Catching A Miracle

By Mark Spinicelli

Shelly White, a small-town girl from Georgia, has her life forever changed when she is diagnosed with cancer as a child and experiences a miraculous recovery. Watching her hospital roommate die puts her on a path that leads to unexpected love, hope and the discovery of how cancer can be cured. But time is running out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Spinicelli
• Release date: Dec 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781941733424

Book preview

Catching A Miracle

Mark J. Spinicelli

with

Kevin Fritz

Catching A Miracle

Copyright 2015 Mark J. Spinicelli

Published by EA Books Publishing, a division of

Living Parables of Central Florida, Inc. a 501c3

EABbooksPublishing.com

at Smashwords

ISBN: 978-1-941733-42-4

Cover design by Nadia Pittman

Authors’ Photo by Sunshine Photography

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

Catching A Miracle was created to offer hope to those who are afflicted with cancer, as well as those who endure watching the pain and suffering, and eventually the life slipping away from their loved ones.

The notion of giving hope that a cure is out there is not far-fetched, which could turn this fictional read into reality. A report in 2011 claimed scientists at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada, discovered the cure, but it has yet to materialize. Israeli scientists have found rat cells secrete a substance that destroys cancer cells in humans.

Catching A Miracle is the 1st of a trilogy:

Catching A Miracle

Catching A Miracle The Hunt For Hans

Catching A Miracle Sparrow in the Fog

www.catchingamiracle.com

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Copyright

Website

Chapter 1

October 1972

From a bedside in Room 1604 of the children’s ward, Nurse Doris Powers watched the celebration in the reception area. A child finally going home was always a reason to celebrate.

The nurse smiled and waved to some of the parents she had grown to know quite well, all the while keeping a keen eye on the pale little girl lying in the bed below. Above the bed loomed machines monitoring her vital signs, programmed to signal life or death. The children’s laughter in the lobby was drowning out the rhythm of the young girl’s heart as she lay unconscious, curled up in a fetal position.

The celebration was almost over. Doris noticed the eight-year-old honoree being whisked away in her wheelchair by her mother as smiling children chattered and waved goodbye. Sadly, though, she saw right through the smiles on their faces and knew they wished with all their might they were going home too. But few ever did. The nurse’s eyes locked with those of the brown-haired girl in the wheelchair as if they were thanking each other for sharing the past four months of their lives. Then, in an instant, the sound the young nurse had been dreading, the sound she so desperately did not want to hear before the lobby cleared, struck its tone. The monitors shrilled. Her patient was flat-lining.

Code 1604! she yelled. Parents and children who remained in the lobby froze as the party atmosphere turned to dread, at least for those old enough to know what was happening. I need help here! The ten-year-old’s eyes twitched. Her body shook. She soiled the bed.

The guest of honor stretched her neck to see what room was causing all the commotion—her old room. That’s what she’d feared. A pit formed in her stomach. She was so frightened for her friend that she wanted to scream. She wanted to run back to her room and help. Tears leaked from her eyes as her mother pushed the wheelchair faster toward the exit.

She’s coding! cried the nurse to the first doctor to enter the room.

Give me that cart—stat!! Doctor Wall demanded. The rest of his medical team appeared at the patient’s side.

What’s the BP?

Faint, but she’s flat-lined, the nurse said. She cradled the girl’s head to her bosom.

Adrenalin needle! Five hundred CCs!

Yes, sir. She handed him the syringe.

Okay, little one, he whispered, let’s not ruin a perfectly good day. He stabbed her chest with the needle. C’mon, give me something …

The child gurgled. The faint sound of the monitors went silent.

Clear! he yelled. Hands raised in the air and bodies moved from the rails. The girl’s body jumped from the electrical surge, then shook again as it rested back on the sheets. The doctor tried again to revive her. No change. The child’s body went limp and the team bowed their heads. An intern took notes while a nurse wiped a tear from her eye. The doctor looked over to Nurse Powers.

We could try … he offered. She could hear his voice falling off from emotion.

She’s gone, Doctor.

He looked down at the lifeless little body. He shook his head, lamenting silently on the injustice.

Sometimes the Lord gives us miracles, Doctor. Sometimes he takes them home, Nurse Powers said. It’s time to let go. He sat on the edge of the bed as the nurse returned the girl’s cheek to the pillow.

There was nothing more I could do, Doctor Wall said. A tear formed in the corner of his right eye. Five months, and we end up losing her.

You did everything right, Doctor. She placed her hand on his. Remember, the first rule of medicine is that patients die. And rule number two?

You can’t change rule number one, he nodded.

I’ll get a gurney. She stood up and rubbed the small of her back. You okay?

I just want to stay with her a few minutes, he said as the light over the bed began to flicker. He looked over at Nurse Powers and then up at the bulb. She smiled.

If you’re up there, child, how about fixing that thing, would you? the nurse asked with eyes to the ceiling. The bulb went dark, flickered again, and returned to a bright, steady light. They both smiled. See that, Doctor Wall, the nurse said. She made it.

*****

June 1972

The linoleum floors of the new children’s hospital appeared to gleam with enthusiasm about the little feet that now walked its pathways with hopes of getting better. The five-story facility was the toast of the town. A circular driveway gave way to the main entrance off Hope Drive. In the corner of the lobby waiting area, a black and white television sitting on a curio cabinet of sorts displayed re-runs of The Lucy Show. A single parent sat nearby nervously leafing through Life magazine.

The time was the summer of 1972, and St. Theresa’s Children’s Hospital had opened a few months before with a focus on the treatment of cancer in children. The hospital was considered state-of-the-art. Beds were filling up and children were being treated for diseases that many of their hometown doctors could not cure, or in some cases, diagnose. Some could not afford to pay, as many of the families who arrived at the Georgia hospital were indigent, but the Board of Directors vowed they would never turn a child away.

The clean and stark lobby worried Shelly White. She was reminded of the building she had visited before her father died. The smell was the same. Her mom held Shelly tightly in her arms as she walked with a purpose through the lobby. Shelly could see that her mom was lost in thought. Once a vigorous child, Shelly, an eight-year-old brunette with blue eyes, named after her grandmother, was too weak to stand much on her own. They had driven two hours to this hospital, relying on faith and hearsay. Her mom was hoping to find someone who could help her daughter.

Welcome to St. Theresa’s. The calm voice broke her mom’s trance. I am Dr. Gregory Wall. Who do we have here? Wall, a man in his early thirties and fresh out of the Navy Medical Services Corps, was a bit intimidating. Shelly felt her mom hold her tighter as if she was not sure whether to hand Shelly to his outstretched arms. Although Dr. Wall was six feet two inches tall, his height wasn’t a problem. Shelly knew her mom was nervous because Dr. Wall was black. There were not many black people in her life as she’d grown up in a small, predominately white town. As he’d been raised in a farming community in Tennessee, Dr. Wall was used to the reaction.

Shelly looked around at the white walls and bright lights, then to the giant man gazing down at her. Cleaning supplies—that’s what the hospital smelled like. She turned her face, burrowing into her mother’s chest. She was so scared. She started to sob.

So you’re not feeling too well, little one? Dr. Wall asked Shelly. He asked Shelly’s mom, May I take her? Shelly knew she needed help, but she was so afraid and buried her head again.

Mother started to hand her to the doctor, but Shelly tightened her grip.

No, Shelly cried.

She’s just scared, that’s all, her mom said. Let the nice doctor take you, okay, Shelly? He wants to help us. She lowered her neck to see Shelly’s head emerging from her burrow.

I guess, Shelly muttered, noticing her mom was crying.

Dr. Wall cradled Shelly in his arms, trying to make eye contact. She closed her eyes and turned away, bothered that her mom had given her to this strange man with dark skin in a place they had never been.

Well, then, let’s see if we can make you better, young lady, he said as he carried her down the hall. Her mom tried to keep pace alongside. She appeared nervous, but also looked relieved that this stranger seemed to want to help.

I am new to this area, said Dr. Wall. Something made me come to this hospital. There is something special about it. I like its mission. I like what they do. And it’s not just kids with cancer, we work with all children.

We were told this was the best place to go. We’re hoping you can do something for Shelly.

Shelly turned her head toward her mother’s face when she heard her name. She was glad to see her mom’s tears had stopped. She hated to see her cry. Shelly wanted to tell her mom everything was okay, but she felt so sick. Everything was not okay.

Dr. Wall arrived at the nurse’s station cradling Shelly.

I have a young lady who needs assistance here. Could we have a check-up for Miss Shelly, please? He smiled and lowered Shelly into a gleaming silver wheelchair that smelled like plastic. I’ll leave you here with these fine folks, but don’t get too comfortable, because I want you running out of here soon. You understand?

Yes, sir, Shelly said, fidgeting in the wheelchair, trying to find a comfortable position. She shook as a pulse of pain ratcheted through her chest. She winced and sighed, wondering what was going to happen next. She suddenly felt faint. She thought she was about to throw up.

Thank you, her mom said as the doctor turned and walked down an opposite hallway. She reached down and caressed Shelly’s sweat-dampened hair.

A nurse appeared from behind the counter.

So, how can we help you today?

Hi, I’m Carol White and this is Shelly.

Nice to meet you. I’m Doris Powers. Now, what seems to be the problem?

Well, Shelly was acting like a normal energetic little girl playing with her friends as a carefree kid should, said Carol. Then, one day in the backyard, she became too weak to play. Over the next few days, Shelly’s skin began to change color, and I had no idea what to do. I just know I have very little money to pay for a doctor.

Nurse Powers looked at Carol. Don’t worry about the money, Mrs. White. Let’s just take care of Shelly. Sound good?

Carol’s eyes welled up with tears. She turned away from the counter, crouched down and kissed Shelly on the forehead. Shelly looked up at her mother.

Don’t cry, Mom. It’ll be okay.

Chapter 2

After she’d endured two days of tests, the doctors determined cancer cells from a large tumor were attacking young Shelly, robbing her of her strength and energy. Carol made the decision to check her into St. Theresa’s for treatment. Nurses set up a little room for Carol to stay in to avoid the two-hour drive back and forth from home. Carol knew to save Shelly, she needed to be here. Fortunately for Shelly, Dr. Wall had been watching over her.

Cancer is like rust, he explained. Did you ever get rust on your bike?

Shelly shrugged her shoulders. I guess so. Sometimes near the wheel.

Well. Our job is to use the best medicine made to get the rust out.

She nodded her head, pursing her dry lips. She felt so strange talking to this large black man in a white coat about a disease called cancer. Just last week, she was playing with Bobby and Kelly in the backyard. Her mother had told her to listen to her elders and pay attention. She was having trouble staying focused.

You see, this place is for kids, Doctor Wall said to Shelly, just like you. You know who St. Theresa is, Shelly?

No, sir.

Well, he said and broadened his chest. St. Theresa is a Roman Catholic saint. You just can’t go wrong when you have St. Theresa on your side. So let’s see if good St. Theresa can make some magic happen for you.

Shelly looked up as he continued to explain.

You may need to work hard, so are you ready to fight something I call a war against cancer?

Shelly perked up. My daddy died in the war, she said. Dr. Wall leaned back and looked at Carol. He then turned back to Shelly. I am so sorry to hear that. He leaned into Shelly and glanced at Carol.

Let’s get you to your room and meet your new roommate, he said. He stood and grabbed her wheelchair.

Well, that sounds like fun, huh, Shel? chimed in Carol. They traveled down the hall until they reached Room 1604.

Hi, my name is Kristin, said her ten-year-old roommate. Kristin was fighting cancer of the adrenal gland, a very rare type that Dr. Wall had been trying to combat with everything he knew.

Shelly extended a meager wave, looking around the room with two beds, a sitting area, and plain white walls. The room smelled like medicine.

So, what’s wrong with you? Kristin asked.

I have cancer, said Shelly matter-of-factly.

We all have cancer, Kristin responded smartly. Some are really bad, and some are not so bad. Mine’s bad. Is yours?

I don’t know. Dr. Wall said it was called a tumor, said Shelly.

Is that a bad one? asked Kristin.

All cancer is bad, said the nurse who was helping Shelly get settled into her bed. You guys get to know each other. I need to take Shelly’s mom outside for a minute. Okay?

My mom worries about me, a sad Shelly said after they left.

Well, said Kristin, you’re lucky you have a mom.

What do you mean?

My mom died last year. They say she died from the well water. They say that’s where I got cancer. So the state brought me here after my mom went to heaven.

Shelly lowered her head, not sure what to say. She was just sad about Kristin’s mom being dead.

Doc Wall is great, said Kristin. He does magic tricks sometimes!

Shelly lay on the bed and continued to listen to her new roommate, who was obviously lonely and waiting to talk to someone. The nurses are kind of like moms to me, so it’s nice here, she continued.

I don’t really like hospitals, said Shelly. The light above Kristin’s bed began to flicker.

There it goes again, Kristin laughed as she pointed at the light. They’ve replaced that thing three times. For some reason, it likes to go out. Funny, huh?

Carol and the nurse returned to the room with Dr. Wall and found the girls giggling as the light flickered faster and faster.

Okay ladies, it’s time to … Dr. Wall paused. He saw the light show that had become a regular occurrence in Room 1604. Again with your light, Kristin?

Kristin smiled at Dr. Wall, then suddenly winced in pain. The room became quiet. Shelly looked around wondering what was going to happen next. Dr. Wall broke the silence. I think a little medicine would be in order here, Doris, he said to the nurse. Shelly stared at Kristin’s body, now doubled over on her bed into a fetal position. She wanted to cry. Even at the age of eight, she now realized her fight would be a war she had to win. She just had to.

*****

Shelly had been in the hospital three months since her admittance and the start of her cancer treatment. She was starting to feel closer to Dr. Wall. He continued to monitor her x-rays personally and keep her informed. Radiation was being streamed into her chest to shrink the tumor in preparation for an operation to remove it. Dr. Wall knew that reducing its size as much as he could before surgery would give Shelly the best chance of remission. Although Kristin continued to struggle through the pain, she and Shelly had become inseparable. Laughing and counting the times the bulb over Kristin’s bed needed to be replaced was a big event for them. It was now up to six.

Let’s see if we can get it up to ten, laughed Shelly. But there was no response. Kristin had fallen asleep, something that often occurred with the treatment she was receiving. Shelly decided to get adventurous, so she got out of bed and peeked into the hall. She saw a ten-year-old boy walking with an IV stand. His eyes met hers, and she pulled back.

Hi, I’m Chucky, he said. Shelly peered back around the corner and stepped outside her room.

What is that? she asked, pointing at the portable IV stand.

Supposed to kill off the bad stuff, but it just makes me want to pee a lot, Chucky answered.

I’m Shelly, she giggled. Do you have cancer, too?

I got here a while ago. I have to fight it myself, but my family stays with me a lot. That sounded familiar to Shelly. Dr. Wall must be taking care of Chucky. As they continued to talk, the floor nurse spotted them.

Keep walking Mr. Chucky, and Miss White, back to your bed!

Doris Powers was a young, black, Navy-trained nurse who had joined St. Theresa’s the same time Dr. Wall had come on board. She ran a tough ward, though, and as Shelly and Chucky learned, no one snuck out of their room without her knowing it.

I’m in 1648, Chucky said as he made his way back down the hall. Come visit if they ever let you walk around. He smiled back at Doris. They had a great love-hate relationship, mostly love.

You better not let me catch you wandering these halls again without my permission, Mr. Chucky. Now shoo!

Doris followed Shelly into her room. She fluffed her pillow and sat down on the edge of Kristen’s bed. Shelly watched her dab Kristen’s forehead using a damp washcloth.

By now, the radiation was taking a toll on Shelly. Her hair began to fall out in clumps. Carol took Dr. Wall’s advice and planned a haircutting party. As Kristin watched, they all laughed as Carol made zigzag patterns on Shelly’s head. Her hair fell to the ground onto the white sheet spread on the floor. Mine did the same thing, but no one cut it for me, said Kristin. Mine just fell out!

"You sure it’s going to grow back, Mom? Shelly asked.

I promise. And so will yours, Kristin, Carol said.

On cue, the bulb over Kristin’s bed blew again. That’s number seven! the girls blurted out in unison.