Ophelia Mikaelson (Poly Mikaelsons)

Chapter 20 - Chemo Complications

"We need to start chemotherapy as soon as possible," the doctor informs me and my family the following morning.

"No!" I exclaim in protest. "My baby comes first."

Marcellus gets upset at that, having no bond to the baby at all. My family grumble a bit too, preferring me to live if they had to choose. But as a mother I cannot stand the thought of that.

"The cancer is dividing more rapidly than I have ever seen," he explains calmly. "If we don't commence this treatment, both you and the baby will not survive. We will adjust the medication to be as safe as possible but I cannot guarantee anything else at this stage."

His words make me feel so sick I actually start heaving. Our options are worse now and I'm sure it's to do with the magic I used making this spread quicker than usual.

"Mrs Mikaelson, you will die before you deliver if you refuse this treatment."

"Okay," I swallow the lump in my throat. "Do whatever you need to do."

My family all nod in acceptance of my decision, worrying immensely for us but understanding there's nothing else we can do in this situation. I'm taken into a nearby hospital and have to sign so many forms telling me about all the risks, that only make me feel even more uneasy about doing this.

I wish there was some magic I could use but that's what got me in this mess in the first place. My family would actually kill me if I tried to use it again, I have no doubt about that.

When I ask the doctor what he would do in my situation he is hesitant to answer. When I push him I realise why. He would terminate the pregnancy and start harsh chemotherapy, rather than a reduced dose while pregnant. It makes me more anxious that I'm choosing the wrong option but I'm adamant I want this little baby. Termination is not an option therefore we have to proceed as planned.

The drugs make me so sick. I go in almost every day, on a strange regime that has been tweaked from the usual because of the baby. I refuse to let Klaus or Elijah sit with me alone, furious with them both but they don't argue. My whole family agrees with everything I say and ask for, finding it terribly difficult to watch me go through such a horrific medical intervention.

I struggle to sleep and feed, I vomit so much, I know I look exhausted, pale and weak. The hardest moment is when my beautiful hair starts to fall out. It's part of who I am and now I feel like someone else without it. I'm a shell of who I once was.

Klaus promises that no one is worrying about my hair or looks, they all just want me better and the baby safe. But I can't help but feel so ugly, especially when my arms and legs start to swell up like balloons too.

I can hardly recognise myself in the mirror.

Cami and Hayley visit at least once a week. I appreciate their concern but I honestly find it too exhausting to talk to them. I'd rather they left me alone, my family are enough. I hardly have the energy to speak to them either.

Many, many ultrasounds are taken and even the doctor is surprised to see the baby is perfectly fine during the first week. But by week six, I can sense something isn't quite right.

"I'm just going to call the specialist doctor in to have another look at these scans," the woman performing my ultrasound informs me. "There's no need to worry yet."

Yet? What does she mean yet?

Her words make me flustered even more and I end up vomiting. Klaus holds a bowl out for me and I'm thankful for it, he can always anticipate my stomach turning just before it does.

The doctor comes in and purses his lips upon looking at the scan and I burst into tears.

"Something is wrong isn't it?" I worry and Bekah quickly takes my hand in mine, squeezing it reassuringly as we await the doctor's verdict.