Sweet Angel, page 24
part #5 of Commitment Series
"How long before we know for sure?" Billie asked.
"I'm guessing we'll know in the next few days."
"Any idea when she might be able to go home?" Billie asked again.
"If the graft is working, I'd say, by the middle of next week. If it's not—" Dr. Berry left the sentence hanging.
* * *
A week later, Laurel ran the vacuum cleaner over the rug in the living room while Jen dusted the furniture. Seth, Stevie, Tara and Karissa worked feverishly to pick up the toys in the bedrooms and make the beds. All four kids ran down the stairs into the living room when they had finished their task.
"Okay, what's next?" Seth asked.
"I'd like the four of you to tackle the family room downstairs," Laurel said. "Girls, there are paper towels and anti-bacterial cleaners under the kitchen sink. Please wipe down all the furniture while the boys clean up the toys and vacuum the rugs…including the stairs."
A chorus of okay, Nana rang out from all four children as they set off to complete their tasks.
"Sheesh, I've never seen my kids so excited about cleaning," Jen joked.
"I think what they're excited about is Skylar coming home," Laurel said.
Jen stopped dusting and approached Laurel. She stood in front of her and placed her palm on the side of Laurel's face. "Thank you for being here, Laurel. I know Billie and Cat appreciate everything you've done."
Laurel opened her arms and hugged Jen close for a long moment before releasing her.
"It's the least I can do to make up for all the lost time, Jen. Heaven knows, I can never get those years back." Laurel's eyes misted over.
"No you can't, but the good Lord willing, the years ahead will be long and plentiful."
"The girls are lucky to have a friend like you," Laurel said.
"I am lucky to have them. I love them with all my heart." Jen said. "My life would not be as wonderful as it is today if they hadn't moved into the neighborhood nearly seven years ago."
Just then, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway drew their attention.
"Holy shit! They're home," Jen exclaimed as she quickly wound the cord on the vacuum cleaner and pushed it into the hall broom closet.
"Kids," Laurel yelled down the cellar stairs. "They're here. Skylar is home."
A commotion louder than a herd of elephants could be heard as all four kids ran up the stairs.
Jen grabbed a box from the kitchen counter and passed it around. Each one pulled out a surgical mask and put it on before Cat, Billie and Skylar stepped into the kitchen.
"Welcome home, Sky!" everyone shouted as the door opened and the little girl stepped in, wearing a mask of her own.
Skylar was immediately surrounded by the four older children, each one hugging her and offering to play with her while Cat and Billie stood in the doorway sporting broad smiles.
Seth beamed with pride when he realized she was wearing his ball cap. He looked at his mothers and smiled, nodding his head.
Billie went to her son and wrapped her arms around him. "You did good, Seth. You did good," she said. "Thank you."
"I told you we would catch her mom. I told you we wouldn't let her fly away," Seth reminded her.
"That you did, scout…that you did."
"Hey, where's my hug," Cat asked as she took Seth into her arms. "You are my hero," she whispered, causing him to blush.
A little uncomfortable with all the attention, Seth hugged Cat, then broke away to suggest they all watch a movie in the family room.
"Mama, can you make popcorn for us?" Skylar asked. "I'm hungry."
"Coming right up," Cat said, smiling through her tears as all five kids ran down the stairs into the family room.
Cat looked at Billie and said in an emotionally tinged voice. "She's hungry! She said she's hungry!"
"C'mere you," Jen said as she hugged Cat tight. "I'm so glad to see you all home."
"We're happy to be home, Jen. The good news is that her numbers are rising…but she has a long road ahead of her yet before we can claim victory."
"But at least we're heading toward the finish line and not away from it," Jen pointed out.
"Yes we are," Cat replied.
"Mama, where's the popcorn?" Skylar yelled from downstairs.
Jen laughed. "Come on, I'll give you a hand making it."
Billie turned to Laurel while Cat and Jen made popcorn. She opened her arms and wrapped them around her mother. "I love you, Mom."
Laurel shuddered. "I have waited for so long to hear you say that, Billie. Thank you."
"No…thank you." Billie released her and held her at arm's length. "I have been awful to you for a long time, and for that I am very sorry. I couldn't see beyond my anger to the wonderful, loving woman you are. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have done for us…and for your grandchildren."
"I would do it again in a heartbeat, Billie. Please know that I never stopped loving you over all those years. Not a day went by that I didn't think about you," Laurel said.
"I may never understand what drove your decisions thirty-three years ago, Mom, but I accept that you did what you thought was best for me. Life is much too fragile and too short to live it angry. I want to put all of that behind us and look forward to the future together."
"I'd like that too, Billie. I'd like that more than anything in the world."
CHAPTER 21
A few days after Skylar came home from the hospital, Laurel returned to Michigan amid a barrage of tears and sad goodbyes at the airport. Before leaving, they made plans to organize a family reunion so that Laurel could meet her four nieces...Cat's sisters, and their families. Billie and Cat both hoped Dylan and Laurel's husband, Jim, would be able to attend that event as well.
Life in the Charland household soon settled into a routine. With summer only half over, mornings once again turned chaotic as Skylar and Tara dressed, ate breakfast and organized back packs for daycare while Cat and Billie prepared for work. Seth, at the ripe old age of twelve, was old enough to stay home alone, with Jen as his emergency go-to person. Billie dropped the girls off at the gym daycare on her way to work, while Cat collected them on her way home in the late afternoon.
Once a week, Cat took Skylar to the hospital with her in the morning where the lab took a blood sample to test her hemoglobin, ANC and platelet levels. The report was then sent to Dr. Berry who closely monitored Skylar's recovery. Cat would then drive her to the daycare before starting her own day at the hospital.
Cat and Billie were on pins and needles every time the phone rang in the first few days after the weekly lab visits, anticipating potentially negative results. In the full month after Skylar's release from the hospital, the lab results came back positive, four consecutive times, with Skylar's blood levels rising to near normal. In addition, Skylar was eating well, sleeping well, and her energy levels had rebounded to pre-leukemia levels.
On this particular morning, Cat managed to be ready for work early and had time to sit with a cup of coffee while the girls ate their breakfast. She was thumbing through a website on her tablet when Billie came into the kitchen.
Billie stopped to kiss Cat and the girls before pouring herself a cup of coffee. She stood behind Cat and read over her shoulder.
"What are you reading?" she asked.
Cat held her tablet so Billie could see. "One of my coworkers recommended a summer camp for children who have, or have had leukemia. I thought Sky might enjoy going," she said. "It's called Camp Kwinisaki, and it's relatively local."
"Is it a day camp?" Billie asked.
"Actually, no. It's a two week program. The parents are allowed to visit on the weekend in between," Cat explained.
"Ah, Cat…I don't know about that," she said, eyeing Skylar over Cat's head.
Cat looked up at Billie. "Why not? I think she'd enjoy it. Look here…there's horse riding, boating, swimming. It sounds like fun."
"Do you think she's ready for that? I mean, what about her blood tests?"
"The camp runs during the last two weeks of August, just before school starts. She's had four positive lab tests in a row. There'd be two or three more before she goes to camp. I'll talk to Alexis about it before I make reservations."
"She's only six, Cat."
"It says here that campers as young as five are accepted into the camp." Cat looked at the worry etched on Billie's brown.
She stood up and took Billie's hand then walked her over to the sink, out of earshot of the girls.
"Billie, I know you're worried about her, but we can't treat her like she's some fragile crystal that might break. There will be other kids at the camp with the same issues she has dealt with. I think she'll enjoy it."
"I don't like the idea of not seeing her for a whole week at a time."
"Look, I'll talk to the camp counselors, and maybe they'll allow phone calls in the evening, or maybe she can take the tablet and we can do video calls with her so you can actually see her, if that makes you feel better."
Billie frowned and took a deep breath. "Wow! I just realized how crazy that sounds. Sending a six-year-old to camp with a tablet so she can do video calls with her paranoid mother. Sheesh, Cat. What's wrong with me? You're right—we can't treat her like she's breakable. Go ahead and talk to Alexis. I trust your judgment."
Cat stood on tiptoe and kissed Billie full on the lips. "Thank you love." She then walked over to the table and kissed the girls on the head. "I hope you two have a great day today. Tara, keep an eye on sissy for us, okay? Sky, be sure to take your nap, and don't give your teachers a hard time about it. You need your rest to stay strong."
"Okay, mama," the two girls said together.
"I'll see you tonight, my love," Cat said, kissing Billie once more.
Billie smiled and watched Cat leave, then turned to the girls.
"All right rugrats, grab your backpacks and lunch bags and head for the car," Billie said.
* * *
Cat picked the girls up after work and headed home. On the way, she glanced into the rear-view mirror and noticed Skylar scratching her arm.
"Bug-bite, sweetie?" she asked.
"It itches, mama," Skylar said.
"Did you play outside today?"
"I played with Missy in the sand box."
"I'll look at it when we get home. It's probably just sand fleas or mosquitoes."
"Okay, mama."
Cat pulled Skylar's shirt off over her head and looked at the rash covering her torso. "Hmmm, I wonder what's causing this." She ran her hand over the rash. "Sky, did your teacher put sunscreen on you today before you went outside?"
"No."
"I'll have to talk to her about that. Your treatments might make your skin ultra-sensitive to sunlight. In the meantime, I'm going to put some hydrocortisone cream on it to stop the itch."
"Will it hurt?" Skylar asked.
"I don't think so, sweetie." Cat liberally rubbed the cream across Skylar's chest and back. "Does that feel better, love?" she asked.
"My arms and legs itch too," Skylar complained.
Moments later, Skylar stood in front of Cat with just her panties on while Cat coated all four of her limbs with the hydrocortisone cream. "If this isn't better by morning, I'm going to take you to see Dr. Berry. There you go, sweetie. All finished."
"Thanks, mama. It feels better now. Can I have a snack?" Skylar asked.
* * *
Later that evening, after the kids were in bed, Cat and Billie snuggled on the living room couch and talked about their day. Cat told Billie about Skylar's rash.
"Maybe you should take her in to see Alexis," Billie suggested.
"That's just what I plan to do if it's not improved by morning."
"Do you think it might be an allergic reaction to her meds?" Billie asked.
"Anything is possible, but she's been taking the same meds for what…six weeks now? I would think we'd have seen it before now if that was the case."
"You're probably right.
Their alone time was suddenly interrupted by a cry from upstairs. "Mama, my belly hurts," Skylar cried.
"Oh, no," Billie said, fearing the worse. She was on her feet in an instant, and running up the stairs with Cat directly behind her.
They found Skylar standing in the bathroom, throwing up into the toilet. Unfortunately, she had also soiled herself.
"Oh, my God. Billie, call Alexis. Tell her Skylar is both vomiting and has diarrhea. Oh, and tell her about the rash too," Cat said.
Billie ran back down the stairs and into the living room while Cat tended to the now-crying Skylar.
"It's okay, sweetheart. Mama is here," Cat said as she waited for her daughter to finish vomiting. "I'm going to start the shower, sweetie, and when you're done, we're going to put you right in there and clean you up, okay?"
Cat felt Skylar's head and noted she was feverish. Please don't let the leukemia be back, she prayed. Our poor baby has been through enough.
Billie reappeared in the doorway. "Cat, Alexis said to bring her to the emergency room and she'll meet us there."
"Mom?"
Both women turned at the sound of Seth's voice behind them.
"Mom, is Sky okay?" he asked.
"We hope so, honey. Please go back to bed and try not to worry, love," Billie said. "I'm going to call Jen to see if she can come over to stay with you and your sister while we take her to the hospital."
"I want to go with you," Seth said.
"I don't know how long we'll be there, Seth. Please do as Mom says and go back to bed," Cat said as she helped Skylar into the shower then proceeded to remove her soiled clothing. "Billie, I'll need clean pajamas for her."
"I'll be right back," Billie said. On her way back to the bathroom, she stopped in Seth's room and saw that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his head between his hands. Billie sat on the bed beside her son and placed her arm around him. She kissed him on the head.
"She's sick again, isn't she?" Seth asked.
"I don't know, scout. Dr. Berry will meet us at the hospital. She'll be in good hands. We'll do everything we can for her."
"She's just a baby, mom. She's just a baby."
Billie's throat choked closed. "I know, love. Why don't you say a few prayers for her. Maybe that will help."
Seth nodded.
"I've got to get these clean clothes to mama, then we'll head to the hospital with your sister. Jen should be here soon. Okay?"
"Okay, mom."
Billie rose to leave.
"Mom?"
"Yes, love?"
"Tell Sky that her big brother loves her, okay?"
"You bet," Billie said, barely escaping the room before she totally lost control of her emotions.
* * *
Cat and Billie stood beside Dr. Berry as she examined Skylar.
"Alexis, what's wrong with her?" Billie asked.
"I don't know yet, Billie. I've ordered a few tests, including a full LFT series that I hope will diagnose this for us."
"LFT series?" Billie said.
"Liver function tests," Cat supplied. "Alexis, why would you order liver function tests?"
"Because the whites of her eyes are yellowing."
Cat leaned in to look for herself. "Damn," she said.
"While we're waiting for the test results, I'm going to order an IV to keep her hydrated. The poor child has lost a lot of fluid between the vomiting and diarrhea. How has her appetite been?"
"She's been eating fine," Cat said. "In fact, everything was perfect until she complained of her skin itching today. When I took her clothing off, I found this rash covering her body. Then, this evening, the vomiting and diarrhea started."
Dr. Berry frowned.
"What? What is it you're not telling us, Alexis?" Billie asked.
"I need to wait for the lab results before making a definitive diagnosis," Dr. Berry said. "In the mean time, I want to admit her to the hospital."
"Really? Are you serious?" Billie asked.
"I couldn't be more serious, Billie," Dr. Berry said
* * *
For the next two hours, Billie paced back and forth across the emergency room floor while Cat calmed a very upset Skylar. In that span of time, Skylar vomited and soiled herself two more times.
Finally, Dr. Berry returned and threw a folder down onto the foot of Skylar's bed. She ran a hand through her hair and looked at Billie and Cat.
Billie felt like her insides were liquefying as she read the distress in Dr. Berry's face.
Cat clung to Billie's hand. "Alexis, what is it? Tell me, please."
"Skylar has GVHD—Graft Versus Host Disease."
"What the hell is that?" Billie demanded.
"It's a complication that sometimes happens with a bone marrow transplant," Dr. Berry said.
Cat released Billie's hand and went to stand at the window, her back to the room.
Billie watched her walk away and noted the defeated slope of her shoulders. "Cat?" she said.
Without turning around, Cat spoke in a quivering voice. "GVHD occurs when the donated tissue reacts against the recipient's tissue. Seth's cells don't recognize Skylar's body."
"What does that mean, Cat? Alexis?" Billie's voice was choked with emotion.
"It means her newly transplanted immune system is attacking the major organs in her body from within, specifically, her skin, GI tract, liver and lungs," Dr. Berry explained."
"Is it fatal?" Billie asked.
Dr. Berry looked down at a sleeping Skylar. "It can be," she said.
EPILOGUE
Billie sat on the front porch steps, looking out over the lawn.
The grass needs cutting again, she thought. There never seems to be enough time to enjoy life before it's gone, swept away, forever lost.
She looked around again and tried hard to convince herself to get the lawn mower out.
