CHAPTER SIX
Tailor, Alec, Max, Code, Gibbie, Stone, and Rory entered the Children’s Hospital, knowing what they were about to face.
Seeing your buddies shot, dying, torn apart by war was one thing.
But seeing an innocent child sick, in pain, or dying of a disease that no one could make sense of, was something they struggled with.
“They’re giants,” whispered a small voice. Alec stopped and turned, shielding his eyes as if outside exploring, looking far off into the make-believe distance.
“Who said that?” he said to Tailor.
“I’m not sure. Who said that?” asked Tailor looking around.
“I-I did,” said the little voice. “Are you going to eat me?” The men chuckled, shaking their heads.
“No. We don’t eat children. We love children and want to help them feel better.”
“You can’t do that,” said the little figure.
Not one of them knew whether they were speaking to a boy or a girl. The bald head and sallow skin tone didn’t give anything away. The child appeared to be around seven, seated in a red wagon near the nurses station.
“Well, you never know,” said Max kneeling down by the wagon. His knees cracked and popped and the child laughed at him. “We might be able to make you feel better. My knees will still make music when I bend down but you might get to feeling better.”
“The doctor said no one can help me.”
“Did he now?” frowned Rory.
“Madeline,” said the voice from behind them. “Oh. Hello. Madeline, the doctor said that you can’t have anything solid yet. Sorry, honey.”
“It’s okay. I’ll just have more ice cream,” she frowned.
Never in his life had Code seen a child upset about having ice cream. This little girl looked as though she’d been hit by a truck and her favorite toys taken away from her.
“You know,” he grinned, “I love ice cream with chocolate sauce on it.”
“You do?” said the little girl. “I’m not sure I can have chocolate sauce.” Code looked back at the nurse and she nodded.
“She’s allowed to have a little and I do mean a little. By the way, who are you guys?” she asked.
“Nurse Hattie is strict,” said Madeline.
“She’s supposed to be strict,” smiled Gibbie. “We work with the Robicheaux Foundation.”
“That makes sense,” she nodded. “Claudette called and said some guys were coming up to lend a hand. Our playroom is seriously lacking any form of play in it. We hired a contractor to fix it up and he did a half-a—um, half way job and took the money and left. We could use some help.”
“Well, why don’t you show us the playroom and our friend Code there can have some ice cream with Madeline?”
“I think that’s fair,” she smiled looking down at the little girl. “Not too much, Madeline. You know what it will do to you if you eat too much.”
“I know. I know,” she frowned.
“Alright beautiful, where do we find this ice cream?” asked Code, taking the handle of the wagon in his big hand.
“It’s around the corner.”
“Do you want to walk or should we use your fancy wheels?” he smiled.
“I can’t walk,” she said. “My legs don’t work well anymore.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s a tumor and it’s right on my spine. If they operate, I’ll probably die. If they don’t operate, I’ll probably die.” She shrugged her shoulders and Code suddenly lost the ability to speak. Thank goodness Stone was right behind them.
“Who told you that?” asked Stone.
“The doctor. I live with my aunt and uncle and they don’t have any health insurance. The surgery is super-duper expensive and not available here. Plus they can’t afford it. It makes Aunt Maribeth cry a lot.”
“I see,” said Stone. “Well, I have a friend who is an amazing surgeon and specialized in kid’s cancers. I think I’m going to give her a call.”
“Up to you,” said the child. “It won’t matter.
I’m okay with all of this. I just want Aunt Maribeth and Uncle Geoff to stop crying so much.
They try to hide it but I see it all the time.
They’re the best parents I could ever get for free.
I feel bad for them. They couldn’t have babies and when they took me on they thought it was going to be awesome. I’m not very awesome.”
“I think you’re the awesomest,” smirked Code. “Where are you parents?”
“I never knew my mom. My dad tried but Uncle Geoff said he loved the drugs more than he loved me. I don’t think I was supposed to hear that but I did. I wasn’t listening to their conversation. Not really,” she said nibbling on her lower lip.
“I’m sure that’s not true. You seem very loveable to me,” said Code. “Drugs make people sick sometimes and they say and do things they don’t mean to do. I’m going to bet your dad was one of those people.”
“You don’t have to tell me. All of the drugs make me sick,” she said shaking her head.
Code stopped the wagon in front of the makeshift ice-cream cart and ordered a cup of vanilla with light chocolate sauce on it. He handed it to the little girl and she took small bites, careful not to eat too quickly.
“If you go down that hall you’ll see your friends in our playroom,” she said pointing. They pulled the wagon toward the room and walked in to see the most depressing children’s playroom in the history of playrooms.
“Who paints a playroom gray?” frowned Stone.
“That’s what we said,” said the rest of the men in unison.
“The contractor scammed us,” said the nurse. “Came in and kept the door covered, so none of us saw it until they were gone. They took the television, took most of the toys and painted it this God-awful gray. Like these kids don’t have enough gray in their lives.”
“What color would you like it to be?” asked Rory.
“A rainbow!” said Madeline. Rory laughed at the little girl’s response and he nodded.
“Then a rainbow it is. Maybe we’ll make some clouds, a few birds, trees and flowers. How does that sound?”
“Perfect,” she said leaning back in the wagon.
“Okay, kiddo. Time to get back to your room,” said the nurse.
“I’ll take her said Code.” When she was gone, Stone looked at the others and they knew.
“What’s the kids’ story? She said her father was an addict and left her in the care of her aunt and uncle.”
“That’s the story,” said the nurse. “It’s not pretty but that’s it.
She never knew her mother. I suspect she was an addict as well.
The little girl was left on the doorstep of the aunt and uncle’s home.
Those people work two jobs each just trying to pay for the medications she needs.
We’ve tried to get her financial assistance but you guys know how that works.
Mounds of paperwork and in the end, they all say the same thing. For what?”
“For what? To make her more comfortable,” said Alec.
“She’s dying, Mr. Robicheaux. That tumor is growing by the minute and effecting everything to do with her little body.”
“How much time does she have left?” asked Rory.
“A month. Maybe,” said the nurse.
“Maybe not,” said Stone. “I called Riley and Jane. They’re on their way now.”
“Riley and Jane?” frowned the nurse.
“Both world class pediatric surgeons,” said Stone. “If anything can be done, they’re going to do it. If you’ll give me the name and number of the aunt and uncle, we’ll let them know that they don’t need to worry about her finances any longer. We’re taking care of that.”
“I should have called you guys before,” said the nurse shaking her head. “That little girl deserves a shot and our surgeon just wasn’t willing to take that shot. I would have sent her to St. Jude or something, but they said she wouldn’t survive the trip.”
“Well, if something can be done, Riley and Jane will know,” said Stone.
“Let’s get rolling on this,” said Tailor. “Alec and I will get the paint, you guys start buying up the toy section and find some good kids furniture. What else should we get?”
“Coloring books, crayons, any art supplies are always welcome. A new rug would be nice. A few more wagons like Madeline’s aid us in getting them around. A new television if you’re able,” she said shrugging. “We love watching videos in here when we can.”
“Done,” said Rory. “Let’s get this moving.”