It's Not Gonna Fade

Chapter 30

Aaron's Position

         We waited for the unit to come through. We have been there for days. 6 days to be exact. We have had to live silently in case they came while we ate, or at least when we weren't expecting. When we weren't eating, sleeping, or using the restroom, we were at our stations. I laid there on my stomach with the other snipers, waiting, silently waiting. Then they came. Right through the expected route. I called the signal, which was a bird call. And with that our snipers took out 10 of their front men, who were holding machine guns. Everyone in that unit, looked around. Up, down, left, right, north, south, everywhere. I let out another signal and the calvary came out and attacked. 

        As that was happening, the snipers and I were firing. We took out many of the vital men. Thats when we all saw it. A man spotted where we were. He grabbed what looked like a grenade and pulled the pin and threw is at us. It was too low to hit us, but by the time he got another one the smoke had cleared. Thats when he got his aim right, and it landed right behind us. We were trapped. And it went off. And my world went black.

         I woke to the sound of a chopper. I was taken to a MASH unit, where I was striped and cleaned. Thats when I saw it. My leg. Or what was left of it. I couldn't see if I had anything below the knee. There was so much blood. A doctor was addressing the wound when his hand slipped and I groaned with pain. "Hello Sergeant Taylor, your leg has been shot. My name is doctor Pierce. I know it hurts, but that is a good thing. That means your nerves aren't completely damaged." This tall white doctor with raven black hair explained. I was wheeled into what I assumed was an operating room. 

(If anyone gets the TV show referenced with the Dr. Pierce character, comment it below, and I will be your best friend FOREVER1)

          I felt an IV get inserted into my arm, as well as them preparing my for surgery. "Doctor Pierce." I choked out. "Yes Sergeant Taylor?" He responded. "Please... save... save my leg." I said. "I will do everything in my power to do so." He responded. "Now Sergeant, when we put this mask on you I need you to count backwards from 10." Dr. Pierce asked. I shook my head signaling that I understood. They put the mask on and I started counting back from 10. "10...9...8...7...6...5.........." I counted until I fell into exhaustion. 

          I woke up in the MASH unit recovery room. Dr. Pierce was standing at the end of the bed writing on what I assume was my chart. When he realized I was awake he put the chart away and put full focus on me. "Sergeant Taylor, we did what we could for your leg. We had to close because your heart was too unstable to operate any longer than we did. You will be transported back to the states for further treatment." He said. "When?" I asked. "Here in about an hour." He responded. "Will I be discharged?" I asked. "We don't know until we get you back to the states." He replied. I nodded my head signaling that I understood. 

           I was taken out of the chopper in the U.S. I felt immediately at home. I smelled the sweet smell of the Atlantic as I was wheeled inside a hospital in D.C. I was around midnight when I got here. I wasn't tired at all. I was so used to Iraq time that I was wide awake. I was admitted and an orthopedic surgeon talked with me about a possible amputation. I said that was the last resort. If my life was in danger, I wanted that leg as far away from me as possible. She was very understanding, and she assured me that she would do everything in her power to save my leg. 

            It was the next day when I was taken to surgery. They did everything almost exactly like the MASH unit, but it was more carefully orchestrated. It wasn't rushed by any means. And I was put to sleep the same way. "Count back from 10." They said. And I did. "10...9...8...7...6.....5.........." I slowly and softly said. And I went into the coma of sleep I knew so well before. 

Marie's Position

        The chemo just kept getting harder. And I fell right back into my slump. It was like every time I went for a treatment, it was like solid cement rolling through me. I wasn't vomiting anymore because I wasn't even eating anymore. They had to insert a feeding tube. I really want to trust God but I honestly am angry at him right now. I have been nothing but his faithful servant and this is the thanks I get. I get stage four spinal and brain cancer. What did I honestly do to deserve this God?

Aaron's position

         I woke up in a hospital room. The beeping of my heart monitor was very prominent. I felt something going down my throat and into my lung. I tried to say something but I just choked. I heard people running towards me. They pulled the tube out of my throat and I coughed. I slowly opened my eyes to see the doctor who did my surgery. "Welcome back to the land of the living Sergeant Taylor." He said. "Did you...uh...did you-" I started. "Sergeant Taylor, we did everything we could, but we uh, we couldn't save your leg." He said. 

          I sat up just enough to see that my leg was cut off from above the knee. I laid back down with tears building up in my eyes. "What are my options doctor." I asked. "In about 6 to 12 months you will be fitted for a prosthetic. And from there you will have extensive rehab and you should have 85 to 90% function back." He answered. "Okay, is there anything I can do to speed things up?" I asked.