Charity awakened on Tuesday morning feeling discombobulated. She was worried about Jeremiah having the surgery and yet she knew it was necessary. Trying to shake the amorphous thoughts she took a shower and dressed to go do her chores.
She was thankful to see Joseph had already arrived and started the work. She could not talk and only hugged him. He understood because she had told them that the work on Jeremiah would start today.
Jeremiah was not going to be happy. He had to go in without eating. She knew he was concerned about the whole process, and felt helpless that she could not tell him more and relieve him of his anxiety.
Jeremiah was up and dressed just in time for Isaac to pick him up at six thirty. Joseph and Charity did not tell him good bye. They reminded him that they loved him and that God loved him. His guardian angel would be with him all through the surgery. He left with a smile on his face. Charity fell against Joseph crying. He hugged her and comforted her the best he could.
Jeremiah was given a relaxant and finally went to sleep. His head was completely shaved and the tiny cut was made for the biopsy. Isaac hurried the decision through as to what kind of tumor it was. The results came back that afternoon and he was right. It was benign. He scheduled the drainage of the fluid for the following morning. On Thursday he would do the surgery and remove the tumor. He, too, prayed that all would go well.
On Friday Jeremiah opened his eyes and felt of a bandage covering his head like a shower cap. He didn’t feel badly at all; in fact he was quite pleased with himself.
A nurse came in and asked him if he was ready to eat. He felt hollow and almost shouted at her to bring on the food. After he had eaten a scrambled egg, a croissant, a slice of honey dew melon and a glass of milk, he felt full.
The nurse called for another nurse to help her. Jeremiah was embarrassed that they bathed him, changed his bedding and put him back in bed.
He thanked them as he had been taught. Much to his chagrin he fell asleep.
He woke much later feeling someone rubbing his arm. He looked up into the smiling eyes of his mother.
“Mamm! I am so glad to see you. Look at my head.”
“I have been looking. You are still very handsome. Your hair will grow quicker than you think. Before long this will just be a memory. How do you feel?”
“I am super. When can I go home?”
“You will have to be in here for a few days so that Dr. Yoder can make sure you are well and strong again.”
“But I am strong. See.” He bent his arm to show his mother his biceps.
“I am glad to see you still have good muscle. We have a lot of work to do when you get back home.”
“Oh,” he said disgustedly. Then he perked up. “Now that I am better and behaving do you think the grossfaders will let me have my horse back? I will promise to do all they tell me and work hard.”
“I am sure they will be so pleased to hear that. You will have to talk to them about getting the horse back. You will have to prove yourself.”
“I can do that, mamm. I promise I can.”
“I am sure you can, but you will have to convince your grandfathers.”
Dr. David Boggs came into the room. “Well, how is our star patient today? You came through the surgery like a trooper. Hello, are you his mother?”
Charity introduced herself and thanked him for the excellent care Jeremiah was receiving. Dr. Boggs did the checking on stats and wrote on the chart at the foot of the bed.
“It was nice meeting you,” he told Charity. “And you, young man, keep doing as well as you are and you’ll be home in a short time. Have a nice day.” He hurried out with his white coat flying behind him.
“Mamm, I like being in the hospital because they do take good care of me, but I love being at home with you more.”
“I am glad you like being at home. I missed you so much when you decided to leave home. I worried every day and most of every night. I could not sleep or eat and was so distressed.”
“I am so sorry that I made you worry, but it will never happen again.”
Isaac came in and greeted them as if they were long-lost relatives. “Hey, buddy boy. How is my favorite patient?”
“Fine, can I go home?” Jeremiah almost yelled he was so happy.
“You’ll need to stay here for a few days. You’re feeling good now, but when the medication wears off, you might feel differently.”
“No, I will not. Let me go home with my mamm, today, puhleeese.”
“Sorry. No can do. Let’s see what’s written on your chart.” He read and then turned to Charity with a smile. “Looks as if everything is going well.
I need to talk to you. Would you mind stepping outside to the waiting room?”
“Are you going to talk about me and do not want me to hear it?” Jeremiah pouted.
“No, friend. Not all conversations are about you. Lie back and rest. You’ll need it to heal quickly and go home.”
Isaac led Charity to an office and shut the door. “Would you like some coffee or something to nibble on?”
“Nee, danki.” She was so nervous she lapsed into Amish. “Are you going to give me bad news about Jeremiah?”
“No. Jeremiah is doing well. We are fortunate to have caught this in time. I need to talk to you about your own health. I don’t want to upset you, but remember your mother would not come in for regular check-ups and you lost her. Jeremiah only sees a doctor when he is already sick. If your mother had been coming in, the doctors would have caught the cancer and been able to treat her. You are lucky that Jeremiah’s symptoms led us to suspect his problem and we were able to help him. All of you must develop a regular check-up with some doctor, not necessarily me, although I would love to help. I would like to schedule you for a check-up and make sure you have nothing that can be disastrous. It would devastate Jeremiah to give up his mother. The two of you are very close. What do you say?”
Charity was silent for a moment. “Ja, I will make an appointment for a check-up and I will talk to my relatives and tell them what you have told me. It does make sense. We Amish depend on ourselves and home medicines for most illnesses, but I can understand about something we do not know about. I will talk to them.”
Monday, of the following week, Jeremiah was allowed to go home with the understanding that a Home Health care nurse would check on him and change his bandage as needed. By the end of the week the bandage came off for good. The stitches would come out in another week.
He was jubilant and had to be reminded often to not be so exuberant.
He was deliriously happy to get his horse back and resume riding lessons. It did not bother him that he would have to take the sixth year over. School was now out for the summer and he was looking forward to lots of fun. He had several Amish friends and a few nice English friends who came with him.
The boys swam in the river back of the Kime property and ate lunches that loving mothers packed for them. All of them had their own horse and were allowed to go on a trail ride in the mountains with two or three adults going with them.
They camped out a couple of nights and sang around a campfire. Tracy Goodson’s daddy told ghost stories. Michael and Lawrence told them stories of when they were little boys. There was still no news of Morton Richardson. Was he alive or dead, or was he even still in this country?
They learned how to dig a hole and pile the dirt and rocks around the outside to make a fire pit. Then when they were ready to leave the dirt was put on the embers to make sure a forest fire would not start. They had a wonderful summer and were ready for school to begin.
TWENTY YEARS LATER
Jacob, Joshua and Leah were beside Jenna Mae in the Amish cemetery.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
The audience moved restlessly with anticipation. Charity was there with her husband, Isaac Yoder. They had four-year-old twins, Jacob and Jenna.
Michael was now a grandfather and was there with his entire brood. Lawrence was present with all nine of his children, some engaged to be married. Maeve and her husband were holding a new born. Alicia was sitting with Charity. She had never married and was living with Charity to help her with house, children and store.
Joseph had broken Amish tradition and joined the U.S. Marines. He could not attend because he was on duty, but his wife and two children were present. Joseph had sent a telegram of congratulations and was eager to get home and see the family.
Bonnie Kate Mercer was now a widow, but she was present with some friends. It seemed that the majority of Shickshinny had traveled here today to give honor to one of their own. Richard Longbow, retired, was present with his wife and three children.
Amid applause, the President came out and gave a short speech. He said, “And now let me introduce you to your new doctors whom, I am sure, will be worthy of the title.”
He started with the last names beginning with A. When he came to Doctor Jeremiah Adam Kime, it seemed that half the audience stood up and cheered. Charity had happy tears in her eyes. Isaac quietly wiped his eyes for he loved this now dear son of his.
Jeremiah, too, had promised the Bishop if he were permitted to continue his education that he would come back and work at least five years in his community. It was an Amish Promise he intended to keep.