Changing Carter WATTY AWARDS 2012

Taking life support off

3 days had gone by since I fell asleep in the hall. My mother was excpected to wake up out of her coma any day. Jake who never wanted to leave my site helped me over come so much. Every time my mother would go into cardio arrest he would comfort me take me on a walk or in the hall and distract me. It was 3pm and after staying in the hospital for a good 2 weeks we had explored every inch of this place."Carter! Oh my God Carter!!" My dad yelled . My mom was in what may be her final cardio arrest the last time I would every see her untill Dr.Reed used the AED. I never want to see that again in my life. I refused to let Jake take me any where and he caught on quick. Then out of no where my moms hand moved. Then a gasp of air. My mom was on the recovery of waking up.

I could feel my face turning pale, my knees became shakey and my body became overwhelmed with fear. My grandparents sat next to my mom on one side dad was holding my moms hands while sitting on one side of the bed. I sat on the other Jake wrapped his arms around me while standing behind me. I coud feel his heart beat going fast, all of ours was.

Dr. Reed asked to speak to my dad in private and took him his office. Dad wasn't to happy about leaving mom in the room.

As my dad and Dr.Reed made their way back in to the room, Dr. Reed spoke. "I have some nice news." Dr. Reed said. "Your mother is on her way to recovery, we will be able to take her off life support by the end of tommorrow, however I do have some bad news." At this point Jakes crushing me I don''t think he relised how tight he was squeesing me. " There is a possibility your mother lost her memory, its not a sure thing but a possibility." How could this be? my own mother not know who I was, not remeber my name, my father, any of our memories. I wondered if she would still love me, I am her daughter she would have to right?

A few hours went by and my mind was still racing a mile a minute. I wasnt sure how I felt about my mom waking up but not knowing who I am. I sat by my mom till about 9pm and I headed to garden, I needed time alone to just think. My phone buzzed.

"Carter, head to the garden asap" Jake texted me. How did he know I was heading there? When I finally reached the garden Jake stood there waiting for me. "You need to get some air" he said. "When I first found out that I had Cancer I would go out side at night and look at the stars". "Thank you Jake." I said.

He layed down a blanket and we layed in the grass staring at the stars. This was what I needed, a simi distraction to just breath and think of a positive out come. "Can I tell you a secret Carter?" I nodded. "The night I found out I had cancer I came out here and layed down and I saw a shooting star, and I wished that God would put someone in my life that would help me get through my cancer and give me hope" his eyes began to get teary. "I saw the shooting star two weeks before Christmas." he said. " That was the day I meet you by the nursery, the day my mom was diagnosed with cancer." I said. He nodded. "Carter I thought my life was over, I was overwheled with sadness, you put the life back into me." I hadn't seen him get this teary before. I grabed his hand. " God works in magical ways, and he sent me here to help you and he sent you to help me." I said. I scooted closer gave him a kiss on his cheek, and rested my head on his sholder still holding his hand. The sky was nice, stars alined in many ways, the Big Dipper directly above us. Just as if we were in a movie a shooting star flew over our heads. We both closed our eyes and made a wish. I wished that my mom would wake up and remeber me and that no matter what Jake would always help me get through it. I didn't ask Jake what he wished for, he squeezed my hand tighter.

" What time do you need to head home?" I asked him "I have a check up here at 6 tomorrow morning I thought I would stay with you and your family to give you support. " "Thank you" I said with a slight smile.

We fell asleep under that stars, it was nice for a night not sleeping in the hallway of the hospital or the chair. I thought about what Jake had said about his wish and the night we meet, I began to think that miricals really do happen, and that God puts us in people's lives for a reason.

"Carter, its morning" Jake said softly. "I have about 15 mins before my check up." I turned my head to look at him, he looked very pale, like he was nervous. I sat up and he helped me up. "Remeber what you always tell me, " I said looking in his eyes as i grabed both his hands pulling him closer. Siimotaniously he and both said "everything is going to be fine." I smiled. He leaned over kissed my check and we walked back into the hospital. I walked him to his room and tokd him to text me when it was over. I headed back to my moms room, knowing that today they were going to take her off of life support. I opened the door. I screamed when I saw the room.