Jo’s home!!! She and her family are going to be living with me and Takeru (TK) until my daddy returns from NYC.

"I think I’m going to be sick," Erika whispered as the doctor walked into her room. Dwayne contoured to hold her hand as she lay on the bed.

"I know." The doctor told her, adding a smile. "We got your test back. You have Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia."

"No...." Erika shook her head.

"I am sorry. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear. I am sorry."

"So what happens now?" Dwayne asked.

"Tonight we will start Erika on chemotherapy in a pill form to see how she reacts to it."

 

"Why does Dr. Slate have to stay at the hospital?" Rusty asked as he and Dwayne drove to the hospital to see Erika. Dwayne had just finished explaining to Rusty about Erika’s condition.

"Well, Rusty, when people have cancer they have to go though a lot of treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. The Doc, will have to be at the hospital so she won’t get an infection that can make her worse," Dwayne told the young boy. "Don’t worry. Your mother is in great hands. She can fight off the cancer and be home before Christmas."

Rusty tried to smile, but he was worried about his mother. He didn’t say another word for the rest of the car ride. He watched as Dwayne pulled in to the hospital parking lot.

Dwayne looked at Rusty as he shut the car off. "Would you rather talk to the Big Guy about what’s going on?"

"Can I?" Rusty asked, as he got out of the car.

"Sure you can." Dwayne smiled as he locked his car. "Now, you want to see Mommy?"

Rusty nodded as Dwayne walked him to Dr. Slate’s hospital room.

Unfortunately they had walked in at the wrong time, for Erika was throwing up. A nurse was at her side helping her out.

"Mommy?" Rusty asked as he walked over to Erika.

Erika looked up as she smiled. "Hay, don’t worry. It's just the pills that I am taking." She soon went into another puking fit.

"Rusty, let's get ice cream, all right?" Dwayne’s first thought was to get Rusty out of the room. Rusty slowly went to Dwayne’s side.