Adopted

Chapter 14

"Well, Jessica, how's my favorite patient?" Doc asked.

"You'd have to ask your favorite patient," I quipped. He smiled.

"Mr. and Mrs. Urie, it's a pleasure to meet you, and I must say, I'm happy that Jessica has found a family. She's a pretty special kid," Doc said.

"Thank you, it's nice to meet you, too. And yes, we think she's pretty cool, too." Brendon said.

"We want to know everything we need to know about Jessica's treatment, so we can manage her HIV best."

"HIV? Jessica doesn't have HIV," Doc said.

"What do you mean? The Matron and the orphanage said she's HIV Positive."

"She was. Jessica transitioned to full-blown AIDS a year ago," Doc said, looking at me. "Didn't anyone tell you?"

I sat and stared at Doc in stunned silence.

"What does that mean?" Sarah asked.

"Jessica's viral load has exceeded the threshold that determines HIV status. Her T4-Cells, the cells that fight off infection are below that same threshold. Now, what that really means is she needs to be a bit more careful in terms of keeping herself healthy. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn't cover the cost of some of the better medications for treating HIV and AIDS, and since Jessica was an orphan, that was the only insurance plan she was eligible for. If you can get her on your insurance, or if you're willing to pay for some of the better medications, which can be very expensive, we can certainly see improvement in her viral load and T4 numbers, though it won't change the diagnosis. She'll always be considered to have full-blown AIDS."

"Bet you're sorry you adopted me now," I mumbled.

Sarah looked over at me, got out of her chair, and knelt in front of me. She pulled me into a tight hug.

"Not at all. This just means you're that much more precious," she said.

Brendon came over and hugged me as well.

"We regret nothing, kiddo," he said. "How long do you think she has?" he asked Doc.

"Well, Jessica is an amazing kid. I can't even begin to imagine how much time she has left. She's only had a couple of severe bouts of pneumonia and has been hospitalized maybe half a dozen times in the past four years. She's pretty healthy for a kid with such an illness. But you'll have to be careful, obviously. She can get pretty sick pretty fast with almost no warning. But as long as she feels well, there's no reason she can't do all the things any kid her age can do. So, don't hold her back. Because she will amaze you," Doc said.

"Is there anything we should know specific to her?"

"She's smart and sarcastic. You've probably already figured that out. She's a good kid. If she's not feeling well, she'll probably tell you. Do not coddle her. She will not thank you for that."

I smiled.

"Oh, and she should certainly never do anything fun like go to Disneyland or travel. But that's just because she's a brat and because I haven't been to Disneyland in years." Doc laughed. Brendon and Sarah laughed, too.

Doc had me jump on his scale to check my weight, did an exam, and went over my bloodwork that I'd had done the week before. He talked to Brendon and Sarah a little bit more about medications and maybe changing some of the ones I was on for better ones. He told them a bit more about my history and then we left the office.

"Well," Brendon said. "That was a bit of a downer, but, we'll make do. He did give me an idea, though."

"Uh oh," Sarah said.

"Hey, kiddo, what do you say we go to Disneyland tomorrow?"

"What?"

"I don't have to be in the studio this week, Sarah sets her own hours. Let's go to Disneyland tomorrow. We'll get up early and spend the day down there."

"Um, okay. Sure," I said.

I'd been to Disneyland as a little kid with my parents, and once with the orphanage. This should be fun.

"And depending on how we're all feeling, maybe we'll stay through to watch the fireworks before coming home."

"Sounds like a perfect idea," Sarah said, "But that means I'm going to have to do some work today, so let's get you two home, and then I'll go into the salon, do a few things I needed to get done and I should be home by dinner."

"Perhaps Jessica and I will start her guitar lessons. Whaddaya think?"

"Sounds cool."

"And we can go for a swim, hang out with Penny and Bogart, whatever. It's summer."

"Can we go to the library? I don't have anything to read."

"Better, let's go to Barnes and Noble and you can buy some books so you have them whenever you want,"

"I'd rather go to the library. It doesn't cost anything to borrow books."

"I'll make you a deal then. We'll do both."

"Okay." I shrugged.

Sarah took us home first, and then Brendon went inside and got the keys to his car. We hopped into his car and drove to the bookstore first.

I wandered the aisles looking for the books I knew I loved, and picked a few.

"Okay, I'm good," I said.

"That's it? Are you sure?" Brendon asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure. These are books I could read over and over again. You'll see by the end of the summer, they'll probably look like I've owned them for years."

"Okay," he said, shrugging.

We walked up to the counter to pay.

"Do you have a membership card?" the cashier asked.

"No, we don't," Brendon said.

"It's $25 a year, and it gives you free shipping if you order online, and up to 40% off books,"

"We'll take one, then," Brendon said.

He got it in my name. We left the store and drove back towards the house. There was a library only a couple of blocks from the house, and we went in and he signed me up for a library card and once again, I browsed the shelves. I found a book I'd been wanting to read but hadn't found in paperback and didn't want to buy in hardcover. Of course, it was in hardcover still, but it was free, seeing as it was at the library. I checked that and another couple of books out.

Finally, we went home.