The Last Spring

Chapter four: Wither

After a ten-day stay in Turkey, Rabie and his two companions returned home. The glimmer of hope attached

to the diagnosis of the Turkish hospital has evaporated, the illusions were dissipated. The balance sheet was fateful. The diagnosis confirmed that Rabie has ALS disease. The hope of a cure is ephemeral.

ALS is a rare disease, discovered more than a century and a half ago, it still remains incurable. It is known as Abiotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and commonly called Charcot disease, after the French neurologist and professor of anatomy, Jean Martin Charcot, whom he discovered. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls it the cruelest disease in the world. This neuromuscular pathology is characterized by the progressive death of the motor neurons which control the movements: walking, speaking, swallowing, then breathing, which lead to atrophy, paralysis of the patients and death.

Arriving home, they are greeted by the mother and her young children.

« Hello everyone. I missed you so much » said Rabie.

« Daddy! » screamed Rahik and Hiba running towards their Dad.

«Hi Dad, how are you doing? » asked Rawya.

« I am doing great thanks » answered Rabie.

« We missed you too Dad. Welcome back » said Riad.

« Oh my God! Could you say that again Riad? » said Rawya showing anastonished facial expression.

« Say what? Stop harassing me» replied Riad.

« That was unexpected from you. You are showing emotions » continued Rawya.

«So, what! leave me alone » said Riad.

« Leave him alone Rawya. Welcome back. We are all glad that you came back safe. You must be tired. I will take care of everything today; just have some rest while I prepare dinner. You must be nostalgic to the Algerian dishes; you have been away for ten days,

» said Rawda.

« Yes, so much. I mean the Turkish food was not bad, and Amel was cooking for us too » replied Sofiane adding that the apartment was equipped.

« I know that I am a good cook, don't worry Sofiane » said Amel. I feared and apprehended the atmosphere in which we were about to evolve and live, but to my great astonishment everything seemed to be going as before. We announced the bad news to mom in a subtle way without really going into details. We could not tell her that the ALS disease detected by the Tunisian doctor; and confirmed by the diagnosis of the Turkish practitioner was of a neurodegenerative type. In our opinion, there is no right way to announce bad news, but a subtle, educational approach and less devastating. Our patient and dedicated mother listened carefully to the explanations and the story of our stay in Turkey, I felt that she was sad and above all upset and disillusioned. She, too, hoped, like all of us, that her husband would return home in a better health and spirit. The care that was given to him in Turkey only served to temporarily alleviate the pain. Before we left, the Turkish doctor

gave Dad advice, more moral than medicinal, telling him to keep his spirits up, even if deep down and on the basis of his experience he knew that the hopes of recovery are scarce or fleeting. He spoke about the research that continues tirelessly all over the world, and of the divine mercy to urge him not to abdicate and to fight at all costs against this disease. Mom knew now that she had to be at his bedside, because dad needed her as a wife for his bodily intimacy and as a nurse to provide him with the primary care he needed.

The day after our return from Turkey; me and Sofiane went to pray for the soul of our grandmother at her grave. We prayed God to give her mercy and forgive her.