Love isn't always enough A Jordan Knight/ Joey McIntyre fanfic

Chapter 95: Rough Road Cancer Sucks

Four weeks later:

Steph had been really sick, so sick; in fact, they had an IV in her arm that a nurse came by to check every day. Just to ensure she wasn't getting dehydrated. She wasn't really able to stomach anything, maybe a small container of jello or a few sips of broth. 

She was so sick, and Joe was doing everything he could for her. He gave her sponge baths, and she slept most of the day. He got her popsicles, but she was so weak she could barely eat them. 

This chemo had taken a lot out of her. He would sit beside her in the bed and read her stories or sing to her. Jordan, Jon, Danny, Donnie, and all their siblings had been a huge help. 

There were some days she would just cry as Joe held her. He would rub her body to ease the pain from lying so much. He massaged her legs, back, and feet just to try and ease her pain. She hated being so dependent on him. He told her that he enjoyed taking care of her she wasn't a burden to him. 

She was skinny before, but now you can see her collarbone poking out because she is so tiny. They cut her hair short to her shoulder, and then within two weeks, it was falling out in huge clumps, so he shaved her head and bought her every color of bandanas and doo rags. 

He would get her to walk at least once a day, and she was so weak when he put her in the bath that he would bathe with her and wash her. He would get out and pick her up and sit her on the chair.

He was doing everything he could for her. She had treatments, so she wasn't able to join him for his shows in December in California. He flew out and flew straight back the same night. He knew she wanted to go to his show at Carnegie Hall, but he wasn't sure she would be able to, and she had to wear a mask because her immune system is so low with the chemo. 

He bought her a nice dress and comfortable shoes. He had her a seat right in the front row with a wheelchair. The fans flooded all their pages when he did the live talking about his wife's diagnosis. 

A fan made her New Kids on the Block bandana with Joe's picture on the top facing the front. That made Steph cry, she was so surprised by the gift. Another fan made her a denim jacket with the band's picture on the back. They had received flowers and cards from so many Blockheads.

Joe has been doing weekly updates for their fans. He thanked them for all the prayers and love sent their way and for all the gifts they had received. 

Steph cried when she watched the first video he made telling the fans. He said, "This is a sad video, but I felt you all deserved to know what is going on. My lovely, beautiful wife who, if you have been to our concerts, have seen or met her. She is always there supporting the group and me. We found out that my wife has cancer just a few weeks ago."

"Forgive me if I get emotional; this is very hard to deal with. She is such a beautiful person inside and out. So, please know if, at events or my solo concerts, I seem distracted, it is because right now, my wife is fighting for her life. I wanted to let you know it doesn't mean I'm not thankful for you showing up or anything because I am very thankful. This is how dedicated my wife is to supporting me. She told me that if I canceled my solo tour or any of the shows scheduled with the Band, she would leave me. She said the fans didn't deserve to have plans canceled because of her being sick. She knows our fans, and she loves each and every one of you. So, I will be at all events that have already been scheduled. If you believe in the power of God, then lift her in your prayers. She has a very rough road ahead of her, but thankfully we have a lot of people supporting us and helping us out." He ended the video as he cried. 

The scans have shown the cancer in her lymph nodes has shrank, so that is good news. She will be going in for surgery in two weeks. I will drive us to New York then we have to return to Boston that same night. The guys are all flying in for her surgery, so they will be at the show; we will do a few songs with the group.