A life with and without choice.

Choices for a change Part 12

Mum smiled as she tucked Jo back into bed and they snuggled down to sleep again. She had watched the two girls listen to Jo and accept them in playing their game. When the girls had accepted Jo and seemed so happy together she had slipped out to focus on some of the things she needed to do, but the image of the three of them playing warmed her heart that Jo was coming back and getting stronger.

The ward round continued and the doctor came to Jo last just as they were waking up. The usual checks and questions. Well usual for Jo and mum about side effects of the radiation, tiredness and any other symptoms. Then the plan for further tests and a blood test to happen later. Jo switched off with that. They tried to go with the flow. Their experience of hospital had taught them to just go along with the plan and not knowing all the details made each trip in a wheelchair an adventure where she would discover more new things. Jo turned it into a game and hoped a Porter might join in while mum would follow along behind. Jo imagined it being a family trip with the dolls house family where Jo could decide if they turn left, right or straight and see where they end up.

The ward round soon became lunch and after a nibbled carrot with cold milk as Jo didn't feel hungry especially with a final visit from Sally and Rebecca. They were both curious about why Jo was in a room on their own. 'Wasn't it lonely on their own?' They both questioned. Jo's mum helped answer. Then the three mums chatted as the children focussed on the play house ideas they all had. The similarity of the three was a surprise to them all. The older girls continued to be charmed by Jo's ideas and they wished them well and to enjoy building the ideas before they went home. The mum's just finished comparing notes and said goodbyes just before the Porter arrived to take Jo for another adventure. So rushed goodbyes with Sally and Rebecca who were being allowed home, their excitement only tinged by leaving the doll's house behind, but the joy of knowing Jo would continue the story made them content. Good byes and hugs then they left while the Porter lifted Jo into a wheelchair.

'Wow, you get a chair. I always have to walk around here.'  Sally exclaimed.

The adults smiled at this view of using a wheelchair as being fun. Jo explained her game of flying along the corridors or being on a boat or train travelling through the  corridor rivers. The older girls became even more jealous and asked if they could be pushed to the exit. Their mums said no, much to their dismay and even gave them little bags to carry.

So they all left together Jo leading the way with the Porter pushing Jo in a meandering journey to the lift. They said their goodbyes as the girls took the stairs. Saying farewell as if they had known each other for ages. Jo would have been sad, but the meandering journey had lulled them to begin falling asleep and she said 'goodbye' while half asleep. The hugs and kisses from the girls became part of her dream.

The boat was passing through fog Jo half aware of farewells and comforting hugs and best wishes. Then the doors closed and she sank to the bottom of the sea. When the doors opened shipwrecks and mermaids led the way. A narrative half coming from the Porter and Jo's dream. Her eyes fluttered occasionally to see more amazing sights and sounds.

Jo awoke with comfortable feeling from mum hugging them and a hot and weird sensation. Seeing their canula being attached to a line. They looked away and whimpered.

'Oh I'm sorry Jo I thought you might sleep through this, sorry. We used to do it like this when you were younger and often you just whimpered in your sleep and then settled back down.' Mum explained.

'It's ok. I like it like that. Not knowing is best some times.' Jo replied. They were so used to it, but still hated needles and could never relax in the build up. So being asleep was good from their perspective.

There were two or three more stops on their river trip. Jo continued to drift and the Porter gave a calming commentary that included mum at times. Jo didn't really think about what was happening. There was just the one test that included needles and the others just seemed basic and standard tests they had become so used to that it was as routine as cleaning their teeth.

They returned to the ward and this became the pattern over the next few days. The one difference was that Jo was getting better and was staying awake for a little longer each time. This meant Jo was able to play with the dolls house more each day.

Jo immersed herself in this world where she had all the choices for a change. She even asked Mum if they could have a dolls house at home. Mum had seen this idea coming and gave an adults reply of they wouldn't enjoy playing with it when they were here then. Jo sensed this was because it would be too expensive, so asked if they could make a house from a cardboard box? This was agreed as a great idea. So Jo returned to fantasy life thinking up games the sisters could play with Timmy the dog. Jo also began to have thoughts of how they could make a cardboard house. Inspiration struck that they could make clothes for the girls and perhaps Nan could help knit some?

The smile and thoughts washed over Jo and they lay back with a smile and fell into a sleep and dream that mixed these thoughts and a strange feeling that took them beyond anything even Jo had ever imagined before.