Ross' POV.
11am
I was sat with Riker, my mom and the doctor. "Right Ross. Treatment will start as soon as possible." The doctor told me. I nodded "it will begin with a combination of chemotherapy medication at a high dose to kill the cancerous cells in your blood and bone marrow. This will be carried out here in the hospital. You'll have regular blood transfusions because your blood won't contain enough healthy blood cells." The doctor explained. I nodded slightly "can I go home after each treatment?" I asked. He shook his head "unfortunately not" "why?" I asked. "You'll be vulnerable to infection, so it's important that you're in a clean and stable environment where your health can be carefully monitored and any infection you have can be promptly treated. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to help prevent further infection." He explained. "How long will this last?" Mom asked, squeezing my hand. "Depending on how well you respond to treatment, the induction phase can last from four weeks to a couple of months." The doctor told me. I nodded slightly. It's a lot to take in. "Will he get any side effects?" Riker asked. The doctor nodded "Side effects of intensive chemotherapy are common. They can include:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
loss of appetite
sore mouth and mouth ulcers
tiredness
skin rashes
And of course hair loss" he explained. "What about after that?" I asked. "If this is successful the next stage of treatment will be consolidation." The doctor told us. "What's that?" Riker asked. "This often involves receiving regular injections of chemotherapy medication that are usually given on an outpatient basis, which means that you won't have to stay in hospital overnight. However, you may need some short stays in hospital if your symptoms suddenly get worse or if you develop an infection." He explained. "How long will this last?" I asked. "Several months" he told me. I nodded "what if the chemo doesn't work?" I asked. Riker then grabbed my hand. "You'll just have to have the treatment again. We're doing and will do everything we can to help you Ross" the doctor smiled. I smiled slightly and nodded "thank you" I whispered. He smiled and patted my arm. "You're very welcome. When D'you want to start treatment?" He asked. I gulped. "Can I go out for like one more time before treatment? Then we can start as soon as I get back?" I suggested. He smiled and nodded. "If you leave at 12 and come back at 12 tomorrow. We can start treatment then" he told me. I smiled "thank you" he nodded "see you tomorrow Ross. You can bring anything from home that you like. For example you could bring your bedding or laptop or anything you like. You can change the whole room if you want. You are gonna be here for quite a while"
12:30pm
I stepped out of Rikers car at the band house. Mom and dad were coming later. I walked in and everyone looked at me. Rydel ran over and hugged me "I'm so fucking sorry" she sobbed. "Shh. It's okay" I soothed, hugging back. "No. It's not. You're sick. Really sick" she sobbed. I bit my lip. "I know" I whimpered. "Ry. Give him some space okay?" Rocky ordered. Rydel nodded slightly and we separated. "Sorry" she laughed slightly, wiping her eyes. "It's fine Delly" I assured. "Ross. Let's go play some video games" Ell smiled. "Yeah come on" Ryland smiled. I nodded slightly and rubbed Rydels arm. "I'm fine okay?" She smiled and nodded. I smiled before following the boys to the living room.
4:30 pm
We were still playing video games when I felt someone stroke my hair. I glanced up slightly. Mom. "Hi mom" I smiled. She smiled down at me. "Hi honey. We're taking you all out for dinner okay?" She told me. I nodded. "Okay. Thanks mom"
8:00pm
We finished the meal and were in the car home. Mom and dad were dropping me home. "We're gonna come over tomorrow morning and help you get ready for the hospital" dad told me. I nodded as we pulled up at the band house. "See you tomorrow" mom smiled. I nodded "g'night"
The next morning
10am
I sat on my desk chair as I watched mom and dad change my bed. I placed my laptop in my laptop bag with my phone charger and laptop charger. I also put my notebook and pens in there. Dad glanced at me. "Anything else you wanna take?" He asked. I glanced around the room. "Books?" I asked. He nodded before walking over. "What books D'you want?" He asked. "The ones on the right. I haven't read them yet" he nodded before grabbing 3. Riker walked in. "Hey. Ready to go?" He asked. I shrugged "not yet. He still needs to pack clothes" mom told him. Riker nodded before walking to my wardrobe. "God. You're organised" he laughed. I smiled. Riker grabbed some t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, jogging bottoms, baggy jeans, pyjama pants an pyjama shirts and underwear. He put them all in a bag and zipped it up. "There. Now you're ready" dad told me. I smiled slightly and nodded. Tears stung my eyes and my lip quivered. Riker walked over and hugged me. Tears ran down my face as I clutched onto him. "Shh. It's okay. You're alright" he soothed. I dug my nails into his back as I cried. "It's okay. I got you. I'm here" Riker started to play with my hair as he hugged me. I nestled into his neck and he lifted me up before sitting down where I was. He held onto me as tight as he could. "Ross. Calm down buddy. You're gonna make yourself-" then Puke poured out of my mouth to the side of us. Mom ran over and wiped my mouth as dad started to clean the puke up. "I got you. Calm down rossy"
