talk about it when you're tall enough to reach the steering wheel and the gas and the breaks," Marsha said smiling.

Trudy giggled.

"How about a kiddie car," she asked.

"We'll pick one out for you tonight," Marsha said.

"Cool," Trudy replied.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to give her everything she wants," Dwight whispered to Marsha.

"She has cancer," Marsha whispered back, "And besides she's not spoiled."

"You're right," Dwight nodded.