The couple was agitated to say the least. They patiently sat in the doctor's office after he called them aside.
The doctor's face was unreadable while he handed them a brochure. He kept a professional view on the matter not letting his emotions prevent him from doing his work as he told them the bad news.
"I'm sorry but unless she can do the surgery to get the necessary treatment, your daughter only has around two months to live."
Hearing your only child was about to die wasn't the most pleasant time for parents Duncan and Christina Jennings.
Tears welled up in Christina's eyes and former military man busied himself with the brochure, afraid to cry.
After around three minutes of hearing his wife quiet sobs Duncan spoke.
"How much will the surgery cost Frank?" He addressed Dr. Franklin.
The good doctor simply could not look his friend in his eyes as he uttered the figure, "close to a million dollars."
The military man slumped in his chair, defeat was upon him?
A million dollars?
"Money doesn't grow on trees Frank! Where the hell am I going to get that money from in two months?" The father of Jayda bellowed at his friend.
Jayda has been recently diagnosed with leukemia, a rare and almost fatal blood disease.
Almost fatal because it could be treated and cured. But a million dollars for a bone marrow transplant was too much for this family.
"There are a lot of options you know. You can borrow from a bank or do a fund raising event." The doctor's voice was quiet.
Franklin hated this part of his job; telling parents their child was going to die.
"Alright Frank," the military man's wife spoke up sniffling. "We'll see what we can do. Let's go dear" she said rising from her chair. Christina had already dried her eyes knowing she had to look emotionally stable for her daughter.
"Before you go, here." The doctor ripped a piece of paper of a notepad. "The fee for the tests amounted to $2000."
Duncan took the paper from Frank's hand and proceeded to leave the room.
$2000 dollars to hear that your daughter is dying?
Duncan fought back the tears that bit at his eyes and went to face his daughter who was waiting for them outside.
The ride back home was silent, the radio of the beat up Ford cruiser had given up playing from about three years back. The engine rambled as the pick up trembled along the road. Duncan wanted to trade it in for a newer model but alas great complications arose.
A million of them.
He turned in along the lane where his house was situated, it wasn't anyone of the fancy houses strewn along the sidewalk.
No.
His was the last one on the street, a tiny house compared to the rest but still one that could house the trio comfortably.
If was a little after five when dinner was prepared, Mac n cheese.
Duncan couldn't complain.
Jayda devoured hers and went to her room leaving her parents alone with their thoughts.
'I was thinking about what Doctor Franklin said," Christina broke the silence.
"What about it?" The military man asked.
"The whole bank situation. Maybe we should ask for a loan."
"Maybe," Duncan replied.
"Should we tell her?" Concern plain in Christina's voice.
"Yes, tell her that she is sick and we need to get her treatment. But don't tell her that she is dying. That's too much for a small child." The military man looking directly into his wife's eyes.
She seemed to have aged ten years during the drive back home. At one point in time, she was considered as very gorgeous lady. But after her daughter started coughing up blood a week back, her looks seemed to fade away with each passing day.
An any agitated parent would feel the same way.
They got up leaving the kitchen light on, facing the bountiful bundle of joy in their lives.
"I'm sorry Sir, but the financial status of your bank statement prevents us from giving you such a loan." The teller of the First Global Bank gave the couple more bad news.
"What about a coverage of some sort, like a motor vehicle or a house?" The wife asked.
The teller punched in some keys on the keyboard, his black rimmed glasses reflecting the light from the monitor.
"According to our data, you have a 1996 Ford Cruiser. This could not serve as collateral as it must be a vehicle under ten years old. Your vehicle is 20 years old."
The teller confirmed the military man's suspicions.
They weren't getting the loan.
Duncan thumped the desk, rattling its contents. Several heads turned and looked, others were engrossed in their conversations.
"I need this loan," Duncan shouted.
"Sir I don't think you understand." The teller was obviously irritated. "We have no guarantee you will be able to accumulate funds to repay the loan."
A security guard slowly made his way over to the teller's work station.
"I can goddammit!" The military man rising from his chair, knocking it over in the process. He stared at the teller menacingly as if he was going to ounce on him.
The security guard placed a hand on his gun while speaking, "Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave."
Duncan directed his attention to the guard who was a beefy man. Not wanting to cause any trouble, Duncan grabbed his wife's hand and left the bank, embarrassed and defeated.
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"Daddy, am I dying?" the question asked by the innocent Jayda unsettled her father who came to tuck her in.
"What makes you ask that Jay?" Duncan could hardly look at his daughter much less speak to her.
"Caz Selena came to me and asked me if she could have my Rapunzel dolls when I'm dead." The asymptomaticgirl recited the entire conversation.
"Hmm, I see," the father sat beside his daughter on the bed. "Jayda, you aren't dying. As mommy and I explained already, you are just very sick and need to go to a special doctor to feel better."
The girl's forehead wrinkled in confusion, "So why haven't I been to the doctor as yet?"
"Jayda," the military man sighed. "That doctor is very expensive and mommy and daddy need extra money to pay for the treatment. That's why we are having the fund raising event."
"So I am not dying?" Jayda's voice had a hint of uncertainty in it.
" No Darling you're not."
"You have to promise me daddy, promise to take good care of me." Jayda extended her pinky finger a gesture recognized by her father.
"I promise that I won't let anything happen to you. Now go get some sleep, We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow." Duncan kissed his daughter's nose and left the room.
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YOU ARE READING
Her Hero
Short Story"How far would you go to save her life?" "Me? I would go to hell and back for her and that's what I am going to do." After finding out his daughter was diagnosed with Stage four blood cancer, former solider Duncan Jennings is failing to give her th...
