The Greatest Is Love: The Somewhere Under Heaven Series

Surgery

Casey's POV

I hear my alarm going off and I can feel Watson licking at my face as I open my eyes. "Hey, buddy," I say as I scratch behind his ears. "Think you can let me get up to get ready for the hospital?" Watson doesn't budge.

God, this dog can be so stubborn and for some reason, he likes to do things like this. And here I thought my husband was bad with coming up to me while I'm cooking and asking 9,000 questions like a little kid like, "Whatcha cooking?"

But of course where my husband can be a little crazy and weird, he's also rather resourceful because I look over towards Rob's side of the bed and find a Nerf ball that he's thrown a few times to get Watson to move. I figure if it works for him, it'll work for me so I pick up the ball and show it to Watson. "Hey, Watson, look what I got," I say. I then throw the ball. "Go get it, boy."

Watson runs down the hall in the direction of the ball and I get out of bed to get cleaned up and dressed. I already had my bag packed and in the car so all I have to do is head downstairs. Problem solved. 

Katie has a couple of things to do on campus and she's going to meet us at the hospital so I get in the car with Rob and the boys. The drive to the hospital is rather quiet and somber but then I decide to tell the guys about my dream.

"Ashton came to me in a dream," I tell them.

"Didn't you have something similar with Katie," Rob asks me. "Something about how you had your grandmother telling you it's going to be okay."

"I did and it happened again but this time it was Ashton who told me. He told me to not ask how he knows but he knows."

"Let's hope he's right," Dion tells me. 

Mary-Louise's POV

My surgeon had to move the procedure to RWJ since it's more advanced which means, I'm going to be there the same time as Casey.

I'm in the prep area and I can hear Casey's voice. "I'll see how she is," Eric tells me.

Eric walks out and a few minutes later he comes in and says, "The doctors want you both to see each other before your surgeries."

I'm wheeled in and I see Casey who is in good spirits. "Hey, sis, you okay," I ask.

"Nervous but I'll be fine."

"I know. We're going to get through this one, Casey...I promise you."

She reaches out and takes my hand. "I love you."

"I love you too. We'll fight this together."

The nurse comes in to take me to the OR and I start humming "Come Monday" as they wheel me down the hall. I know I have to beat this and I hope I do.

Casey's POV

We get to the hospital and Katie meets us in the lobby. In the pre-op area, I get a visit from Mary-Louise who tells me we're going to fight this together before the family comes in for the customary "see you when I get out" routine with the family starting with the kids. 

"Well, this is it," I say to them.

Jaxon and Katie both come up to hug me. "It's going to be okay, Mom," Katie tells me.

"Love you Mama," Jaxon says.

"I love you both," I tell them. "Remember, we're going to fight this together."

I then see Dion and he's very nervous. "Hey, I'm going to be okay."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." I then take the Eagles themed breast cancer awareness parachute cord bracelet I have on and put it on his wrist. "I'm a fighter, Dion...remember that."