CHOICE & CHANCE }completed{

Chapter 6

Coach Chu was watching his charges work out when he noticed that Shenwei, who had been about to serve, suddenly turned away from the baseline and hurried to the fence.his body seemed to convulse. Chu ran toward him and a step away when he realized that his vomiting.

"Shenwei! What is it Shenwei?." Chu asked. Shenwei can't answer because of this comfort?.

"easy now...come with me!  Chu said.
At the clinic. Shenwei seated on a chair.

" what did you have for lunch?" looking guilty Chu asked.

"I didn't have any," he said.

"What was it is then the nerves?.... You don't have any cause for nerves Shenwei... I have had never seen anyone better prepare than you for the state finals.

"It..just... I'm not being myself lately..."Shenwei honestly said.

"You must take a break," Chu said.

" But I want to be ready to play.....I need that title to get into some of the more important tournaments." Shenwei protest.

"Shenwei, your health is more important than any titles. So let's try a few more rest then let's see." Coach Chu said.

Meanwhile, in Ling's office,

"Zhao yunlan,  sit down," Dr.Lingjing said.

It was hardly necessary for Lingjing to say anything else. Yunlan knew that the diagnosis was among the worst and the prognosis could not be much better.

"Yunlan, we have awaited confirmation from the path lab.but in my opinion, I would say acute myelocytic leukemia".
Lingjing said.

Yunlan was aware of the sweat forming on his eyebrow, his cheeks, and his neck.his hands went cold.

"it's not the end of the world Yunlan. Leukemia is amenable to treatment; vincristine,  asparaginase, and prednisone in heavy doses.
We can have that thing on the ran in weeks." Lingjing said.

Yunlan nodded in a manner that was meant to end the discussion. He stands.
"I got a patient waiting," Yunlan said and left.

The next morning Lingjing is studying a set of Xrays when he received a call from Yezun.he wants to meet him in the near cafe.

They found a table in a corner and ordered quickly to be rid of the waitress.

"Yezun...what do you want to know," Lingjing asks.

" I went to the library yesterday, " yezun began.

"And what did you find out?'Lingjing asked.

" first of all, there are two kinds of leukemia... And one is much worse than the other....the worse of the two is called acute myelocytic leukemia "AML" the book's keep referring to..."yezun said.

"Right" Lingjing answered awaiting the next questions.

"The kind that my twin has....it is AML?" Yezun asked.

Lingjing paused. But it was a direct question so he has to answer it sincerely.

"Yes...Yezun...Shenwei...your twin brother is ..a case of AML...I hope You understand Yunlan for being considerate..for giving you time to adjust." Lingjing said.

Yezun nodded. tears began to fall on his cheeks.  he wept silently.

"Tell me...tell me everything. because I have to know to behave towards my brother. I promise him anything. I'll lie if I have to. But I need to know the truth" Yezun said.

"Yezun" Lingjing reaching across the table for his hand.

"Lying might nibble the way," Lingjing said.
"I don't want him to suffer emotionally as well. I have to be able to tell him the treatment can help" Yezun said.

"You can tell him that without lying. we can't be sure but the treatment may help. So until it appears to fail, you can truthfully say it can help.  As for the discomfort of the treatment, the is no purpose to lying. It much better if you tell Shenwei about all the difficulties he has tooooo face and then tells him that you will be with him all the time."Lingjing suggested.
Yezun nodded accepting the old doctor counsel.

" were trying new forms of chemotherapy. And there is always the possibility of a bone marrow transplant."Lingjing said.

"If that's what it takes, I can give him some of my bone marrow. Where twins so it's a high possibility that was...." Yezun didn't finish his word.

"Were getting ahead of ourselves ...let's see how things develop," Lingjing said.

" Is there anything else I should know? " yezun asked.

"Yes.., percentage, remission rates, cure rates mean nothing. What happened to shenwei is the only thing that counts. and that we have to discover day by day."
Lingjing said.

Yezun wipes his eyes again.

"More important, remember to show him smile, courage, love, and above all hope. I have seen cases that the doctors have given up but the patient has not, and that patient has outlived some of the doctors. Medicine is still an inexact science." Lingjing added.

He watches him leave and pray for a miracle.

"Shenwei I won't minimize the seriousness of your disease. I won't lie to you it can be fatal. but might be treated. That's you and I can make a choice...Now listen to me very carefully ....for the next six to eight weeks we will put you on a regimen called chemotherapy" Dr.Zhou said.

"If everything goes well....will I be able to play tennis again...will I can take care of my husband? " he asked.

" not as well as before..." Dr.Zhou said.
"Then that's my choice." Shenwei answer.

"Not so fast my dear...we are going, to be honest with you all the way...Shenwei..... If you choose this procedure you must be willing to undergo a year of chemotherapy, surgery, physical therapy, and all the pain and suffering that go with it...if you choose this " Choice"., you must be prepared to give us one year of your lifetime. It's a "gamble" But if you give as that year we have a good "Chance" of getting you well." Dr.Zhu said.

"A whole year...forget tennis......… Alright ...I will doit" Shenwei said looking at his husband.

Yunlan held his hand and press it.