On that morning we were supposed to be escaping to one of the better water parks in Florida but we couldn’t because we were stranded at the hospital.
“You always spoil everything!”
I spitefully stated to my brother who was being wheeled to a hospital bed. I didn’t even know if he was listening because he kept dropping off to sleep. After endless hours of hospital treatment in the emergency clinic we were lead to a lovely refurbished room. At this point I was becoming really annoyed because he was spoiling my holiday.
They carefully put my brother on a bed and started linking him to all these different machines. He was on at least 4 tubes, which were all placed, neatly into his arm. At this point he really did look feeble but I didn’t care because he was destroying my holiday. Looking back on this now, I realise my immaturity. At the time I didn’t realise how selfish I was being, then again I was only young. I didn’t realise the importance of the situation. I started complaining to my parents that he was just ruining things again.
“Again?” cleaved in my mind. I remembered in previous years that Chandler took ear infections and headaches whilst on holidays abroad. This really annoyed me because each year was the same as a repeated episode he was always ruining everything, it was as if he meant it!
My dad told my mum that he would take me away for the day and do something enjoyable. I was so pleased to listen this as I was becoming sick of hospitals already. As I left the room with a big grin on my face I glanced back at my mother’s worried face and my brother lying on the bed like a little angel and soon my smile was falling. My perspective was changing. I started worrying a little and felt a little selfish that I was moaning and acting like a little brat when my brother really wasn’t well. I didn’t really know what was happening at the time or what to expect. My dad took me to play snooker then we went for a bite to eat and were really enjoying ourselves. My dad was trying to please me as much as he could but I knew that everything was challenged on the back of his mind and knew exactly where he wanted to be. I told my dad everything would be okay, I was a bit unsure myself but I was trying my hardest to dismiss things. My dad gave me an insecure smile then he gazed away.
As we were wondering through the town, nearly every single person who walked past was with their families, laughing and joking. I thought our family would never be complete or be the same again if anything happened to my brother. My dad caught sight of my sorrowful face as all the families were walking by. He knew how I felt and tears started rolling from our eyes.
“I don’t want Chandler to die dad. I love him so much and he’s my brother.”
My dad and I jumped into a taxi and headed for the hospital. When we got into the hospital my mother told me that things had got worse. These words slashed me like a knife wound. Why was God letting my brother become ill? He was only seven! I felt betrayed by God. We all gradually came to terms that Chandler really was suffering.
Just when I thought things couldn’t deteriorate any further. After two days of hospital treatment, the doctor said he might need a “Lumber Puncture.” At this point we were really cornered because he was being tested for meningitis and having brain scans and although I was only nine, I knew that was not a good thing. The boy in the next room from us had just had a lumber puncture, and he was kept in for three weeks and was just recovering. My parents thought we would probably have to stay a bit longer as we didn’t know what was happening. We were told that if Chandler didn’t eat anything he was not allowed out of the hospital but he was just too weak to eat.
The day before we were set to fly back home Chandler had eaten a little bite of an apple which led to him to evacuate out of hospital.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I kept repeating to myself.
The doctors approved Chandler to clear out of hospital that day and claimed that he was a really lucky boy. Chandler was recovering but he was only pushing himself he knew we all really wanted to go home, including himself. I was really impressed of him when he started eating small things, which gradually led to normal food.
He was making a full recovery and we could fly home okay. When we secured home Chandler was still on medication for a while but was fine. I made sure he was okay and had all his requirements. It was a really worrying time for my family and I but we pulled through because we all get on really well with each other. I would say that experience brought my family and me closer together. There are only two years between my brother and I and although I don’t like to admit it that he is not just my brother, he’s my best friend as well. Now I am very cautious and no one will annoy him while I am around like a protective body guard. That’s why I make everyday count because you never know what could happen and I would never want to be in that situation again. I have lost close family members before but nothing is compared to what I progressed through when Chandler fell ill, it was a desperate time. Although Chandler and I still have our ups and downs, I would say I’m much closer to him now even though he can be really irritating at times I know I’m lucky to have him!
Sometimes you don’t know how much you love someone until they are gone or, in my case, nearly gone. This whole experience has adjusted me to grow, be mature and see things from a new, less selfish perspective. So in a way it did help us get together but hopefully it doesn’t happen again!
