Amish Soul: Amish Sickness and Health

By Rachel Stoltzfus

A difficult decision. A family's love. Is it too late?

It's only a matter of time until another crisis kills Margarete. Accepting that there is no hope if Margarete stays at her local hospital, her family makes the terrifying decision to transfer her to Lancaster, and eventually the big city for treatment. But is it too late? Find out in Amish Soul, Book 3 of the Amish Sickness and Health series.

Amish Faith is a Christian book of strength, heart and survival that will keep you turning pages to the very end.

If you enjoy uplifting Amish fiction, start the Amish Sickness and Health series today! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Global Grafx Press
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386878391

Book preview

AMISH SOUL

AMISH SICKNESS AND HEALTH SERIES

BOOK 3

RACHEL STOLTZFUS

Get the Rachel Stoltzfus Starter Library for FREE.

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE new release updates and discount books from Rachel Stoltzfus, and you'll get Rachel's 5-Book Starter library, including Book 1 of Amish Country Tours, and four more great Amish books.

Details can be found at the end of this book.

Copyright © 2017 RACHEL STOLTZFUS

All rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMISH SOUL

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

AMISH COUNTRY TOURS

ENJOY THIS BOOK? You can make a big difference

A WORD FROM RACHEL

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AMISH SOUL

Prologue

H ow much?

Andrew tried to pussyfoot around the cost. But Sammy wouldn’t let him get away with it. Telling him the average cost, he winced as he saw everyone’s faces go pale. We’re going to start calling nearby hospitals. We’ll find one as close as we can and get her there. We have until Saturday. After three days of talking to administrators and pediatric cancer directors, he, Carrie and the Kings settled on the Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber. Talking with the Kings, he had a small smile on his face. Fortunately, this new hospital is only thirty-some minutes away, in Windber. It’s the Chan-Soon-Shiong Medical Center. I’ll make arrangements for a driver to take you to visit Margarete every day. I don’t want you to worry about those details because her preparation for the surgery will involve all of you.

Denki. For everything! Sammy, normally a reserved man, went up to Andrew and grasped him in a strong hug.

At the side, little Sammy struggled with a rekindled anger against the greedy director. Doctor, can I see this man who says Margarete can’t be treated here?

Andrew, looking closely at little Sammy’s face, shook his head. Oh, no. This guy is...not to be believed, Sammy. It’s enough that you and your parents love and care about your sister. And that’s all you should be focused on. At that moment, the hospital chaplain, a Catholic priest, walked past.

Doctor Castillo, what’s this about focus? Maybe I can help. The priest was soft-spoken, but secure in his faith.

Oh, nee, pastor. We are fine, Sammy interjected, not sure he wanted to hear from someone not of his own faith.

No, Mister King, he is a very wise man! He’s helped me through several crises of faith since I started working as an oncologist.

Leora and Sammy looked at each other. Sighing, Sammy nodded. Okay. My son is struggling with anger against the hospital’s administrator, Mister McConnell. Who seems to focus more on money than on patients.

Ah, yes, our beloved hospital administrator. I can’t think of how many times this week I’ve had to calm down medical professionals because of that focus. Young man, what’s your name?

Little Sammy was struck shy at his proximity with the black-clothed minister. Seeing his daed nodding, he moistened his lips. Little Sammy.

Well, you’re not so little, but I can see why you’re called that. Now, let’s talk about goals. Your family’s goal is to see your sister recover from leukemia. Doctor Castillo’s is to help her recover, any way possible. Mister McConnell’s is to bring in as much money as he can. He isn’t a doctor. He’s a businessman. None of us likes that he’s got such a focus on money, but he’s helping keep this hospital open.

But now we have to ride farther away to see my sister! All because she needs a bone marrow transplant!

Yes, I know. But I also know that Andrew’s going to make things as easy on you as he can.

Ya, I know. But I’m just so mad!

Good. Be angry. But turn that anger to good, son! Use it to help your sister get well.

The King family was stunned. The Catholic priest’s focus was similar to their own.

The priest, seeing their expressions, smiled. We all have the same God. Our worship approaches are different, but our goals are just the same. Now, may I lift your family and Margarete in prayer?

Leora nearly broke down. Yes, please! We need all the prayer we can get!

Sammy, Leora and little Sammy relaxed, knowing they would be able to spend as much time with Margarete as she needed.

Chapter 1

For the remainder of Margarete’s time at Somerset Hospital, she continued receiving chemo treatments on her usual schedule. Impatient for the surgery to take place, she asked Andrew about the delay. I just want to get it done so I can get better and go home! Margarete was feeling irritable and having trouble keeping her temper from flaring.

I know, sweetie. I’m impatient as well. But we have to follow what your new hospital is saying. And they want a few days to run tests on you before they begin the preparative regimen...which is no day in the park.

Warned by the final words, Margarete subsided, feeling ashamed of her blow up. I’m sorry, Doctor. I’m just so sick of being in the hospital.

I know. It’s totally natural. A girl like you should be at home, working with her mother and getting together with her friends. But you’ve been given a special burden.

Why me? Now, she began to weep.

Have you heard the saying that ‘God doesn’t give you more than you can handle?’ Andrew leaned forward, propping his forearms on the side of Margarete’s bed.

Ya. All of us have heard it. But I don’t feel up to this. Why did He pick me?

He must see something special in you. Now, I need to tell you about this regimen. Based on your history with this disease, I’m going to write down my recommendation that you receive the standard intensity regimen. This means that if the pediatric oncologist at your new hospital agrees with me, you’ll get high doses of chemotherapy and you may receive a radiation treatment. Depending on your oncologist’s decision, this could start roughly ten days before you undergo the transplant. She’ll make the final decision based on the results of her exam.

I’ll get sicker after each treatment, right?

You will. I’m going to let Doctor Sheck know this so she can make sure you get the anti-nausea IV as well.

"I wish you were going to be my doctor there! You’re...compassionate."

I’m going to miss having you as a patient. You’ve been a star patient, doing everything you’ve been told to do. It’s just too bad that your leukemia had to come back.

Ya. I agree. I’m not looking forward to that preparation thing. But I’m grateful you told me, too.

You are welcome. One excellent thing about Doctor Sheck is that she believes in alternative therapies, like herbs. So, you’ll be able to continue the teas that your mother and grandmother like to give you.

Gut! Doctor, I still don’t like this. I wish I could stay here and have surgery here, especially since the community has been raising money for my treatment.

Yeah. Well...you know. Andrew pointed toward the ceiling with one thumb, a look of strong distaste on his handsome face.

Seeing her doctor’s expression, Margarete couldn’t help it. She began to giggle, which soon became outright laughter. After several minutes, her laughter finally slowed as she wiped tears from her cheeks. Denki. I needed that.

Andrew, who had laughed just as hard, sighed, shook his head and wiped tears of his own from his face. Nobody ever said I was a comic. If you can, try to find something that makes you laugh every day, because laughter is healing.

I’ll try. After the doctor left, Margarete carefully got out of bed and walked around her room, trying to keep her strength up. After walking several circuits around her room, she stopped in front of the window, watching the early-summer scene outside. Leaves on trees danced around as the branches swung in the breeze. She sighed as she realized she would miss most of the summer working toward her recovery.

Margarete? Are you okay? Carrie paused by Margarete’s bed, looking concerned.

Ya, Carrie, thank you. I was just realizing that I’m going to miss most of the summer in the hospital. Margarete’s voice was faint and wobbly as she tried not to cry.

Yes, you will, but think of it this way. Once you’re done and those new, healthy cells start to multiply in your body, you’re going to have many, many more summers to enjoy with your family. Right?

"Ya, that’s a gut way