My A.I.

CHAPTER FIVE

*This is a special chapter. We are getting a bit of Liz's point of view. I feel like she deserves a bit of notice*

Liz was born in a small city in Washington state, to a mother and father, who had an older son, Kevin. She was a healthy girl until she turned ten. That year tore the family apart. Liz was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. It started in her pelvic bone. This was terrifying to them all. Liz's mother wanted to fight for her daughter ever step, even if that meant risky surgeries that could kill her daughter. Liz's father wanted to try the basic chemo and radiation before going to surgery. Kevin just wanted his kid sister to get better.

Liz was asked what she wanted. She smiled at her family and asked them to go relax and think about all the options before they made a major choice. When her family went out for food she asked the doctors their options and had a long conversation getting all the information the doctor would give her. She didn't understand it all, but she understood she was different now. She wouldn't be able to go to school, play sports, and the chances of her living a long life were slight and slim. She smiled and said 'thank you' to the doctors.

She tried to nap before her family came back. It was hard knowing all this information was being placed on her. She knew she had to try and make everyone happy and make her parents and her brother think about themselves to. She closed her eyes and yawned in exhaustion. She maybe got twenty minutes before her family and the doctors came back.

"Liz?" Her father asked.

"You okay sweetheart?" Her mother asked.

"I brought you banana pudding, your favorite." Kevin gave her the cup.

"We wanted to let you know based on all the x-rays, biopsy, and scrapings Liz's Ewing Sarcoma is only stage one. It can change quickly, so we don't want to wait to long to start with treatment."

"Is that the route we should go doctor?" Liz's dad asked.

"Shouldn't we just cut the cancer out completely?" Liz's mom asked.

Kevin smiled at his sister and sat on the bed next to her.

"We shouldn't got for surgery at stage one, if we don't get it all out it could come back stronger. We should start with a low level of chemo and see if that will stop it. I'd like to say at least two months of chemo and we should see a change. Something you need to understand is that if we treat it now, it could become chemo resistant, and the same with radiation. The surgery is just to risky for a girl Liz's age. Where all her pelvic area is still developing we don't want to cut into the bones and have her with more health issues." The doctor said and handed them a pamphlet on the surgery, chemo and radiation processes.

Liz's mother read the surgery one first and gasped a few times. She didn't realize that this would have given her less than a 50% chance of having good fertility. She set that pamphlet down and picked up radiation. She read it and liked that one a little one than the surgery pamphlet. She changed with her husband and took the chemo one. She read it and then waited till Liz's dad was done reading. They walked out leaving Kevin with his sister.

He had two spoons and he was making himself a walrus to get Liz to laugh. He ruffled her hair and smirked. "Hey I have a good idea. Since all this is going on, I bet if you asked mom and dad they would get you that dog now." Kevin said and smiled.

Liz laughed at her brother and pushed his hands away. "Do you think they can afford it? All these hospital bills, I see mom and dad fighting. I don't want to make more problems for them." She said and looked away. "Kevin?" She hesitated. "Are mom and dad going to get a divorce? I don't want them to." She said sadly.

"Naw. They just don't know how to feel with all these big words, and the cancer. Their scared. Liz they just need to go blow off steam. And you need to get better." Kevin said ruffling her hair again.

Her parents walked back in and smiled at them. "Liz do you want to read these pamphlet's?" Her mother asked. She handed chemo to her first.

"I actually already looked at them all!" Liz said and wiggled her feet. "I wanted to have information to." She looked at her parents. "Can we just try chemo first? I think that one is better. I know I might lose my hair. It's just hair. I know I might get really sick and puke a lot, but that's okay to. It sounds better than having them cut bones." She smiled at her parents and sat up.

"Mom... Dad... Can you bring me a notebook? I want to write some things down." Liz said and smiled.

Kevin gave her a thumbs up hoping it was for a dog.

Liz smiled and laughed.

Her parents brought her a notebook and went to talk to the doctors. They went ahead and scheduled her first chemo date. Her dad held her moms hand tightly and her mom squeezed back, as tears were forming in her eyes.

Liz had already started writing, she didn't let her parents see the words in the notebooks. She wanted to save it until they were home. She gathered her stuff in her bookbag happy she was going to go home.

Her dad drove Liz and Kevin asleep in the back seat. Her mother silently crying.

*Two years later*

Liz and her dad were standing in the hospital waiting for the latest results of her scans and tests. Her father was wringing his hands in nervousness. Liz smiled at her dad and patted his shoulder and smiled again. "Dad, it's okay. It's gonna be good news. I can feel it." She said trying to make her dad feel better.

"Liz... You are such a brave girl." He said and sighed.

There was a knock on the door and the doctor came in.

"Would you like to sit down?" The male doctor asked.

"NO!" They both said in unison.

His name tag said head of pathology. "Well it's been two long years... We went thru all the scans, a new biopsy, and scrapings... Liz... You are cancer free." He smiled as he watched them hug.

"Liz you were right sweetheart. I'm so proud of you." Her father said his voice sounded like it was about to break.

"We want to keep an eye, on this though. Sometimes cancer can come back, and stronger." The doctor says and hands them a pamphlet for remission. "You should also think about this..." The doctor said handing him a service animal pamphlet. "She should be able to get this thru the insurance company." He said and smiled. "Congratulations Liz!" The doctor said and walked out of the room.

Liz and her dad hugged again tightly and then took the drive home.

Her mom had a cake baked and ready for Liz when they got home. Her hand steadily holding a pouch of icing to write with.

Her dad walked in quietly, Liz a smile beaming on her face. "Mom... Mom.. Mom." She couldn't hide her excitement.

"Liz? Is everything okay?" Her mom was worried.

She handed her mom a paper. "Read it!"

Liz's mother read the paper and squeaked in happiness. "OH THANK GOD!" She screamed and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Liz you brave sweet girl." Her mom said and hugged her tight. "Your brother will be home from school any second."

Just then Kevin came running in the door. "I told the bus driver to go faster. He didn't understand how important today was. Are they home mom? Liz? Dad? Is there good new?"

Liz handed him the paper and smiled.

Kevin hugged his sister and clapped hard. "Yes. Little sis is a champion!" He said and hugged her again. "So proud of you."

That night they celebrated the good news.

"Mom. Dad. Can I show you what I've been writing these last few years?" Liz asked notebook in hand.

"Of course kiddo."

"Yes sweetheart."

*PAGE ONE*

Today is the first day of knowing what has been making me sick. I'm sorry that I'm writing this and not talking to you about it. I don't know if I'll ever show you this. I love you all so much. Mom. Dad. Kevin. It's the start of a new life for us all. I know things are hard and it's been a bit hectic since we started this, but thank you for staying by my side and trying so hard to smile even when you are scared. Please no matter what happens will you two stay together forever? I don't want you all to get a divorce. Kevin will really need you all to stay together and stay happy if he loses me. You know I'm his favorite. Make sure he stays happy.

Kevin really wants a dog, and I do to, but I know the bills from all these hospital trips and workups are piling up. If you can get him a dog one day I think that would really make him happy. He won't admit it. Don't tell him I'm telling you this.

*PAGE TWO*

It's my first year living with chemo. I've lost my hair, even my eyebrows and eye lashes. The puking is normal now. I wear a lot of hats that Kevin has given me. I know a lot of the other pages were just doodles and talking about how I feel on those days and they aren't really important. I'm glad to still be here. I'm glad to have every day with you all. The three of you have been amazing! Thank you for supporting me thru all this. Thank you all for being there for every step. I know I didn't always look happy, but I was. Don't tell Kevin buy his stupid jokes are really bad. I know he's trying to make me smile and laugh, but it's hard to laugh at the really bad ones. Mom don't freak out, but I like the bald look, it works good with the clothes. Dad... I'm okay I promise. I'm stronger than you know. Thank you mom and dad for staying together still. It means a lot to me and Kevin.

*PAGE THREE*

It's two days before my appointment. I have this really good feeling. All my cancer is going to be gone. I know you won't believe me because you all are worried. Please believe me when the doctors tell you I'm in the safe. I've been having really good dreams. Dreams of me and Kevin are playing basketball in the driveway, and walking a dog together. You guys are taking me to buy my prom dress and meeting my boyfriend. Mom your crying cause you are so happy that we made it here. Dad you are trying not to cry, but you are also giving the boyfriend a lecture about not doing anything. I love you all so much. Thank you. P.S. If I'm right I want a dog!

There was a knock on the door. Kevin ran to the door and opened it. "Hey George, come on in man, you got that?" He asked and walked his best friend into the room. "Liz close your eyes. Mom and Dad... You guys can kill me tomorrow." He said as he and George approached Liz.

"Okay. Liz. Hand out! Open your eyes. 3,2,1. Now!" Kevin said and smiled clapping his hands.

In George's hands, right in front of Liz's face was a small Doberman. He smiled and patted the puppy. "Liz. This is your puppy now. My dog had a litter of puppies about ten weeks ago and your brother has been working around my house to earn him. " He smiled handing Liz the puppy. "Also congratulations on beating cancer!" He said and smiled.

Liz squealed and started crying. She took the tiny puppy and held it tightly against her chest. "Kevin thank you so much. Mom. Dad. I can keep him right?" She asked.

"Well."

"Of course."

"My Tiny baby boy." Liz said and smiled kissing the puppies head.