How My World Changed Forever...Again

Make a Wish, Say Goodbye

A/N so, I realized I don't think I ever really said how old the girls are in this.  Annie is 14 and Hayley will be 10.  It's June of 2019.  I know those are really close to their current ages, so this could literally never be happening when it is, but again, it is a fake story after all.  Anyway, enjoy! 
Katie's [Donnelly] POV
I've been in Philadelphia for five and a half weeks.  39 days.  The first STEM cell transplant failed miserably, and we knew it the day after the surgery.  Although Brennan's cells were a perfect match, my body rejected them.  The next option was to bring Ryan in.  He matched mine too, but in a different combination I guess.  The second transplant was a success.  While that was going on, I endured a combination of very intense rounds of chemo and radiation to attempt to control the cell growth in my brain.  They don't want to do surgery.  There isn't a singular tumor but rather cancerous cells spread throughout.  They say the only way to maybe fix it is radiation.  But my blood and bones still need chemo.  The combination of the two treatments lead to very hard days.  They say I'm doing better.  They say it's not spreading.  They say the masses are reducing.  I don't believe them.  My instincts seem to be verified when a group of several people enter my room.
     "Katie Donnelly?" A women with a fake smile wearing a blue t shirt with a logo printed on the front and jeans asks.  I already know what this is about.
Well duh!  I think.  My name is literally printed outside my door!
     I nod my head like an idiot, going along with her stupid act.  "Well, we're all from the Make a Wish Foundation and we're here to offer you a wish.  If you could do anything, be anything, meet anyone, in the world, what would it be?"
     My mom cries tears of joy and Ryan and Brennan both leap to my side.  I don't react like they do.  I don't need a wish.  I have everything in the world I could ever ask for.  We have enough money to pay for my treatment.  We have enough money to keep our house.  If we wanted to go to Disney Land right now, we could.  Not every kid has that, and I think they're dumb for giving me the wish. How does my family not see this?
When the chaos settles, the extremely smiley woman asks me again; "so Katie, if you could wish anything you wanted, what would it be?"
I pause, trying to find the words to correctly convey my thoughts. My moms face falls as she sees I'm not over the moon. I just start talking, "look, guys. This is great and all, amazing really. I never in a million years imagined I'd have a wish granted. Then again, I never in a million years imagined I'd be diagnosed with cancer. I don't need this. There is some other kid out there who wants this way worse than me. The only thing I want is to go home and get better, and I don't think you can grant miracles. And besides," I say, looking over at the poster sized picture of the Ballinger all wearing my shirts, "I already have everything I could ever ask for," a smile crossing my face.
Everyone is in shock. The woman's annoyingly fake smile fades and a real one crosses her face along with a couple tears. You could hear a pin drop in this room. "Grant someone else wish," I say after a moment of silence, "mine are already coming true."
I don't think I'll ever make this organization fully understand why I did what I did, but all that matters is that the ones who love me the most know. And believe me, they get it.

Colleen's POV
I turn my phone off, tears of happiness streaming down my face. I am so humbled right now.
Jill called to personally tell me that Katie was just offered a wish. They had no idea and it was all the works of the hospital staff. Katie gave up the wish. Jill said she doesn't fully know why and really, she may never because only Katie can tell for sure, but Jill thinks it's because of us. All Rachel and I did was fly over there for a little while. We spent only a few hours total with her and only scrapped te surface when it comes to getting to know a person. When we got home, we took a silly picture and sent it via iMessage. And those few hours I put into those simple things made Katie give up having anything she could ask for. Now, had she revived a wish before meeting us, would Rachel and I have been her wish? Probably not. But, meeting is was enough for her I guess.
Now I feel like I owe that kid. I owe her every waking second of my life because what I did, to me anyway, is no match to what Make a Wish could've done.
     I've done a lot of work with kids with cancer, and I don't think they know that.  I don't wanna be like, "oh!  I've helped so many kids!"  Like, no, I didn't do it for something to brag about.  I think the experience with it has given me a lot more heart for those going through it.  Not only have I volunteered time at the hospital, but I have also granted wishes.  Well, I've been wishes.  I know what this organization has sent kids to do and I know it's a huge deal for a kid to give up the experience.  What kid wouldn't want to be an astronaut or pet a koala?  Then again, what kid would want to be treated any differently?
I shout into the hall, "Rach! Come here!"
She comes running. "What happened?" seeing my tears.
"Katie got a wish. She gave it up. Jill thinks it was because she met us. She told the woman she didn't need anything because she already had everything she could ask for. We did that. Katie gave up her wish for another kid who needs it."
"That's so cool!" Rachel says, truly amazed.
"I feel so humbled. We're just a couple of California girls who happened to put some silly videos online for people to see. And look what it's become."
"Well, yeah. I'd say it's a little more than that. You toured the world for ten years, you wrote two books, and you got two seasons of a television show. I'd say it's a little more than silly videos."
"Still. This is the most incredible thing my career has done for me."
While we're still standing in my office, my phone rings again. This time it's the girls' mom. I answer and say, "hey, what's going on?"
"So Jill called you about Katie?" I nod as if she can see me, "well, I'm calling to tell you that, apparently, before make a wish was in the picture, Katie was scheduled to go home within a few days. The only wish she even slightly alluded to was "to go home and get better". Now, this has nothing to do with Make a Wish. They aren't funding any of this.  Her money is still going to another wish kid. Anyway, she doesn't know yet, but she's well enough to go home as in back to Maryland and at home some days. Anyway, back to the point, we're doing a surprise party for her and we'd really like Annie and Hayley to be home. And before you ask, we'd love more than anything for you to be able to be there, but I'm saying, don't do it to yourself. How many months pregnant are you?"
"Um...like two and a half..."
"You shouldn't fly across the country right now. You say you've been sick a lot, and it's not worth it for you. You would be risking a lot doing it in first trimester. It would be devastating if god forbid something happened. I would never live it down for letting it happen. You will see this kid again, but now is not the time."
"Did you tell Jill?" I ask beginning to cry.
"Colleen, I would never do that. This is your life. I'm not gonna spread it when it isn't public yet."
"Thank you," I say weakly, "hey, I think Annie has something to tell you."
I look at Rachel and say, "will you go get her?"
Within a couple seconds, Annie is standing with me. I sit down, pull her to my lap, and hold my phone, which is on speaker, to her. "Hey, mommy, um, Hayden broke up with me," she says, not even crying.
"I'm sorry honey. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," she says, smiling up at me.
"Okay, you can call me anytime. I need to talk to Colleen for a sec, okay?"
"Sure. Bye. I love you," Annie says before walking out of my office.
Rachel shuts the door behind her, and Katie says, "wow. I knew it would happen. Anyway, Billy booked their flight for tomorrow. I'm sorry it's short notice, but, honestly, I didn't even know until just a few hours ago."
"Okay, so am I telling them or...?"
"Yeah, go ahead and say what's going on. I have to go, but if you have any questions, text me. I hope you feel better, and take it easy. I mean that, it'll make things a lot easier."
     "Thanks.  And thanks for calling.  I wish I could be there, but also, thanks for looking out for my health.  I certainly wouldn't have.  Bye, Katie."
     "Bye, bye."
     After the call is ended, I look at Rachel and say, "that means we have to say goodbye to those girls again."
     "Well what did you think was gonna happen?  They're not ours!" She says laughing.
     "I know."

Over the next 24 hours, we help the girls pack and then face goodbye at LAX.

Rachel's POV
     It's 12 hours before we have to leave to go to their airport, aka 4 AM.  I'm asleep in bed by myself when I hear a quiet knock on my closed door.  "Rachel?" a little voice asks, the door cracking open.
     "Hayley?" I respond confused, running my eyes, "what's up?"
     "I..." she stutters, walking to the bed. 
     I switch a lamp on sitting on the nightstand.  As I get a better look at Hayley's face, I see that her eyes are swollen and her cheeks are tear stained.
     "What happened?  Are you okay?" I ask, wiping her face with my thumbs.
     "I...I'm scared to go home.  I don't wanna go back.  I don't wanna see Katie sick in a hospital bed.  It's scary to me.  It makes me sad and makes me worry about her.  I don't wanna remember her barely being able to move.  I wanna remember Katie when she was healthy and doing gymnastics and swimming and running around and chasing the dogs and being a kid!"
     Hayley has a very odd cry going on.  She's absolutely hysterical but also super quiet.  "Oh, Hayley, I'm so sorry.  I didn't know you felt like this and I don't think anyone else did either.  Do your parents know how you feel?"
     She shakes her head.  My heart breaks for her.  This little 10 year old has kept these emotions to herself just to be a team player.  She didn't want to be a burden to anyone else.
     "Is Annie still asleep?" I ask.
     She nods this time.  "Okay.  I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise you anything.  It's after 7 in Maryland now.  I think I'm gonna try to get ahold of your mom.  Why don't you lay here and try to go back to sleep for a few hours?"
     "Thank you, Rachel," she says quietly.
     "It's okay," I whisper, pulling her into my arms.
At this point, I'd like to go get Colleen, but if I wake her up now, there's no way she'd get through the day.
     Many text messages and a short phone call later, Katie is up to date and a decision has been made.  I lay back down next to Hayley, absolutely exhausted and try to go back to sleep.  I have to be up in just a few hours.

Colleen's POV
I have pulled myself out of bed for the day (it's already 2 o'clock!) to go to the airport with Rachel and Erik, who the girls have grown close to as well.
Hayley is staying with us for a while longer.  She doesn't need to be at home, agonizing over something she can't fully comprehend. Death.  Her mom thinks she'll be much happier with us until they can get settled back into a routine.
     I pull Annie into my arms.  I love this kid so much, which makes saying good bye so hard.
     Rachel next.
     After she lets go, Erik gives her a high five.  "Hey," she says pretending to be serious, "take care of her," gesturing to me. I loose it with laughter.  She's so freaking funny.
     Lastly is Annie and Hayley.  They hold each other in each other's arms for as long as possible.  Hayley's crying.  Annie's crying.  It's a mess.  I can relate.  I hate saying goodbye to Rachel. These kids are going to be 3,000 miles apart.
I watch Annie walk alone down the terminal to the plane. Hayley stands helplessly a few feet in front of Rachel, Erik, and I watching her sister disappear. After a minute, Hayley turns around and faces us. She runs straight into Rachel's arms. When we are ready to go, Rachel lifts Hayley up and carries her to the car.
I wish I was going with Annie. I wish I could see the way Katie's smile lights up when she gets home. But the girls' mom is right; I have to focus on my own health. As a matter of fact, in just one week, I get to find out the gender of our beautiful baby.  And I have an extra kid with me along for the ride.  I guess Hayley will be my little buddy for a while.