Skyler
I wish I had been able to see him more before it happened. Skyler, in the 4th grade was diagnosed with leukemia. It was shocking honestly even being as young as we were where. Going into the dentist for a normal check up. When the dentist looked at the marks near his lips, he knew something was wrong. "You need to get him to a hospital in Santa Rosa as soon as you can" said the dentist. Within that week Skyler made his trip to the hospital
Mean while at the school, us, as the students weren't aloud to know what's going on. They told us he went on a trip with his family. they didnt think we needed to know. Until some of his friends started asking questions as to where Skyler was. "Its really sad what's happened to him…" said a mother of a fellow student in our class. That's when our teacher had to spill the beans. She told us our classmate had leukemia and was in the hospital. She gave us his number and the hospital information. " I'd like it if all of you called him tonight. Actually I'm going to assign it has homework". I went home. I called him. I didn't get through until my 3rd or 4th try. But I got through. "Hey" I said
"Hey how's it going?" he said
"Its ok, how are you?
"I'm ok. They got me hooked up to this weird machine that I have to wear all the time… Even when I go to the bathroom." The conversations we had for the months after were all about the current events at our school or what was going on at the hospital.
One day I called. And someone new answered the phone. "Hello?"
"hey is Skyler there?"
"Umm… I think you have the wrong number?"
"No I'm sure I have the right one?"
"Well there hasn't been a patient in this room for weeks"
Skyler was no longer in the room? There was s slight feeling of panic that swept over me. But in the following week I found he had come home. And I got to talk to him on the phone. "Hey they said I was all good to come home."
"Really so your done with the hospital stuff?"
"Yep all done"
I had got my friend back. His long journey had come to an end. And so we made plans to hang out over the weekend. And I got to see him. the day. Started out normal. It was a fine day. Cold in the morning with the chilling wind blowing. As the day progressed it got warmer. But the clouds over head still lingered. That was a fun day. Shooting his bow in his yard and playing video games. It was just like any other day. Although you could tell what the cancer had done to him. He was heavier. Bold. And not very active. You could see it. We got to hang out on Saturday and Sunday. Those days were fun. But that Monday. When I entered the class. There seemed to be this lingering feeling of something wrong. Something wasn't right. "Class I have something to tell you. Last night your classmate Skyler died in his sleep…" she couldn't finish her sentence before she cried. See at that age I didn't understand it, I had just been with him the other day and he was fine.
I went home and told my dad. "Skyler died last night." I will never forget how my father looked. The panic, sadness, confusion, it was horrible. And I think what made it worse for him is I said it like it meant nothing. I said it like I had just got home from school and said hi dad what's for lunch? " And are you ok…" he said. "Yeah I'm fine."
He called up my mom and other family and let them know. See what happened with Skyler is the doctors told him he had so long to live. And his parents asked him what he wanted to do anything in the world. And he said I want to go home and see my friends. For a 5th grader to say that. There is no way to describe how well souled he was. He chose to see us, me. To me that makes him a hero.
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