By: Michelle Roethig (Up to You)
Sweat dripped into his eyes, clearing a path through the dirt smeared across his face. The sun was setting in the distance, casting a twilight glow on the players positioned on field; everyone in the stadium was on their feet. The crisp air gave off a slight chill and the smell of fall was all around. Perfect weather for a football game, cheering crowds, spirit fights between schools, and the smell of barbeque and sweat. It should have been a loud and raucous night, it was homecoming after all, but not a sound could be heard above the blare of the sirens.
Cory hadn’t moved since he was drilled into the turf on the last play. As the dog pile of bright colored jersey’s and helmets diminished from the heap, Cory lay at the bottom in sheer agony. His eyes still clenched shut in pain he tried to keep his breathing steady. He could feel his lips clenched in a tight white line across his face, which was better than biting his lip to keep from crying out. All he needed was his mother to rush the field and cause a scene, especially after he insisted on playing when he knew he didn’t feel that great to begin with. The image of her pleading eyes full of concern before the game was etched into his brain as she tried to talk him out of playing. He hadn’t felt good, but that goes with the territory, right? A game of “GO BIG OR GO HOME!” mentality. Well, he was going home alright.
The hit that left him writhing in pain was a clean hit and Cory knew from the moment he went down that the lineman who tackled him wasn’t playing dirty. He was the last one to get off of him and the first to offer assistance. But try as he may, Cory couldn’t make his body rise from the grass beneath. His muscles were heavy and wouldn’t move on their own accord, no matter how much he willed them to. His breath caught in his lungs and it felt as if an elephant had taken a nap right on his chest. The air just wouldn’t come.
Flashing red lights indicated the ambulance was making its way through the gate and across the hash marks and yard lines toward the chaos. Cory kept his eyes shut as he concentrated on the encouraging words from the coaches and medical staff kneeling around his aching body.
“Keep his head still.” His hard-nosed coach barked the command. “The ambulance is almost here.”
“It’s not his head or neck.” The medic was examining him and trying to unbuckle his helmet to remove it for a better look.
“Stay with us Cory, you’re going to be okay.” That was Ms. Rachel, our physical trainer. The guys on the team were always trying to vie for extra time with her by going to her office for every little scratch. If the situation wasn’t so serious, Cory would be lapping up the attention right now.
In the stands Laura was frozen in fear. Her son lay prone on the turf surrounded by coaches and medical personnel while the ambulance drove on the field. With one arm around Bri, Cory’s longtime girlfriend, and one hand clenched on tight on her husband, Joe’s, arm, she held her breath.
The stands were eerily quiet as the crowd watched the scene unfold on the field. Muffled voices were directing players to the sidelines in almost reverent voices as the crowd murmured their concern and predictions. Bri, whose long blonde hair, was pulled back in a ponytail and bright green eyes were stretched wide in horror, hiccupped as she tried to keep her emotions at bay. Joe’s face was clenched tight in a silent plea and the hush across the stadium was so intense it wasn’t hard to know that the scene was not a good one. Laura’s resolve snapped and she rushed the field like a crazed mother bear.
“That’s my son!” Laura shouted from across the field at the poor coach that tried to stop her from rushing forward. “I don’t care what the rules are, MOVE!” She said the last part with such authority it was hard not to picture the coach quaking in his Nikes and stepping aside.
What felt like forever was really only a matter of minutes before Cory was strapped to the gurney, loaded into the ambulance, and heading for the hospital. Laura climbed inside for the ride with her son; Joe grabbed Bri by the arm and made their way to their car while the crowd erupted in cheers of encouragement. The unspoken truth evident in everyone’s mind; there was something terribly wrong.
****
Weeks of blood test, poking and prodding, pee tests, and countless doctors’ visits brought Laura, Cory, and Joe to this life changing moment in the doctor’s office.
Leukemia. What an odd word. Couldn’t they come up with something more manly for the disease that was slowly killing Cory? When the doctor first said it out loud Cory wanted to reach over, pat him on the back, and dislodge the nasty phlegm stuck in his throat. Denial over took him while Laura cried and Joe sat stoically silent.
“Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, to be exact,” The doctor said, “A very rare form of Leukemia.” You could hear a pin drop in the silence that hung in the air. The doctor continued, “It is caused by the overproduction of white blood cells in large bones, the liver, spleen, and blood. Eventually it can over take your body and we don’t want that. This is why you’ve been so weak lately. But the good news is, we’ve identified what you have and we will start immediate, aggressive treatments.”
“What . . . kind of treatments?” Trying to keep her tears at bay, Laura finally broke the silence. Cory fingered his phone in his pocket and seriously contemplated starting a new game of Angry Birds, a fitting game for what he was feeling.
“We can put him on a few different medications to try and start with chemo therapy. We need to manage . . .” the conversation went on between Laura and the doctor while Joe sat in silence and listened. Cory mentally checked out.
Grabbing his phone and flipping it open he automatically navigated to the text screen and typed the familiar number before clicking out a quick text.
Sweat dripped into his eyes, clearing a path through the dirt smeared across his face. The sun was setting in the distance, casting a twilight glow on the players positioned on field; everyone in the stadium was on their feet. The crisp air gave off a slight chill and the smell of fall was all around. Perfect weather for a football game, cheering crowds, spirit fights between schools, and the smell of barbeque and sweat. It should have been a loud and raucous night, it was homecoming after all, but not a sound could be heard above the blare of the sirens.
Cory hadn’t moved since he was drilled into the turf on the last play. As the dog pile of bright colored jersey’s and helmets diminished from the heap, Cory lay at the bottom in sheer agony. His eyes still clenched shut in pain he tried to keep his breathing steady. He could feel his lips clenched in a tight white line across his face, which was better than biting his lip to keep from crying out. All he needed was his mother to rush the field and cause a scene, especially after he insisted on playing when he knew he didn’t feel that great to begin with. The image of her pleading eyes full of concern before the game was etched into his brain as she tried to talk him out of playing. He hadn’t felt good, but that goes with the territory, right? A game of “GO BIG OR GO HOME!” mentality. Well, he was going home alright.
The hit that left him writhing in pain was a clean hit and Cory knew from the moment he went down that the lineman who tackled him wasn’t playing dirty. He was the last one to get off of him and the first to offer assistance. But try as he may, Cory couldn’t make his body rise from the grass beneath. His muscles were heavy and wouldn’t move on their own accord, no matter how much he willed them to. His breath caught in his lungs and it felt as if an elephant had taken a nap right on his chest. The air just wouldn’t come.
Flashing red lights indicated the ambulance was making its way through the gate and across the hash marks and yard lines toward the chaos. Cory kept his eyes shut as he concentrated on the encouraging words from the coaches and medical staff kneeling around his aching body.
“Keep his head still.” His hard-nosed coach barked the command. “The ambulance is almost here.”
“It’s not his head or neck.” The medic was examining him and trying to unbuckle his helmet to remove it for a better look.
“Stay with us Cory, you’re going to be okay.” That was Ms. Rachel, our physical trainer. The guys on the team were always trying to vie for extra time with her by going to her office for every little scratch. If the situation wasn’t so serious, Cory would be lapping up the attention right now.
In the stands Laura was frozen in fear. Her son lay prone on the turf surrounded by coaches and medical personnel while the ambulance drove on the field. With one arm around Bri, Cory’s longtime girlfriend, and one hand clenched on tight on her husband, Joe’s, arm, she held her breath.
The stands were eerily quiet as the crowd watched the scene unfold on the field. Muffled voices were directing players to the sidelines in almost reverent voices as the crowd murmured their concern and predictions. Bri, whose long blonde hair, was pulled back in a ponytail and bright green eyes were stretched wide in horror, hiccupped as she tried to keep her emotions at bay. Joe’s face was clenched tight in a silent plea and the hush across the stadium was so intense it wasn’t hard to know that the scene was not a good one. Laura’s resolve snapped and she rushed the field like a crazed mother bear.
“That’s my son!” Laura shouted from across the field at the poor coach that tried to stop her from rushing forward. “I don’t care what the rules are, MOVE!” She said the last part with such authority it was hard not to picture the coach quaking in his Nikes and stepping aside.
What felt like forever was really only a matter of minutes before Cory was strapped to the gurney, loaded into the ambulance, and heading for the hospital. Laura climbed inside for the ride with her son; Joe grabbed Bri by the arm and made their way to their car while the crowd erupted in cheers of encouragement. The unspoken truth evident in everyone’s mind; there was something terribly wrong.
****
Weeks of blood test, poking and prodding, pee tests, and countless doctors’ visits brought Laura, Cory, and Joe to this life changing moment in the doctor’s office.
Leukemia. What an odd word. Couldn’t they come up with something more manly for the disease that was slowly killing Cory? When the doctor first said it out loud Cory wanted to reach over, pat him on the back, and dislodge the nasty phlegm stuck in his throat. Denial over took him while Laura cried and Joe sat stoically silent.
“Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, to be exact,” The doctor said, “A very rare form of Leukemia.” You could hear a pin drop in the silence that hung in the air. The doctor continued, “It is caused by the overproduction of white blood cells in large bones, the liver, spleen, and blood. Eventually it can over take your body and we don’t want that. This is why you’ve been so weak lately. But the good news is, we’ve identified what you have and we will start immediate, aggressive treatments.”
“What . . . kind of treatments?” Trying to keep her tears at bay, Laura finally broke the silence. Cory fingered his phone in his pocket and seriously contemplated starting a new game of Angry Birds, a fitting game for what he was feeling.
“We can put him on a few different medications to try and start with chemo therapy. We need to manage . . .” the conversation went on between Laura and the doctor while Joe sat in silence and listened. Cory mentally checked out.
Grabbing his phone and flipping it open he automatically navigated to the text screen and typed the familiar number before clicking out a quick text.
Hey. At doctors getting results.
Within a few seconds a reply came. Bri had been waiting with her phone in hand for the results.
So???? Xoxoxoxo
Cory smiled at the signature Bri always put on all her texts to him. They’d been together for over a year now and he couldn’t imagine a life without her. He needed her more now than ever. His life was about to change in more ways than one. Their after graduation plans would be different now, nothing would ever be the same.
Not so good.
Meaning?? Xoxoxoxo
With a sigh he typed the word he tried to deny and waited for a response.
Cancer
Her reply took a little longer to come.
What?
Ya.
That’s a sick joke Cory.
No joke, Bri.
A few minutes passed. The conversation in the room continued but Cory waited for a response, focusing on his phone and willing something to flash on the screen that would take it all away. His pulse quickened with each passing minute. Still nothing came.
Hello?
I’m here. . . don’t know what to say. Sorry doesn’t cut it.
Ya
Come over when you get home?
Ya
Luv u! xoxoxoxo
That’s what he needed, the undying declaration of love from the one that meant more than anything in the world. He could picture her perfect green eyes watering with unshed tears staring at her phone. He couldn’t reply, he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold his own tears at bay so he tucked his phone back into his pocket and stared out the window.
By now Joe and Laura were wrapping up with the doctor and talking about the next step in the “plan” to kick cancer’s butt. Cory ran his hands through his thick black hair and wondered if he would be one of those unlucky ones who lost it all when the chemo therapy started.
The ride home was quiet as words escaped everyone. The unspoken fear that the treatments wouldn’t work were in everyone’s thoughts, but no one could say it aloud. Not even a “what if”. One thing was for sure; their future was full of more poking, prodding, biopsies, chemo, doctor visits, and medical bills.
“Bri wants me to come over when we get home.” Cory finally broke the silence.
“Do you want to invite her over to our house for dinner?” Laura asked tentatively from the front seat. The strain of worry was etched on her face. Her carefully combed hair had a curl that kept falling into her eyes, but she was too distracted to care. She glanced at her husband’s quiet frame and reached over to grab his white knuckled hand on the steering wheel. His face was hard and unreadable, focused on the road. But a ray of sun caught the gleam of a tear running down his cheek.
“I’ll text her.” Cory choked before falling silent again and watching the world pass him by.
****
Months had passed with the treatments that were supposed to “kick cancer’s butt” and Cory still couldn’t gain back his strength. At first, the treatments worked like a charm. Almost too good to be true, and it was. As the days rolled by the cancer picked up its destructive pace and began wreaking havoc on his life. It was only a matter of time before more drastic measures needed to be taken and it would be soon. The search for a bone marrow donor was on, which was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Friends, uncles, aunts, neighbors, all offered to test for a possible bone marrow match. Even Bri wanted to take a turn, hoping she would be a match for the man she loved. But, finding a match was never easy and so far, no one had even come close.
Cory sat again in the doctor’s office to wait for the results of the latest donor, his older brother, Tyler. Laura and Joe waited with baited breath as the time ticked by, but Cory and Tyler kept the conversation light and easy. Tyler had just gotten back from being overseas and went down immediately to be tested. He was the last hope before being put on a waiting list for finding someone, which was always a very slim margin.
“Tell me about Bri. She’s a beauty.” Tyler punched him in the arm in a brotherly love kind of way.
“Ya, she is. She’s the best thing that happened to me.” Cory said truthfully.
“Awww, wittle Cory’s got a gwirlfrwiend!” Tyler bantered back, making Cory blush.
“Suck it, dude! You’re just jealous.” Cory countered. But truth be told, Cory couldn’t have made it through the last few months without her by his side. Everyone knew that. The months of pain, nausea from medicines, sickness, depression, it would have been so much worse without Bri’s constant love and tenderness to push him through.
The doctor walked into the office and the smile on his face was unmistakable. A wave of relief washed over everyone as he announced Tyler was a perfect match. The bone marrow transplant that could save his life was possible. Tyler was more than a war hero; he could save his only brother’s life.
Emotions ran deep as Tyler grabbed Cory and gave him the biggest brotherly hug possible. His parents joined in, effectively squishing Cory in the middle of a circle of tears. He found it hard to keep his own tears at bay. But this was only the beginning.
****
“Hey, it’s me.” Cory called Bri after he got home from the doctor’s office. He didn’t want to send her a text, this kind of information was too important to leave to text messaging. “Can we go out?”
“Ya. How did the doctor visit go? What did you find out? Is it good?” She asked without pausing to let him answer.
“I’d rather tell you in person. Pick you up in fifteen?” Cory said, not giving anything away.
“Cory, tell me. I need to know.” She pleaded.
“Fifteen. I’ll be there.”
“Hurry!” She hung up before he could say good-bye.
Ten minutes later Cory pulled into Bri’s driveway and she was out the door before he even got the car in park. The worry on her face gave him pause, she really did love him.
Bri jumped into the car and turned to Cory before shutting the door.
“Tell me!” She pleaded again.
“I will, let’s get going first.”
Bri shut the door with a sigh and stared out the window. All sorts of worst case scenarios were running through her head and the wait was killing her. She couldn’t read his expression, which made it worse. She kept her eyes forward, even when Cory reached over to grab her hand and kissed the sensitive part of the underside of her wrist.
They drove in silence until they reached their favorite spot down by the waterfalls. Cory parked the car, grabbed a picnic basket from the back seat, and opened the door for Bri. In silence they walked to their favorite tree and spread out a blanket. The sun was shining high above casting a rainbow from the off spray of the waterfall.
They both sat on the blanket and Bri watched Cory taking in the scenery around them. His black hair had survived the chemo but he had lost weight in the process. His energy wasn’t the same; he had to give up his favorite sport of football and was always tired. But through thick or thin, she couldn’t imagine her life without him and tears filled her eyes as she thought the worse.
“We got the results today.” Cory finally said.
“I know.” Bri clasped her hands in her lap and dropped her eyes on concentrate on her fingers. “Please tell me. I can’t take the wait anymore.”
Cory grabbed her hands in his making her face him and as he scooted closer. She wouldn’t meet his gaze so he gently tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her face so their eyes met.
“He’s a perfect match, a one in a million chance, a miracle.” He waited for the words to sink in. She didn’t move, didn’t speak, and didn’t even blink. “I get the transplant.” He prodded.
Tears spilled over and she lunged at him with such force they fell backwards on the ground, her arms wrapped firmly around his neck. She was crying and kissing him all over his face.
“I was so scared!” She said between kisses, over and over again.
Cory pushed her back with a slight chuckle helped her sit up before reaching into the picnic basket.
“I’ve got something else I need to ask you.” His fingers shook as he lifted a small box packed between the hoagie sandwiches’. Getting up on one knee in front of Bri, his whole body shook with anticipation. Bri started crying again and covered her mouth with her hands before a sob escaped from deep inside.
“Please, Bri. Marry me. I know we just graduated, I know life is hard and I have a long road ahead of me. But I can’t do it alone, I can’t do it without you. I need you by my side, now and forever. Marry me!” Cory waited, on his knees in front of the only person besides his family that he couldn’t live without.
“Yes.” She whispered. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Before the surgery. I want to be married before the surgery, please!” he pleaded.
“I can’t wait.” She said.
They spent the rest of the time making plans, promises, laughing, and sealing it all with tender, emotion filled kisses.
****
The best laid plans don’t always come to light. A week later Cory found himself in the hospital with an infection that threatened more than just his wedding plans.
A simple scratch led to a blood infection and a once in a life time flight in a helicopter to the hospital in Utah.
“Are you going to make me ride in the wheel chair to the helicopter? “ Cory asked with despair to the nurse wheeling the dreaded chair into his room.
“I will make you ride to the door, and then you can walk if you feel able.” She smiled. He liked her; she was always doing him favors and breaking the rules for him.
“Thanks!” Cory couldn’t help but smile at that small accomplishment.
The nurse wheeled him to the door and helped him out of the chair to walk to the helicopter. This would be his first ride in anything so cool, no matter how old he was, the little boy in him escaped.
The pilot ran over and introduced himself.
“I’m Jack, your pilot. How are you feeling son?” He shook his hand, clapped Cory on the back, and walked him to the open door of the copter.
Cory eyed the bed strapped in the back and instantly his stomach fell.
“Are you going to make me take my first ride in a helicopter strapped to a bed?” Cory asked.
“No, you can sit up here with me.” Jack smiled as he pointed to a seat right behind the drivers. Cory beamed with excitement.
“Sweet!”
“Your parents will meet you in Utah.” The nurse said before she left, taking the wheelchair back through the door.
“Buckle up son.” Jack said as he climbed inside to start the engine.
****
The Utah hospital was the same as when Cory last left. He knew all the nurses, doctors, and support staff. He even had his favorite room; he was a regular visitor over the last few months and was about to become a permanent fixture for the next two to six months of his life.
Over the last year Cory had so many experiences that would forever leave his mark. Aside from the vast amount of tests, there were so many things he would never forget. The nausea, the pokes and blood work, his first helicopter ride, his brother’s unselfish help, his parents sacrifice and love, and Bri. Through it all she was always there for him.
Through sickness and health, just as she pledged a month ago, she had been there from the beginning. Married at nineteen, just out of high school, to the most amazing person was more than Cory could hope for.
Isolation was the worst part of getting ready for a transplant. Cory was allowed to see his family one last time before the big procedure, one that had a fifty-fifty chance of taking and making him better. Tyler good naturedly joked back and forth with Cory about the side effects of a donor.
“I won’t be able to walk, dude. You’re going to owe me big time. I’m keeping score.” Tyler ruffled Cory’s hair.
“Suck it! I’ll get you a cane, old man!” Cory managed to say, the weakness in his body was more apparent than ever.
“Nope, not gonna work. I’ll have a list of favors I need when you’re recovered. Count on it.” Tyler smiled.
Cory didn’t say anything, the fear of the upcoming procedure weighing heavily on his mind.
“Cory, it’s going to be alright. You’re my hero, kid.” Tyler couldn’t keep the emotion from his voice as a tear slipped down his cheek.
The door opened and Bri walked in, followed by Laura and Joe. Tyler wiped his eyes and stood up, backing away from the bed to make room for the others.
“Stop monopolizing the patient.” She said with a quick smile and a wink as she walked to the bed, leaned over, and kissed Cory’s forehead. “How’s my man?”
“I’m okay.”
“Hey honey.” His mom said, following behind Bri. “We only have a few minutes.” The strain to stay positive was visible, but she had a kind loving smile on her face.
Joe stood in the doorway, his stoic expression still in place. He was a tough man and not one to show much emotion, making him hard to read.
“We are all here for you son.” Laura said, rubbing his thinning arm. Looking to her husband, she smiled at him and shifted on the bed. “You’re father wants to talk to you. We’ll see you when you wake up.” She said as she got up, dropped a kiss on his cheek, and ushered Tyler and Bri to the door.
“I love you more than anything. For forever.” Bri said silently as she left the room, blowing a kiss in his direction while Tyler and Laura followed behind her.
Joe walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, grabbing Cory’s weak hands in his strong masculine grip. The contrast was amazing, the effects of the cancer hard to miss. Joe caught the emotion in his throat as a single tear slid down his sun-bronzed cheek.
“I’m proud of you, son. You’re an inspiration to all of us.” Joe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I need you to know . . .” He couldn’t finish. His big frame shook, his tough exterior vanished as he pulled his son into a hug. “I love you son.” He whispered into Cory’s thick black hair.
“I love you too, dad.” Cory said, giving a weak embrace in return. The powerful grip of his father’s arms around his frail frame, the knowledge of his family by his side, the love of his beautiful Bri, the love and support of his family and friends, Cory knew beyond at this moment that he would make it through; he was a survivor.
“I’ll see you when I wake!”
Within a few seconds a reply came. Bri had been waiting with her phone in hand for the results.
So???? Xoxoxoxo
Cory smiled at the signature Bri always put on all her texts to him. They’d been together for over a year now and he couldn’t imagine a life without her. He needed her more now than ever. His life was about to change in more ways than one. Their after graduation plans would be different now, nothing would ever be the same.
Not so good.
Meaning?? Xoxoxoxo
With a sigh he typed the word he tried to deny and waited for a response.
Cancer
Her reply took a little longer to come.
What?
Ya.
That’s a sick joke Cory.
No joke, Bri.
A few minutes passed. The conversation in the room continued but Cory waited for a response, focusing on his phone and willing something to flash on the screen that would take it all away. His pulse quickened with each passing minute. Still nothing came.
Hello?
I’m here. . . don’t know what to say. Sorry doesn’t cut it.
Ya
Come over when you get home?
Ya
Luv u! xoxoxoxo
That’s what he needed, the undying declaration of love from the one that meant more than anything in the world. He could picture her perfect green eyes watering with unshed tears staring at her phone. He couldn’t reply, he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold his own tears at bay so he tucked his phone back into his pocket and stared out the window.
By now Joe and Laura were wrapping up with the doctor and talking about the next step in the “plan” to kick cancer’s butt. Cory ran his hands through his thick black hair and wondered if he would be one of those unlucky ones who lost it all when the chemo therapy started.
The ride home was quiet as words escaped everyone. The unspoken fear that the treatments wouldn’t work were in everyone’s thoughts, but no one could say it aloud. Not even a “what if”. One thing was for sure; their future was full of more poking, prodding, biopsies, chemo, doctor visits, and medical bills.
“Bri wants me to come over when we get home.” Cory finally broke the silence.
“Do you want to invite her over to our house for dinner?” Laura asked tentatively from the front seat. The strain of worry was etched on her face. Her carefully combed hair had a curl that kept falling into her eyes, but she was too distracted to care. She glanced at her husband’s quiet frame and reached over to grab his white knuckled hand on the steering wheel. His face was hard and unreadable, focused on the road. But a ray of sun caught the gleam of a tear running down his cheek.
“I’ll text her.” Cory choked before falling silent again and watching the world pass him by.
****
Months had passed with the treatments that were supposed to “kick cancer’s butt” and Cory still couldn’t gain back his strength. At first, the treatments worked like a charm. Almost too good to be true, and it was. As the days rolled by the cancer picked up its destructive pace and began wreaking havoc on his life. It was only a matter of time before more drastic measures needed to be taken and it would be soon. The search for a bone marrow donor was on, which was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Friends, uncles, aunts, neighbors, all offered to test for a possible bone marrow match. Even Bri wanted to take a turn, hoping she would be a match for the man she loved. But, finding a match was never easy and so far, no one had even come close.
Cory sat again in the doctor’s office to wait for the results of the latest donor, his older brother, Tyler. Laura and Joe waited with baited breath as the time ticked by, but Cory and Tyler kept the conversation light and easy. Tyler had just gotten back from being overseas and went down immediately to be tested. He was the last hope before being put on a waiting list for finding someone, which was always a very slim margin.
“Tell me about Bri. She’s a beauty.” Tyler punched him in the arm in a brotherly love kind of way.
“Ya, she is. She’s the best thing that happened to me.” Cory said truthfully.
“Awww, wittle Cory’s got a gwirlfrwiend!” Tyler bantered back, making Cory blush.
“Suck it, dude! You’re just jealous.” Cory countered. But truth be told, Cory couldn’t have made it through the last few months without her by his side. Everyone knew that. The months of pain, nausea from medicines, sickness, depression, it would have been so much worse without Bri’s constant love and tenderness to push him through.
The doctor walked into the office and the smile on his face was unmistakable. A wave of relief washed over everyone as he announced Tyler was a perfect match. The bone marrow transplant that could save his life was possible. Tyler was more than a war hero; he could save his only brother’s life.
Emotions ran deep as Tyler grabbed Cory and gave him the biggest brotherly hug possible. His parents joined in, effectively squishing Cory in the middle of a circle of tears. He found it hard to keep his own tears at bay. But this was only the beginning.
****
“Hey, it’s me.” Cory called Bri after he got home from the doctor’s office. He didn’t want to send her a text, this kind of information was too important to leave to text messaging. “Can we go out?”
“Ya. How did the doctor visit go? What did you find out? Is it good?” She asked without pausing to let him answer.
“I’d rather tell you in person. Pick you up in fifteen?” Cory said, not giving anything away.
“Cory, tell me. I need to know.” She pleaded.
“Fifteen. I’ll be there.”
“Hurry!” She hung up before he could say good-bye.
Ten minutes later Cory pulled into Bri’s driveway and she was out the door before he even got the car in park. The worry on her face gave him pause, she really did love him.
Bri jumped into the car and turned to Cory before shutting the door.
“Tell me!” She pleaded again.
“I will, let’s get going first.”
Bri shut the door with a sigh and stared out the window. All sorts of worst case scenarios were running through her head and the wait was killing her. She couldn’t read his expression, which made it worse. She kept her eyes forward, even when Cory reached over to grab her hand and kissed the sensitive part of the underside of her wrist.
They drove in silence until they reached their favorite spot down by the waterfalls. Cory parked the car, grabbed a picnic basket from the back seat, and opened the door for Bri. In silence they walked to their favorite tree and spread out a blanket. The sun was shining high above casting a rainbow from the off spray of the waterfall.
They both sat on the blanket and Bri watched Cory taking in the scenery around them. His black hair had survived the chemo but he had lost weight in the process. His energy wasn’t the same; he had to give up his favorite sport of football and was always tired. But through thick or thin, she couldn’t imagine her life without him and tears filled her eyes as she thought the worse.
“We got the results today.” Cory finally said.
“I know.” Bri clasped her hands in her lap and dropped her eyes on concentrate on her fingers. “Please tell me. I can’t take the wait anymore.”
Cory grabbed her hands in his making her face him and as he scooted closer. She wouldn’t meet his gaze so he gently tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her face so their eyes met.
“He’s a perfect match, a one in a million chance, a miracle.” He waited for the words to sink in. She didn’t move, didn’t speak, and didn’t even blink. “I get the transplant.” He prodded.
Tears spilled over and she lunged at him with such force they fell backwards on the ground, her arms wrapped firmly around his neck. She was crying and kissing him all over his face.
“I was so scared!” She said between kisses, over and over again.
Cory pushed her back with a slight chuckle helped her sit up before reaching into the picnic basket.
“I’ve got something else I need to ask you.” His fingers shook as he lifted a small box packed between the hoagie sandwiches’. Getting up on one knee in front of Bri, his whole body shook with anticipation. Bri started crying again and covered her mouth with her hands before a sob escaped from deep inside.
“Please, Bri. Marry me. I know we just graduated, I know life is hard and I have a long road ahead of me. But I can’t do it alone, I can’t do it without you. I need you by my side, now and forever. Marry me!” Cory waited, on his knees in front of the only person besides his family that he couldn’t live without.
“Yes.” She whispered. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Before the surgery. I want to be married before the surgery, please!” he pleaded.
“I can’t wait.” She said.
They spent the rest of the time making plans, promises, laughing, and sealing it all with tender, emotion filled kisses.
****
The best laid plans don’t always come to light. A week later Cory found himself in the hospital with an infection that threatened more than just his wedding plans.
A simple scratch led to a blood infection and a once in a life time flight in a helicopter to the hospital in Utah.
“Are you going to make me ride in the wheel chair to the helicopter? “ Cory asked with despair to the nurse wheeling the dreaded chair into his room.
“I will make you ride to the door, and then you can walk if you feel able.” She smiled. He liked her; she was always doing him favors and breaking the rules for him.
“Thanks!” Cory couldn’t help but smile at that small accomplishment.
The nurse wheeled him to the door and helped him out of the chair to walk to the helicopter. This would be his first ride in anything so cool, no matter how old he was, the little boy in him escaped.
The pilot ran over and introduced himself.
“I’m Jack, your pilot. How are you feeling son?” He shook his hand, clapped Cory on the back, and walked him to the open door of the copter.
Cory eyed the bed strapped in the back and instantly his stomach fell.
“Are you going to make me take my first ride in a helicopter strapped to a bed?” Cory asked.
“No, you can sit up here with me.” Jack smiled as he pointed to a seat right behind the drivers. Cory beamed with excitement.
“Sweet!”
“Your parents will meet you in Utah.” The nurse said before she left, taking the wheelchair back through the door.
“Buckle up son.” Jack said as he climbed inside to start the engine.
****
The Utah hospital was the same as when Cory last left. He knew all the nurses, doctors, and support staff. He even had his favorite room; he was a regular visitor over the last few months and was about to become a permanent fixture for the next two to six months of his life.
Over the last year Cory had so many experiences that would forever leave his mark. Aside from the vast amount of tests, there were so many things he would never forget. The nausea, the pokes and blood work, his first helicopter ride, his brother’s unselfish help, his parents sacrifice and love, and Bri. Through it all she was always there for him.
Through sickness and health, just as she pledged a month ago, she had been there from the beginning. Married at nineteen, just out of high school, to the most amazing person was more than Cory could hope for.
Isolation was the worst part of getting ready for a transplant. Cory was allowed to see his family one last time before the big procedure, one that had a fifty-fifty chance of taking and making him better. Tyler good naturedly joked back and forth with Cory about the side effects of a donor.
“I won’t be able to walk, dude. You’re going to owe me big time. I’m keeping score.” Tyler ruffled Cory’s hair.
“Suck it! I’ll get you a cane, old man!” Cory managed to say, the weakness in his body was more apparent than ever.
“Nope, not gonna work. I’ll have a list of favors I need when you’re recovered. Count on it.” Tyler smiled.
Cory didn’t say anything, the fear of the upcoming procedure weighing heavily on his mind.
“Cory, it’s going to be alright. You’re my hero, kid.” Tyler couldn’t keep the emotion from his voice as a tear slipped down his cheek.
The door opened and Bri walked in, followed by Laura and Joe. Tyler wiped his eyes and stood up, backing away from the bed to make room for the others.
“Stop monopolizing the patient.” She said with a quick smile and a wink as she walked to the bed, leaned over, and kissed Cory’s forehead. “How’s my man?”
“I’m okay.”
“Hey honey.” His mom said, following behind Bri. “We only have a few minutes.” The strain to stay positive was visible, but she had a kind loving smile on her face.
Joe stood in the doorway, his stoic expression still in place. He was a tough man and not one to show much emotion, making him hard to read.
“We are all here for you son.” Laura said, rubbing his thinning arm. Looking to her husband, she smiled at him and shifted on the bed. “You’re father wants to talk to you. We’ll see you when you wake up.” She said as she got up, dropped a kiss on his cheek, and ushered Tyler and Bri to the door.
“I love you more than anything. For forever.” Bri said silently as she left the room, blowing a kiss in his direction while Tyler and Laura followed behind her.
Joe walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, grabbing Cory’s weak hands in his strong masculine grip. The contrast was amazing, the effects of the cancer hard to miss. Joe caught the emotion in his throat as a single tear slid down his sun-bronzed cheek.
“I’m proud of you, son. You’re an inspiration to all of us.” Joe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I need you to know . . .” He couldn’t finish. His big frame shook, his tough exterior vanished as he pulled his son into a hug. “I love you son.” He whispered into Cory’s thick black hair.
“I love you too, dad.” Cory said, giving a weak embrace in return. The powerful grip of his father’s arms around his frail frame, the knowledge of his family by his side, the love of his beautiful Bri, the love and support of his family and friends, Cory knew beyond at this moment that he would make it through; he was a survivor.
“I’ll see you when I wake!”