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That’s a normal thing. We all have doctors. Unless it’s a specialty doctor. My mind races back to meeting Chloe in the Landsharks conference room and her tardiness due to a family emergency. Shit. Is Casey Conrad sick?
“These are your sons?” Chloe asks Julie, swiftly changing the subject away from her.
“Yes. Jesse and Joshua.”
“They’re adorable. This is my friend, Finn.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shake her hand.
“You, too. My boys are big fans of yours. Whose puppy?” She kneels down to rub Sammy behind the ears.
“This is Sammy, Mommy. She’s Finn’s and she didn’t lick me, but she likes me anyway.”
“I tried to tell him…” Jesse trails off.
Julie stands and draws Jesse into a hug. “It’s okay. Puppies are very hard to resist.”
“She’s pretty good at playing catch,” I say. “You guys want to throw the ball around with her?”
“Can we, Mom?” Jesse asks.
“Sure.”
The boys take turns throwing Sammy the ball and the three of them run around the field, cheering Sammy on and clapping when she makes a catch midair. I’m not sure the boys notice, but every time Sammy returns the ball, she drops it in front of Josh.
“Jesse mentioned Josh had heart surgery,” I say, hoping Julie will elaborate.
“He did, yes. He was born with a congenital heart defect, but didn’t show any symptoms until a few months ago.”
“He looks great,” Chloe says. “Is he cured?”
“We’re not sure,” Julie says softly. “He has what’s called aortic stenosis, which means his aortic valve is too small and narrow for blood to travel through easily, and so the heart has to work harder. Over time the added stress weakens the heart. The surgery repaired his valve for now, but if scar tissue forms, he’ll most likely need more surgeries as he grows.
“He’s really been a trouper. Never complains. Follows the doctor’s instructions. And Jesse’s been very understanding.” She takes a shaky breath. “I think I’m having a harder time than anyone.”
Chloe gives Julie’s arm a squeeze. “That’s understandable. I think you said your husband is in the medical field too?”
“Yes, he’s a medical device rep. He’s always on call since he goes inside ORs when the devices are needed and used, which is why he’s not here at the park with the boys.”
I watch the kids play with Sammy with a twinge in my chest. My learning difficulties growing up were nothing compared to Josh’s medical challenges.
After a few more minutes, Josh walks over to us. Sammy notices and immediately stops chasing the ball Jesse threw to follow Josh instead. “Mommy, I’m tired.”
“Okay, sweetie. Let’s go home. How does some hot chocolate sound?”
“Good.”
Julie lifts Josh up to hold him in her arms. “Thanks for letting me play with Sammy,” he says to me.
“Anytime,” I say, knowing that’s not exactly true since I don’t live in the neighborhood. I will, however, keep my promise about jerseys and bring Sammy with me when I deliver them.
Jesse says thanks and goodbye, too, and then the three of them walk home. Sammy sits perfectly still at my feet watching them go.
“It’s got to be so hard having a sick child,” Chloe says from beside me. “When my mom was sick, I asked her if she could give me the disease instead. I wanted to help her. I wanted to stop seeing the grief in my dad’s eyes.”
I find her hand and lace my fingers with hers.
“She told me absolutely not. For one, she said, wanting me to understand, cancer isn’t something you can give someone else like a cold or a fever. And two, no parent ever wants to see their child unwell. She told me I was her greatest gift and she loved me with all her heart and as long as I was healthy, she was happy.”
