Cadence Reflection (Wheels & Hogs Book 2) (25 page)

“Baby, I don’t want you to get angry, but I have been keeping something from you,” she starts, “After the charity ride when all of the donations to the Bone Marrow Registry were in and no matches were found for Fern, I started to look up online what else we could do for Fern. That is when I discovered that the umbilical cord blood and placenta could be used for a transplant.  There are some issues because there isn’t a lot of matter, oh, I mean blood, for them to use.  Doctor, can you explain this to Cadence because I can’t even pronounce the words that I have read about.”

Turning sharply to face the doctor, I listen to him explain about three types of stem cell transplants, telling me of how each and every one of them work and how they use them and I’m in shock.  Feeling like I’m going to pass out, I grab for the gurney as Trinity yells, “Holy crap. Catch him, he’s gonna pass out.”

All eyes turn to me as my knees buckle and I slide to the floor, still hanging onto the bar of the bed.  Two nurses come to my side, one with a cold wet cloth, and the other with smelling salts.  After a couple of minutes of just sitting there, they help me to my feet, putting my ass in a chair next to Trinity. 

Finally able to converse and not knowing where to start, I just ask, “Fuck, Trinity. Why didn’t you talk to me about this?  I don’t understand the secrecy as this is a good thing, right?  I am so fucking confused, baby, so talk to me.” 

Trying to move to get closer to the side of the bed, I notice the pain cross her face and realize with a start that this woman just went through labor and delivery to give me a miracle. 

Regardless of why she didn’t share this with me, her intentions were, as always, about helping someone else.  Clearing her throat, she explains her thoughts to me, “With everything that has been going on, I didn’t want to burden you with a Hail Mary for Fern.  We don’t know if it will work, but the lady at the Registry was willing to work with me while she made sure everything was in order. I didn’t understand all the requirements for them to even consider the baby’s blood, not to mention my health had to be in tiptop order. So, we passed with flying colors and they know how serious this is as Fern needs this immediately.  That’s why they are taking it for testing to see if there is a match or partial match.  This is our only prayer right now honey, and I had to try. For Fern and Doc, they deserve to be as happy as we are.” 

“Thank you, baby. I don’t have the right words to tell you how much this means to me.  I don’t want to lose Fern, and if this saves her, that means our baby girl, little Hope, will live up to her name.  If it doesn’t, at least we tried.  You give me such hope, Trinity, that at this moment, I look around and see the true miracle I have in you and Hope.  I love you baby so fucking much. Look at me, I’m becoming a pussy, but do not tell Wolf and Des. I will never live this shit down.”

As I finish, I hear the magical sound of Trinity giggling at my words, “I won’t say a word, but you will owe me, and when I call in my marker, you have to do whatever I say, no questions or whining. Deal?”

“Baby, anything you say.”

A
s everyone tries to squeeze into the room to get a first look at the baby, all I see is Fern sitting on the recliner and a mask over her mouth to try and prevent any spreading of germs.  Once everyone is settled, Cadence reaches over, picking up little Hope in his arms.  Moving the blanket off her sleeping angelic face, he turns to his family, announcing in a husky voice, “We would like to introduce all of you to our daughter, Hope Fern Power.”

Watching Fern’s face at the mention of her name, we all see every emotion possible cross her face. 

When she finally looks up at him, her eyes are wet with unshed tears, “Why, Cadence? That poor child being stuck with such a nasty name.” 

“Our baby needs to start life with a name of a person we are proud to have in our lives.  She will grow up with your strength, my mom’s love of life, Dee Dee’s ability to solve anything that comes her way, Willow’s grace and Daisy’s innocence. Each woman in her life will give her gifts to help her in the journey of finding herself.”

A loud, “Okay, jerkoff. What about me?”  Archie asks sarcastically. 

“Oh, right. Hopefully she doesn’t take after you with the piercings, tats and hair color,” Cadence finishes on a laugh.  Everyone joins in except Archie, who stands and starts for the door.  Cadence reaches over, pulling her to him, “I do hope she gets your compassion, ability to always have someone’s back, no matter what, and your best trait, which is you humor.”

She is taken back by his words, but manages a small smile.  He reaches over to squeeze her shoulder, “Sweetie, you are so much more than you think you are.  One day, I hope you see what we have seen for years.” 

Cadence sits on the edge of the bed and begins with our news, “We would like to share something that Trinity has been working on. To be honest, it was even a surprise to me a few hours ago, and this has to do to with Hope,” looking down, he reverently caresses our daughter’s peaches and cream cheek, “And with Fern.  At this point, I am going to let Trinity explain, as this was all her idea.” 

I try to sit up straighter in the bed and look around the room, “I don’t know how I got so lucky to be a part of this wonderful family.  With everything going on in our lives and all the crap we’ve dealt with in the past couple of weeks, please know that each and every one of you are embedded in my heart.  Not only for saving me from my abusive life, but accepting me for me.  After the ride, and when the Registry told us that even though the donations received were helping others, but there were no matches for Fern, I started to do some research on transplants, including bone marrow, and then stem cells.  What surprised me is that I found something that might be the answer to all of our prayers.  Umbilical Cord blood can be used in transplants, as can blood from the placenta. I contacted Des’ contact at the Registry and she worked with me so that when we had the baby, they could capture the cord and placenta, put it on ice, and at this moment, they are testing to see if it will be a match for Fern. Now, before ya’ll get crazy, from what I was told, it doesn’t have to be a total match. It can be a... crap, Cadence. What did the doctor call it?” 

“Something like allog? I don’t know, babe. There is too much shit is going on in my head. Feels like it’s in a vice. Sorry.”

“No, that’s it! It is an allogeneic transplant! That means it isn’t a total match, but they can still use it.” 

Dee speaks up, “How did you know to do this, Trinity? What made you even look for other options?” 

As Dee finishes, Willow quietly adds in, “This won’t hurt baby Hope, will it?  I mean, what happens if she needs that blood for something. Don’t parents freeze that for the future?”

Doc comes and gently sits on the edge of the bed while reaching for me.  He encloses my entire body in what I can only describe as a bear hug.  Holding me close, he whispers softly in my ear, “Baby girl, your kind actions for my Fern will be with me until my dying day.  Know how much Cadence, you and that little angel mean to us.  You are the daughter Fern has never had, don’t you forget that, sweetheart.” Kissing my cheek, he gets up and moves to Fern, who is just staring at me. 

“Trinity, you did this for me?  I appreciate it, but we have to accept that even after all the treatments, the cancer has won. I love all of you, but there comes a time when even that emotion we value so much isn’t going to be enough.  The time is coming and I will need all of you to accept that I am going to die.  It won’t be pretty, and sure, it won’t be quick, so I will need everyone’s strength for my next journey, so don’t be upset. I have come to accept my fate.  I will need all of you to take care of my Gabriel after I pass.”

After that statement, Doc finally has his say, “Fern I know this has been extremely hard on you but we are not giving up.  Trinity is giving you, no us, a second chance. Please baby don’t pass it up.  Let’s take it one day at a time, please. I can’t live without you. Please think about us and what time we could still have together. Look at that baby. She could be our hope.”

A
s Hope looks my way, I feel warmth in my body that hasn’t been there for a long time.  It continues to warm me from the inside out, and as I find myself so immersed with the baby’s stare, I don’t hear what Cadence asks.  Turning to look his way, the moment my eyes move, the warmth vanishes. Looking back to Hope, I feel the warmth return.  I’m slowly freaking out until I see baby Hope yawn and close her eyes.  This time, the warmth stays with me.  Doc pulls me to his side whispering, “Don’t give up on us baby. Please don’t.  I wouldn’t have anything to live for if you weren’t here.” 

Hearing the emotion in his voice, I once again look at the baby who is now sleeping.  I reach for Trinity’s hand, giving it a squeeze, “Well, Trinity. If you are willing to go through all of this trouble for me, then I guess the least I can do is try and have hope.” At my words, everyone lets out a nervous laugh. 

I look at the sleeping baby and softly continue, “Thank you Hope, for giving me back the ability to feel, trust, and believe in my faith and having hope.  I will give this a try and we will see where this takes us.” 

As everyone claps and laughs, baby Hope opens her eyes and I’m positive that the little girl actually smiles at me. 

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T
hank you for taking the time to read Cadence and Trinity’s story.  Their story had a happily ever after but not everyone is so lucky. Even though this is a fictional story the story line unfortunately is not. 

Sexual Assault and Abuse is increasing daily in the United States. 

If you or someone you know is in such a situation please talk to someone at your church or school. Go to the police or a hospital. Seek assistance immediately and do not remain in the situation as it will only get worse.

Please know that there are resources out there to assist you in any situation.  I have listed a few on the following page. 

Sexual Abuse & Assault

Sexual Abuse

The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often not reported

Experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities. Statistics

Below represent some of the research done on child sexual abuse.

Studies by 
David Finkelhor
, Director of the 
Crimes Against Children Research Center
, show that:

• 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse;
  
• Self-report studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident;
  
• During a one-year period in the U.S., 16% of youth ages 14 to 17 had been sexually victimized;
  
• Over the course of their lifetime, 28% of U.S. youth ages 14 to 17 had been sexually victimized;
  
• Children are most vulnerable to CSA between the ages of 7 and 13.
  

Call
Darkness to Light’s
helpline,
1-866-FOR-LIGHT
to be routed to resources in your own community, or call the Child Help USA National Child Abuse Hotline,
1-800-4-A-CHILD

Sexual Assault

National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1.800.656.HOPE