All the Years I Loved Her

Chapter 2

Estelle's POV:

The next week, the results of my tests came out and it was time for me to go to the hospital again. During the check –up the doctor explained to me the results of my tests and how I will be able to solve it. Then suddenly the doctor sighs as he pulls out one of my tests showing me what seems to be a picture of my brain. He pointed at a certain part and told me my illness, "Miss Garcia, you are suffering from brain tumor and it has now started affecting other parts of your body. Though it is a fatal disease you will be able to recover after performing surgery while there is still a chance. "

It was hard to take in that I had such a disease despite being practically healthy all throughout my life. I knew surgery was expensive, and I didn't want to burden my parents into paying for it, so I plan to provide the payment myself. "Doc, if I undergo surgery how much would it be?" I asked.

"Since the tumor is malignant, surgery would cost at least $8, 000. There's also radiation therapy to consider after the surgery." After hearing what the doctor said, I knew I wouldn't be able to get such a high amount of money in a short span of time.

"What are the chances of survival doc?" I'm going to decide on whether to seek help from my parents based on his answer. He looks at me straight into my eyes and tell me, "Although this is only statistics about 40% live up to 1 year after surgery while 10% lives up to five years."

40 out of 100 patients live up to a year, I didn't deem such results to be worth it. I think about it and take my schooling, my family, our financial state into consideration and ask a ridiculous question to the doctor. "Is it possible to refuse getting treatment?"

He was shocked with my question but composed himself quickly. "Yes it is possible to refuse getting treatment since it is allowed by the state, but I am strongly against this. Your situation is still treatable and it is not too late. You are still young and I believe you still have a lot ahead of you."

I understood the sentiments of the doctor but everything was just doesn't seem worth it for me. "You do know that you have a high chance of dying if you don't undergo treatment, not only that headaches and fainting with also much more likely occur."

I nodded at him as if I were taking things into consideration, although it was the exact opposite. I already thought about it, I got insurance two years ago, although it's small I think it's still better than spending all of my family's savings for my brother's fees in going into a flying school. I am graduating this year and that's all that is important to me. I can still work myself off into getting more money as long as my body can still keep up to it.

"I am aware doc, if I don't get treated how long do you think I'll last?" I honestly feel quite bad for the doctor since treating patients is his job, while here I am, a patient so stubborn that doesn't want to get treated no matter how much options he'd give me.

He sighed and looked at me a bit of disappointment showing in his gaze, "Given with your healthy physical state I estimate that you are going to last for about at least a year, but this is just an estimate nothing could be said for sure, you can probably survive for much longer or might experience complications much earlier."

I smiled at him, "A year then, for now I will have to refuse getting treatment doc. I'll have to talk to my parents regarding this matter first. Thank you for explaining everything to me." I got up the chair and bowed a bit to him before I turned around to leave the clinic.

No way was I going to tell my parents about this, they already have a lot on their plate. My parents have always given their all into raising me and my brother. Now that they are getting older and older, I don't have the courage to make them suffer again to get such a high amount of money for my surgery, I'd rather just suffer alone.

I am about to graduate in a few months, after that maybe I can find a job with a decent salary and try to continue part timing in the café. No matter how hard it may be, I know I can withstand all the pain and suffering that will come my way, I have to.