Bonds of Blood |A Heartland Fanfic

Chapter Seven

She had begged and bartered until her parents agreed she could miss school to sit with Katie today, they were starting her new treatment. If her body responded well after the bone marrow transplant the doctors would continue to this treatment, it would reduce her chance of getting this sick again.

Georgie watched as the nurse hooked up the bag to the IV, Katie's hand crept into hers and she gave her little sister a reassuring smile. The doctors would do the first blood test tonight to see if it had done anything in her system, until then they waited. Lou and Peter sat by the bed, they tried to distract Katie, reading stories and playing board games but Georgie kept sneaking glances at the bag that hung from the pole.

Katie's body wasn't strong enough or big enough for those medications, someone else had taken them for her and made their body do the work of breaking them down. She'd read about what those drugs did to the body as they started to work, in low doses the adverse effects were supposed to be mild, but to get a concentration in the blood stream high enough to help Katie the doses weren't low. How long would they want to do that?

"Honey." Peter touched her shoulder, jerking her from her thoughts; Katie had fallen asleep. "Let's go down and get some lunch, Katie is going to sleep for awhile."

She wasn't hungry, but she went to the cafeteria with them and nibbled some soggy fries. Watching them glance back and forth, she knew something was coming and she had a guess as to what it was. "I don't want to talk about school."

"That's okay." Peter said quietly. "We need to talk about Katie."

"Why?" Her eyes narrowed, she didn't get to see her often enough as it was. "What is wrong? Has the donor backed out?"

"No, no they have not, the doctors have said the person is committed." Lou took her hands, she saw fear in her mother's eyes; it wasn't just a thought that had crossed her mind. "We have no guarantee for how long, but we do know for now they are, and we just have to hope that lasts."

"The doctors plan to do the transplant next week, Katie is going to be put into isolation a few days before and for awhile after. We won't be able to spend as much time with her and when we do visit her we will have to wear special gowns, masks and gloves." Peter's tone was gentle, but she was waiting for the catch. "It might be better if you skype with her."

"No!"

"Georgie if there are no complications Katie could be home as soon as two or three weeks after the transplant; you can spend as much time as you want with her once she is out of isolation. And when she is home she will need lots of help, and we will need your help taking care of her. But for the first little while she will be at a huge risk of infection; until the doctors can check that the new cells are working properly." Lou jumped in, laying a hand on the table. "We will make sure she gets to talk to you every time we visit, and it won't be for very long. Just until her body starts making healthy cells that can protect her."

"I'll wear the mask and gown and gloves, but I want to see her; I don't care if is only for a few minutes." She argued, Katie was already so lonely stuck up here and feeling miserable; she wasn't going to make her feel even more alone.

"Honey, we are going to ask everyone to do the same. I know it is hard, we are really worried about not being able to see her as much too. But you can be a huge help by getting things ready for her to come home, she will continue with the new treatment and that means we need to make sure everything is clean, warm, and feels special. Katie has missed being at home." Peter took her hand. "As soon as she is up for visitors we will make sure you get to see her."