 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Leukemia / Coma Story
By: Ryan "Jeff" Hamm
Part One The Beginning
It was the start of a day like any day getting ready to go to school. I
felt a little drained and weak, but I had been doing that for months
now. Today was going to be different I was in school when the third
period late bell sounded; I was in the boys bath room with one of my famous
noise bleeds. This noise bleed was different than ones in the past as
this one would not stop, it kept flowing like a river with only one
direction to go, the bath room was clear as everyone had left, I was in
trouble I needed help so I fumbled and gathered my books off of the
counter where the sinks were and I could feel my legs weakening fast.
I managed to get to the hallway; no one was in sight not even the usual class
skippers were to be found. Falling short of breath now and soaked in
blood, my blood I could feel me slipping into state of shock, what seemed
like hours had only been a matter of minutes. The world was in slow
motion as the books fell from my hands I could hear them as they hit the
floor. What was happing to me, I had just turned sixteen a few months
before, was I dieing? Where was this heading and why me? All the thoughts
that can run through a persons mind are unbelievable in such a short
time frame.
Part Two The Hospital
Well here I am don't know how I got here but I was at the County
General Hospital where I had been for a day, yes I lost a day before coming
around. Dad was there and told me what happened, I was brought by
ambulance the morning before. One of the school custodians found me on the
floor in a pool of blood. Back to the story at hand, I ended up needing
blood, a lot of blood this led to test after test that determined my
condition.
This all sucked the big "C" word, my heart fell like anyone
else does when they first hear the cancer word. My mind was racing with
all kind of thought all were negative and I was mad at the world and mega
scared at the same time. As more transfusions took place and more test
I began to put things together all the noise bleeds the mysterious
bruise I was getting for no reason at all and the mighty burning feeling
with in the body, hell some days I had wished I had a fire truck to put
it out. It is sure not a good feeling and of course I kept all that to
myself. It's been two weeks now that I have been in this stupid hospital and I
am getting restless as a trapped bear. Today is a Thursday I feel
really bad sick as if I have the flu or a virus you know the feeling.
Part Three The Coma
Here we go again more blood transfusions, this time something was
different I could see and hear the doctors and nurse talking as I was
talking they kept ignoring me, Why? They were acting strange no one would
listen to me and I was getting pissed big time, not nice to piss a sixteen
year old Indian off. "Hi dad," what you too why won't you talk to me
either why are you and the doctor huddled in the corner keeping things
from me? " Ok where are you taking me now," no reply to my question not a
word, "oh great this frigging tunnel thing again how sweet "?
Now I am back in the room "hi dad", still no answer why are you talking
over me and what is all this damn mumble crap about I will be ok and
you need me to stay, why are you crying why do you do this everyday? I
can hear the television and I kept track in my head of the days by
hearing and seeing news it was twenty-six days now.
Part Four The Conclusion
Well today was different the nurse came in to change my IV and" I said
hi"," she said excuse me did I hear you talk"; "no it was the dummy in
the closet I said" smart-ass wasn't I? Well she did laugh and went and
got a doctor, then dad came I think they must have called him. He was
in his police uniform so I know he was on duty and the police car got
here fast.
Dad cried and went ahead and explained it all to me; I had an
infection that led me to a one hundred six degree temperature thus
putting me into a coma I had to under go therapy and rehabilitation for
several moths due to the high fever I suffered neurological damage. I am
doing much better now and am at home after a very long hospital stay, I
am nineteen now and will be twenty soon. By the way when the doctor
came in the day I came out of the coma he said I was a miracle by all
rights I was dead but I am one of a few lucky ones to survive, I tried to
thank him he told me I did all the hard work no thanks was needed.