Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 132 - Summer Things

The last two weeks of May went by relatively quickly. Greg went to singing lessons every day, consenting to sing with Melody in the evenings. His deep baritone speaking voice was rich and full when he applied it to singing, causing those in range to pause what they were doing to listen to him.

Susan took Melody to her appointment with Dr. Lin, and as expected, they were given a new date for her surgery on the last Tuesday in June.

"Was there any change or concern in regards to any of her tests?" Greg asked when Susan shared with him the news.

"Her liver enzymes were up slightly from last time," Susan said.

"Does Dr. Lin feel that's significant?" Greg wondered.

"She's going to keep an eye on it," Susan said. "We know it's being caused by this cocktail of medicines she's taking. We also know we need to get her off of them as soon as possible."

"But she is doing so well on them," Greg remarked.

"That is an illusion, Greg. The medicines are keeping her cardiac, respiratory, and renal systems operating as well as they can. That balance has helped her to grow and enabled her to be as active as she is. But we also know, it wouldn't take much to push her the other way, for the toxicity to outweigh the benefit of one or more of her medications," Susan said.

Greg studied their daughter, playing nearby with her dolls while they talked. At moments like these, it was easy to consider Melody a normal child ... or at least as normal as it was possible to be for a child with Downs Syndrome. She was slowly learning her ABCs, though counting was a concept she truly didn't understand. Forest was rapidly becoming a functional service dog, and all indications were he would be ready to go with Melody when she went to school in the fall. Given the opportunity, she would continue to learn, he knew, but in a limited way.

"I understand," Greg said finally. "I will call Alex in the morning and ask him to amend my contract with the play group in New York. I will plan to be home that entire week."

"Thank you," Susan told him.

Matt's birthday that week was almost a non-event. He and Ashley spent the evening having dinner out by themselves. Susan gave him a card and a gift, but aside from opening them in her presence, there wasn't much more to that day.

c

The next thing they knew, it was Memorial Day weekend and the end of May.

"Is Zack coming home, Mama?" Jessie asked.

"I don't think so. He has finals next week so I think he's staying at school to study," Susan said.

"Oh, I didn't think about that. I need to study too," Jessie said with a frown. "My final social studies report is due on Tuesday."

"You can. I think the only day we're doing something special is on Monday," Susan said.

"Are Matt and Ashley working?" Jessie wondered.

"I think they may be going away for the weekend," Susan told her.

"Why?" Jessie asked in surprise.

"They both got acceptance letters from universities and they are trying to figure out where to move," Susan explained. "Ashley got into veterinary school at UC Davis, but they've never been to that area before. Matt has tentative acceptance at UC Berkeley for their Clinical Psychology program. They want to look over both areas before deciding where they should go."

"Can Matt and Ashley go to school at the same time if they're indifferent places?" Jessie asked.

"I don't know what their plans are for sure, Jessie," Susan said. "All I know for certain is they are preparing to move."