They carefully put my sister on a bed and started linking her to all these different machines. She was on at least 4 drips, which were all placed, neatly into her arm. At this point she really did look unwell but I didn’t care because she was ruining 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 she was just ruining things again.
“Again” stuck in my mind. I remembered in previous years that Stephanie took ear infections and headaches whilst on holidays abroad. This really annoyed me because each year was the same she was always ruining everything, it was as if she meant it!
My dad told my mum that he would take me away for the day and do something enjoyable. I was so glad to hear this as I was becoming sick of hospitals already. As I left the room with a big grin on my face I looked at my mothers worried face and my sister lying on the bed like a little angel and soon my smile was upside down. 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 sister 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 preying 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 forget things. My dad gave me an uncertain smile then he looked away.
As we were walking 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 sister. My dad saw my face as all the families were walking by. He knew how I felt and tears started rolling from our eyes.
“I don’t want Stephanie to die dad. I love her so much and she’s my sister.”
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 sister become ill? She was only seven! I felt betrayed by God. We all gradually came to terms that Stephanie really wasn’t well.
Just when I thought things couldn’t deter ate any further. After two days of hospital treatment, the doctor said she might need a “Lumber puncture.” At this point we were really worried because she 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. What made things even worse was that we couldn’t really understand what the doctors were saying because of their lack of English.
We were told that if Stephanie didn’t eat anything she was not allowed out of the hospital but she was just to weak to eat.
The day before we were set to fly back home Stephanie had eaten a little bite of an apple which led to her getting out of hospital.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I kept repeating to myself.
The doctors let Stephanie out of hospital that day and said that she was a really lucky girl. Stephanie was recovering but she was only pushing herself she knew we all really wanted to go home, including herself. I was really proud of her when she started eating small things, which gradually led to normal food.
She was making a full recovery and we could fly home okay. When we got home Stephanie was still on medication for a while but was fine. I made sure she was okay and had all her 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 I closer together. There are only two years between my sister and I and although I don’t like to admit it that she is not just my sister, she’s my best friend as well. Now I am very cautious and no one will annoy her while I am around. That’s why I make every day 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 went through when Stephanie fell ill, it was a terrible time. Although Stephanie and I still have our ups and downs, I would say I’m much closer to her now even though she can be really irritating at times I know I’m lucky to have her!
Sometimes you don’t know how much you love someone until they are gone or, in my case, nearly gone. This whole experience has made me grow and mature and see things from new, less selfish perspective. I don’t only think about myself anymore I think of others too!