Understanding how Kara feels, how her feelings divide over the longing to be Cindy’s mother, and not wanting another human being to die I say with understanding, “Sylvia’s life is out of our hands now, we did save it earlier today. I am sure given the chance you will not allow Sylvia to die.”
Kara through her tears says, “No, I will not. How could I become Cindy’s Mom and not have done everything within my power to save her mother.”
I caution Kara, “There is very little we actually can do Kara. Obviously, the tumor is far along and very dangerous, maybe we can get her better medical care than what she can get otherwise. Other than that there is very little we can do for her.”
After a deep breath Kara says, “I will do that; I will make sure she has the best medical care available. I will be her friend, and do my best to give her hope. No matter how bad the odds are there still a chance. That is what I am going to tell Cindy, that her Mom is sick, but we will do everything we can to help her get well.”
We drive on in silence until we are a mile out of town; Uncle George gives us a call interrupting our thoughts. He begins, “JJ, I heard you did it again. Kara you did the right thing, if the EMT had not got there, let us not think about everything that could have gone wrong. I have an update. Are you where you can listen?”
I pull over at the gas station at the edge of our town, “We are parked at the moment Uncle George.”
George letting out a breath before he begins, “Sylvia was taken to emergency surgery, so far everything is looking good, but she still going to be in surgery for quite a while. She actually has two tumors, one was affecting her vision, and the other is more serious the doctor will do what they can. Once they have a biopsy done know what type of cancer she has. One of the tumors was growing at the base of the brain and into the automatic reflex center of the brain. That is what stopped her breathing. The surgeon believes he can remove enough of it to give her a chance.”
Uncle George takes another ragged breath before we can say anything he continued, “Even with the surgery the doctor feels he is only giving her maybe six more months. I began the paperwork to have her immediately released. I spoke to Ms. Clark, and made her aware of Sylvia’s condition. We both feel it best for JJ and Kathryn to continue their foster parentage. Sylvia is going to need a lot of support, and I plan to do what I can.”
Kara ask, “Has anyone told Cindy yet?”
Uncle George says, “Kara, your Mom and Dad are with Daniel and her. I told your Mom and Dad about everything that is going on. Your Mom and Dad are very proud of you. Daniel is doing the best he can with Cindy. He is going to be a great Dad, but this is beyond anyone.”
Kara looks at me and says, “JJ, we need to get back now. My husband really needs my help, and so does Cindy.”
Getting ready to leave I asked Uncle George, “Would you be coming out tonight, I think it would be a very good time for the family to get together.”
Uncle George says, “I thought you are buying dinner at Bobby’s and Mary’s tonight.”
I reply, “Giving everything that has happened, I would like to discuss with the family either before dinner or right after. Which do you think would be best, that we meet before dinner or all return home to discuss how we can help Sylvia?”
Kara says, “I am paying for the hospitalization, and we will find the best treatment center to give Sylvia the best chance of survival.”
Uncle George says, “Well the only thing we need to discuss then, is how were going to handle Cindy and Sylvia situation. During Sylvia’s treatment and recovery, I do not think it would be a very good idea to have Cindy with her continuously. We will discuss that after dinner.”
I say, “That sounds good. We will be home in a few minutes. Goodbye.”
Uncle George asks, “7 o’clock good for dinner?”
I reply, “Bobby and Mary can have all thirty of us sure.”
Uncle George chuckles, “The way this group is growing, they are going to have to put a separate dining room in just for us. Goodbye.” Uncle George ended the call as I began driving through town.
Once on our local road, I speed up to just above the speed limit, very seldom is there a police officer on our road. I cover the normal fifteen minute trip and under twelve minutes. I drive straight to my house, at this distance I know exactly where Kathryn is, she is currently in the family room and judging from her emotional state with Cindy. I can feel her longing to help and to comfort Cindy.
I take Kara down to the family room where we found the entire family except for Uncle George. Uncle George was at his office at the courthouse, he could better coordinate Sylvia’s release from his office there.
Kara runs straight to Daniel and Cindy, Daniel is doing his best to console Cindy, but they are times when a child needs a mother. For Cindy this is one of those times. Cindy goes into Kara’s embrace crying into her shoulder. Kara gently caresses Cindy and speaks in a voice so full of love and compassion you could only describe it as the voice of an angel, “Cindy everything will be okay. It may not look like that right now. Your Mom is very sick, and the doctors are doing everything they can. I will make sure your Mom has the best doctors. Everything will be all right.”
Cindy cries herself to sleep in Kara’s embrace, sometimes I wish I could forget things like this, but I have learned you need to look at them not as the negative but the positive. Cindy’s mother nearly died, but she lives and where there is life, there is hope. Cindy may be losing one mother, Kara may be losing a possible friend, but they gain each other.
My arms wrap around Kathryn and she turns into my embrace. I do what I can to comfort my love. Kathryn has great empathy for Kara’s pain and Cindy’s pain. Sam holds to Crystal and Kathryn and I open our arms to our daughters. They both have suffered the pain of losing parents, Sam has grieved for her parents but Crystal has yet to grieve. Crystal have been clutching to her teddy bear, but with Kathryn and myself, the bear falls forgotten as she clings to me. Crystal is crying just as hard as I have ever seen her. I know what Cindy is going through has brought forth Crystal’s pain; she had depressed the pain, which had found its way to the surface and erupted in a shower of tears.
Sam rubs Crystal’s back and says, “It is okay, you can miss your Angel Daddy and Mommy.”
In a gentle voice I say, “Crystal, you do not have to stop loving them to love us. You never have to stop loving your Angel Mommy and Daddy. I never want you to stop loving them. I never stop loving my Angel Daddy.”
Kathryn in a voice just like her sisters says, “We are never going to stop loving you because you still love them. I love you Crystal. That is something I will not change, that is something I will not give up, even if you stop loving me.”
Crystal draws a deep breath through tear-filled eyes she looks at Kathryn. Crystal understanding Kathryn’s words looks into her eyes and says, “Mommy I will never stop loving you too.”
We take Kara and Cindy to Cindy’s bedroom, Cindy is so emotionally exhausted she does not wake as Daniel and Kara lay down with her on her full-size bed. The two adults are on either side with their arms across Cindy.
As we left Crystal asks, “Daddy are you jealous of my Angel Daddy?”
With a smile I answer, “No my beautiful Princess, I get to be with you now. Maybe your Angel Daddy is a little jealous because I get to hold you. He gets to watch you every second of every day. Which I think is really cool; because that is something I do not get to do.”
Sam asks in a whisper, “Daddy, it is okay that I love Grandpa Charles and Grandma Jane?”
Answering Sam quietly, “Yes my Princess it is okay.” I am uncertain why Sam would ask that other than for Crystal’s benefit. She did call them grandpa and grandma prior to her leaving for Oregon, and her now deceased grandmother. Sam gives me a smile, and then she hugs me tight.
Crystal asks, “If it is okay for Sam to love Grandpa Charles, Grandma Jane and Grandpa Mike can I love them too?”
I get Sam a pat on the back, knowing she was sharing with her sister what she already knew. I say, “Yes Crystal, they are family and it is okay for you to love anyone, and everyone in the family.”
Crystal responds, “Good, because if Sam loves them I am sure I will too.”
Sam giggles and pulls Crystal up into a hug as she says, “Crystal, I love having you as a sister.”
Crystal giggles in Sam’s embrace and then responds, “Sam, I love having you as a sister too.”
Kathryn yawns, “I think it is time for my nap, could I get my two girls to keep me warm.”
The two girls giggle and say simultaneously, “Yes Mommy.” The three giggle as they go upstairs.
With what has occurred so far today I need to burn off some nervous energy, so I decide it is time to learn how to ride the bike I got today, it is in the back of the SUV and Kara was nice enough not to complain when I asked for us to leave early. I scanned through an online lesson on bike riding hopefully it will help. I am wearing blue jeans and medium heavy shirt; it should not be too warm for what I plan on doing. I really need to do this, if I do not know how. How am I expected to teach the girls?
It is a lot harder to do than what it made it sound on the Internet, after a little while I can hear Kathryn giggling in my head as I fall off the bicycle for the fifth time. After dusting myself off, I get up and on the bicycle once again. This time Kathryn gives me pointers, which make more sense to me than anything that I read. This time I do not fall, and bicycling is fun, when you are not hitting the ground.
This time I make it to the end of the driveway them back using the large area at the end of our road, the same type of structure found at the end of a cul-de-sac where a vehicle can turn around easily. Although our driveway is nice, long paved, and as smooth as a road is it does not have that wide area at the end of it. When I turned the will sharply on the bicycle to make the turn at the end of our drive I get another big lesson in bike riding. My forward motion stops, but my body’s momentum carries me on over the handlebars. Fortunately, I know exactly how to land on my ass, and the ground is soft enough, unhurt other than my pride I pick myself up for the sixth time.
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