Chapter 492 - Truth Time (2)

26 May, Matthew's on-base accommodation, Military Base, City K 

After cleaning up from breakfast with Dominic, Matthew carefully helped Lexi onto the couch carefully ensuring her legs and arm were supported, moving the wheelchair to one side, before sitting down himself.

Matthew could see what Dominic was looking at. As often happened on at least one day on the weekend, the streets around the on-base accommodation became one big playground for the children of soldiers. Even on just the small part of the street he could see outside, he observed children setting up games under the careful watch of a.d.u.l.ts.

Observing the look on Lexi's face Matthew could see indecision starting to creep in. While he did not want to force her to do this, it needed to be done. "Dominic come and sit down please."

"But Daddy Matthew I want to go and play with my friends."

Hearing but, Lexi quickly said "Butts are made for sitting on Dominic, now come and sit on yours while we talk to you. The quicker it is done the sooner you can go outside and play with the other children."

Dominic turned around, and slowly crossed back to sit down with an angry look on his face while looking directly at Lexi before angrily saying "Mummy, I do not get to play with my friends here, and you are not letting me."

Lexi looked at Matthew and could see that he was keeping calm. That stopped her from her immediate statement to Dominic about using a tone like that.

"Dominic," said Lexi, as calmly as she could. "We need to talk to you, and it is important."

"Mummy…" responded Dominic in a whining tone.

"No Dominic, that will not get you outside," came Lexi.

Matthew said, "You remember the doctor's appointment your Uncle Phillip and I took you to the other day."

Dominic paused, looked at Lexi, then Matthew, and back and forth between them for a few seconds. "Yes, Daddy Matthew."

"You remember how the three of us spoke to you about why you have been unwell and the number of tests the doctors have done."

Lexi and Matthew saw the moment that Dominic remembered what had been said to him, as he closed his eyes, dropped his head and tried to hide himself before quietly saying "The Doctor said I had cancer like Uncle Phillip. But I though that was something a.d.u.l.ts got."

Lexi shook her head and said "No Dominic. Children can get cancer like a.d.u.l.ts. It can be different cancers. The Doctors have determined you have a particular cancer called Leukemia. When the Doctors told me about it, I researched myself and found out that it is the most common cancer children can get. I also spoke to your Uncle Phillip about the situation. He helped me ask several questions of your doctors and suggestions on how to go forward. His biggest suggestion was with the tests that had you spend the day in hospital was to do some extra things so that you did not have to face similar tests again."

Lexi looked to Matthew, and observing the fear on her face, Matthew said "The doctors have a treatment plan for you. You know the treatment your Uncle Phillip has?"

"He calls it Chemo Daddy Matthew."

"Chemo. Yes. It is a therapy where you are given certain drugs to try and kill the cancer. The Doctors believe that this will be the best way to treat your Leukemia. Do you recall what you have seen in the last twelve months or so with your Uncle Phillip?"

"He does something called cycles."

"Correct Dominic. A cycle with your treatment is a period where you take the drugs followed by a period where you do not. Our understanding is that this will go on for at least twelve months, but your Mummy and I will follow what the Doctors say. But it is important that we keep you as healthy as we can. Your Doctors want to start your treatment in the next couple of weeks, but we need to keep you as well as we can before it happens."

"Is that why you will not let me go outside?"

Lexi quickly said "No Dominic. We will not, but you must promise us that you will not get involved in and rough games while you are out there. Getting hurt, will impact what the doctors do. The other thing, and this will go for when you are at school as well, you need to wear a mask over your mouth and nose. That is about preventing you getting sick before your treatment."

"Mummy, that will make me look weird out there."

"Weird or not, that is what you have to do."

"Fine," came the stroppy response from Dominic. "Where is this mask you want me to wear so I can go outside."

"Dominic," responded Matthew sharply.

Sensing that he had done something wrong Dominic, turned, and looked at Matthew. Lexi observed the moment Dominic realised his attitude was wrong, and quickly said "Sorry Daddy Matthew." He then turned to Lexi and added "Sorry Mummy."

"Apology accepted Dominic," came Lexi's calm response.

Matthew added "I also accept that apology Dominic. But being sick will not give you a pass from bad behaviour or a poor attitude. As your mummy and I have told you, you need to respect people around you."

Observing Dominic nod, Matthew continued "As I said, following your Uncle Phillip's suggestion the doctors did some additional tests, one of which is for the situation if the Chemo does not work. The Doctors plan then is for a surgical procedure called a bone marrow transplant. But for the best chance of that to work, they need what they call a match. Family is usually the best option for a match, but there can be situations where a non-family member is a match. As part of the testing, I was tested, and I was found to be the best possible match if that was needed."

"Daddy Matthew, that means you are extra special for me, even though we are not related."

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