Sarah's Story

The Next Morning

The next morning dawned with a beautiful blue skies. It is beautiful outside. Inside Sarah's room, not so much.

She wakes up in pain
The pain makes her stomach upset. She is sore, nauseous, and hungry. She knows it is just the beginning. Worse then this, she knows that it is going to be so much worse on her daddy.
Knowing this, when her daddy asks her how she feels, she responds,” Not so bad.”

He sees through her. He sees the sweat on her brow, sees the way she grimaces when she movers, and how pale she is.

“It doesn’t help to lie to me Sarah.”

“O am so sorry daddy. I am just trying to protect you.”

“Not your job sweetie. I protect you.”

“Okay, I will try to remember that.”

“You will remember that. Now, please tell me how you feel.”

“Alright daddy. I hurt, badly. I am so hungry but also sick to my stomach.” He gets up and presses the nurse call button.

“Sarah needs Phenergan, Demerol, and breakfast.”

“Daddy, you can't tell them exactly what I need? Can you?”

“Yes I can. I know what   Eric has ordered.” Within minutes a new nurse walks in.

“Hello Sarah and James. My name is Jamie and I will be your nurse today. I know you feel very yucky right now. This will help.” She says, pointing to the syringe in her hand. She takes her vitals, checks her arm band, and injects the medicine. “You will feel much better soon.”

She is right. Within minutes, Sarah’s pain starts to go away and her stomach settles down. James and Jamie watch her anxiously, hoping the meds will help, that she wouldn’t have an adverse reaction to them.

“I feel strange but better.” She says,” Can I please eat now?”

“Yes,” says Jamie,” but we start out with clear liquids.”

“Anything sounds good right now.”
“Okay. I will go get your tray.” She returns with a tray full of broth, jello, and tea.

James stays long enough to make sure his daughter is able to eat and keep it down.  “I have to run home, change now, and go by your school. I will be back as soon as I can..”

“Okay daddy. I think I will take a nap,” She yawns.

“I bet you will. I know what they gave you. I love you girl.”

“I love you too daddy.” She says as she drifts off. James heads home.

His mind is going a thousand different directions. He is happy that his daughter is able to rest, to eat, and that her pain is under control. He is glad that the tumor is gone. Bit, they still don’t know the stage of it, don't know what and how severe the treatments would be, and most of all, whether any of this; the pain, sickness, the things she still has to experience, would do any good. That is the big question. The question that is unanswerable.