Awstens mom wouldn't stop crying. He didn't really understand why, the doctors weren't telling him anything.
So far, Jack had come in and taken blood samples and tried to get him to eat, but Awsten still wasn't really hungry. It was probably the fluid stuff filling him up anyways. The rash was going away slowly and turning to little and big blisters, which was the chicken pox, he had guessed. He had had another blood nose earlier, and had had to change his bedsheets because he got blood everywhere.
Jack came in again. He looked very nervous and Awsten didn't like it. "What's wrong?" Awsten asked.
"Awsten, do you know what bone marrow is?" Jack asked. He wheeled in a large tray.
Awsten nodded. "Yeah, I learnt about it in science," he said. "Why?"
"We want to do a bone marrow and aspirate biopsy." Jack said, which earned a loud sob from Awstens mom.
"Okay?" Awsten frowned. "Will it hurt?"
"A little, but we'll give you some local anaesthetic which will numb it," Jack explained. "Would you like me to explain what's gonna happen?"
Awsten nodded, his eyes wide as he stared at the massive needle.
"Alright. The procedure will only take about ten minutes, and we'll make the area numb for you. You'll lie on your tummy and I'll mark the spot I'll take it from, then clean it with some antiseptic wipes. Have you ever seen a surgery show?" Jack asked.
Awsten nodded, soaking up the information. "Yeah."
"Alright, cool. The other doctors in here will cover your back and butt with some cloth, just so the part I'll be using will be shown. I'll be taking the bone marrow and aspirate from the posterior iliac crest, which is the back part of your hip bone. We'll do the bone marrow aspiration first. You still wanna hear about it?"
Awsten nodded again. "I-I'm listening."
"I'll make a small incision on the mark and put a hollow needle in. I'll push this through the bone and marrow and into the hollow part where I'll suck out the fluid. Then I'll do the bone marrow biopsy, and I'll use a larger needle. This will suck out a cylindrical core sample. Then we'll be all done!" Jack smiled. "I'll put a bandage over the area and you'll lie on your back for half an hour. You have to apply pressure to the place of surgery. Afterwards you may be in pain, but it will subside eventually. We'll get the results in two days." Jack sighed.
"And we're doing that now?" Awsten asked, fear in his voice.
"Yep," Jack nodded. "You'll be fine, I promise. Hop on your tummy, okay? I'm going to get a few things. Ginny, would you like to stay in here with Awsten?" He looked over at Awstens mom.
Ginny, Awstens Mom, nodded. "Is that okay, Awsie?"
"Please hold my hand," Awsten whimpered into his pillow, already on his stomach. "I'm scared momma."
"It's going to be okay," she said gently, moving the hard wooden chair closer to his bed. She took ahold of his hands tightly. "You're okay. I'm here," she pressed a kiss to Awstens head. "Deep breaths."
Two nurses came in, along with Jack. Jack shut the curtain and wheeled the cart closer to the bed. "Alright Awsten, I'm going to lift up your gown now," Jack said.
Awsten nodded, squeezing his moms hand tightly. "O-okay," He whimpered. Jack took ahold of the gown and lifted it up about halfway up Awstens back. He felt the nurses drape cloth over his back and his bum, covering his thighs too. "I-I'm scared," He closed his eyes tightly. "Mom!"
"Shh, you're okay, it won't hurt as much as you think it will," She whispered. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "They're putting the anaesthetic needle in your back now, okay?"
