Chapter Eighteen; Cancer

Ryan’s mom was in the hospital up until the last month of summer. Ryan was still sick, even after a few weeks, since they were in the hospital Ryan took the liberty of going to a nearby doctor to ask if he was ok, “Excuse me sir, I have been sick for over a few weeks now, and I want to check if I am ok.” he said.

“Yeah, I can call a doctor that can give you a check up real quick. Is that ok?” he responded. Ryan nodded and the doctor motioned him into another room where his check up would take place. Ryan’s mom was in the room across from him and she waved through her window, Ryan waved back.

A doctor came into the room for his check up and sat Ryan on the table. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked sticking a popsicle stick in his mouth, “I have been sick for a few weeks now,” he mumbled. “Oh, that’s terrible!” the doctor grabbed his stethoscope and examined his heartbeat. He lifted up the back of Ryan’s shirt to check if his lungs were working well.

The doctor gasped and stumbled backwards, Ryan heard the thump and looked back to see the doctor in the corner eyes wide and breathing heavily. “What’s wrong?” he asked a bit nervous. “You… have... “ The doctor stood up, “Cancer!” he whispered. Ryan looked confused, “I just got it removed!” he yelled.

“They must have missed a spot,” he replied. Ryan froze the doctors said that if it was removed within four days, it would be fine. It had been a few weeks. Ryan fell to his knees pulling his hair, he brought his hands down to his face and saw that chunks of hair fell out of his scalp.

He stared at the hair for a long time, “M-My h-hair,” he whispered. The doctor came back in with Ryan’s mother and a box of tissues just in case. “Ryan get off the floor, and don’t pull out your hair it’s bad for your scalp,” she demanded.

“I’m sorry ma’am but your son doesn’t mean to pull out his hair. He… has… cancer.” Time froze, Ryan on the ground staring at his hair, the doctor looking down, and his mother, hands over her mouth trying to hold back tears. “But… he… got… it…” “Ma’am he got a portion of it removed, but they missed a spot… and it spread.”

Ryan’s mother looked pale, and a little sick. The doctor grabbed her a chair but it was no use, by the time he turned around she was on the floor unconscious. Ryan had dropped the hair and turned around to his mother’s side.

He didn’t understand, he could die in a few days. He thought cancer could be treated but he was wrong. He grabbed his mother’s hand and told her everything would be fine. The doctor put her back on her hospital bed, and rolled her to her room.

Ryan was sat on his own bed and was treated like a king, “Would you like something to drink, Ryan?” “Would you like to watch T.V., Ryan?” “Would you like to see your mother, Ryan?” He nodded at the last question. The nurses wheeled his cart to the next room over. His mom was shivering severely, whimpering, and crying.

Ryan’s cart slowed to a halt when the nurses left the room and closed the door. Ryan inched his cart closer to the bed and embraced her with his weak arms. The gentle touch of Ryan’s arms was enough to make his mom cry.

They shared a soft moment of heartbroken sadness until the nurse came in. She came in with a large clipboard filled with stacks of paper and a small pen. She stared at the two and began to walk out to come in at a different time.

“Wait,” Ryan whispered. “What do you want?” he asked. “I am here to inform you about the make a wish foundation. The make a wish foundation is a company whose goal is to grant a child’s wish when they are in a terrible situation.” she said.

“Terrible situation?” Ryan asked. “Yes, you are in a fatal situation and it may kill you.” she responded. Ryan’s mother stood up, “Excuse me, may I have a chat with you outside,” she demanded in a stern voice. The nurse opened the door and his mother followed. Ryan heard her start to whisper something that he couldn’t really make out, “How dare you tell my child he is going to die,” she said.