Introduction

Chapter 14

Caroline's P.O.V.

2 Days Later

"Mack, honey, hurry or we're gonna be late," I call up to my daughter who is most likely running around like a chicken with their head cut off. Just then I hear her barrel down the stairs. "Ready. Is Luke coming too?" she asks. "Get in the car and I'll answer that honey," I say ushering her out the door to the car.

20 minutes into the drive she asks me the question I forgot to answer. "Is Luke meeting us there or is he not coming?" Mack asks me again. "Sorry honey, I forgot and yes he's meeting us there," I answer. "Ok," she responds.

"Hey love," Luke says walking over to us. "Hey, darling," he says to Mack and spying her arms where she got blood drawn from he asks her, "Did you cry?" "Nope," she answers him popping the p.

"So you are aware of the severity of your daughters ITP Mr. and Mrs. Bryan?" Dr. Bridges asked us. "Yes we are. She explained it all to us last week," Luke answers. "OK. So you know that it is labelled chronic ITP?" the doctor asks. "Yes," Luke answers again. "OK well it seems you are very educated on this," Dr. Bridges says writing something in his file thing. "Well we had a good teacher," I say putting my hand on Mack's knee which causes her to wince. "I'm so sorry honey. I completely forgot," I say wrapping my arms around her. "What happened Carol?" Luke asks. "On the way in she hit her knee off a bench she didn't see," I respond. Luke just nods his head. "Well, any questions?" Dr. Bridges asks looking at all of us. "Uh, why does she have her hand tremors?" Luke asks. "Well, it is somehow caused by her ITP we just don't know how. From what I get here she was doing therapy in New York for it but stopped for 7 months. We can re-start it if we think necessary by conducting a few tests and then if we think it would be necessary and benefit her we will re-start it," Dr. Bridges says. Just then a nurse comes in and hands him a piece of paper. The doctor frowns as he reads it. "It seems her blood platelet count is 2 which you know is 2 000. So we will admit her from Friday until Sunday. If at the end of these next three days it isn't past 100 we will continue home treatment with prednisone. If her count isn't past 50 on Sunday she'll have to stay here until it is," Dr. Bridges says. I manage an OK as I look around to Luke and Mack.

Luke's P.O.V.

That is one thing no father should ever see his little girl go through. Yes I know I'm not really her dad and she's not really my little girl but it's my job to protect her now and I'm failing. Big time. I watched her get poked with so many needles in the span of an hour and she didn't cry once. Probably because me and Carol cried for her. We could see the pain on her face. The IV's just weren't working and her veins collapsed 5 times. When she was finally in her room she fell to sleep right away.

Sunday

"Are you nervous?" I ask her setting down my magazine, uncrossing my legs and walking over to her. "No," she says quickly. "Well I think otherwise because I know when you're nervous you run your index finger up and down the side of your thumb," I respond. "Maybe a little," she admits. Just then Dr. Bridges comes in. "Morning Luke, Mack," he says looking at both of us. "Do I get to go home," Mack blurts out. "You do but you have to take prednisone until Thursday," the doctor says. "That's great right darling," I say looking at my daughter who doesn't looked thrilled but looks happy to be leaving. "Yea it is," she says after a moment. "And you are aware of the side effects?" Dr. Bridges asks. "Not really," I respond. "Ok well, insomnia, lack or increased appetite, mood swings swelling, sore joints," Dr. Bridges lists off. "So a lot of peanut butter," I say with a smile looking at Mack who just nods.

"Hey, look on the bright side darling," I say as me and Mack are driving home, grabbing her hand," At least this won't happen next week," I said. "Yea, I'm really excited, I can't wait," she says remembering she starts two months of touring next week. With that she sits back and sings along to the radio.