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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 14, 2011 18:56:35 GMT -5
My mam tapped me on the shoulder.
'Time to go.' she said gently.
'Okay. One second.' I went back up to my room to grab his bear. I knew it was kind of childish for me to be taking the bear, but it reminded me of him.
I pulled on my jacket, and we got into the Renault. The drive was less than ten minutes but seemed like eternity. Walking into the oncology unit, everyone was there-lads, Sharon, and Damian's family. I was happy they were all there, I was going to need all the support I could get! Gemma came over and gave me a big hug.
'It'll be alright.' she said into my hair.
'I hope so.'
Soon, I was lead back into a room, changed into a gown, and waited in the pre-op room in a bed. There almost wasn't enough room for them all! They tried to distract me with stories of random things, the time I almost fell off the Derry walls and dragged Damian with me at age eight, and the summer day when we'd try to make our own waterpark in the backyard with some pool toys and a really long garden hose.
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 14, 2011 20:04:37 GMT -5
I was feeling alright; until the nurse came to take me away. I got nervous flutters in my stomach. I got hugs, and words of encouragement, telling me I would be okay, that I was brave. I waved goodbye, and I caught one sentence before I was whisked away down the hall.
'We all try, but really, only he could make her feel better.'
That was from Ryan.
Doors opened, and I saw people in scrubs and masks, gloves. I felt a mask being placed over my face, and I fell into a sedative induced sleep. ~~~<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Post-op.
Waking up felt like lifting a ton of bricks with my eyes! I blinked, and looked around. I looked down, and I had tubes sticking out of my chest. It hurt, it felt weird having these things sticking out of me. I wanted to rip it out but I couldn't and wouldn't.
'How are you feeling, dear?' asked a nurse.
'Not.. Bad..' I croaked.
She left soon after.
Everyone's concern showed in their faces, and I gave them all a small smile of reassurance.
Keith walked over, and put my laptop on the rolling table, so I could talk to him. He pulled up my Skype, and told me Damian had been frantic, wanting to talk to me.
Video call from Damian Mc Ginty. Accept/Decline.
I clicked accept, and he popped up onto the screen. He gave me a big smile hello.
'Hey, how's the patient?' he asked.
I picked up the tubes, and showed them to him.
'I'm an alien, whooooo.' I joked, waving them around like tentacles.
'Ha, that's you, trying to see the sunshine behind the clouds.'
'I try. Look who's here with me!' I held up the kilted bear.
'You still have Daemie?'
'Of course I do! We named it weird...' Daemie bear had been named after our names, one silly day when I'd said it needed a name, and it became Daemie. Not the best name ever, but our names are hard to combine and come up with something not half-bad.
'It was your idea to name him..' he reminded me.
'True.. What are ya doing right now?'
'I'm on break, so if you want I can stay on and talk until you want to stop talking.'
'Okay, but I'm warning you ahead of time, I'm probably gonna puke.'
He scoffed at me.
'Nothing I haven't seen before! Are you okay, in all seriousness.'
'Could be a lot better, but not terribly horrible.' I admitted.
The nurse came back, and she had the chemo drugs and everything all laid out on a trolley. My eyes went wide, and he could see the fear that clouded my expression.
'What's wrong?' he knew I was afraid.
'Uh.. The stuff was just brought in...' I avoided looking him straight in the face.
'It's okay, I'm here, well kind of, ya know.'
She told me I had to put away the laptop, so I pushed it away from my face, but I could still see him, and he me. She gave me the first needle of drugs and it made me dizzy. She gave me six more needles, I could barely take it. I was passed a garbage bin, and I was violently sick.
I could hear him from the computer.
'Is she okay?'
Gemma took the computer and talked to him.
'The chemo isn't agreeing with her, Damian. She threw up. But that's normal for the first few times. She'll be okay, hopefully. I won't lie to you, it'll be a long and hard fight for her, and the most helpful thing would be you here, but this is the next best option, phone calls and Skype.' Gemma was being straight up with him.
'Okay. Tell her I say I love her, and that I'm praying for her. I've back to set. Bye, everyone.'
The rest of the night wasn't pretty. I threw up even though there was nothing to bring up. I felt an ache in my gut, but it wasn't from the treatment. It was from missing him, it was heartache.
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Post by celticbear on Nov 14, 2011 22:06:02 GMT -5
Deidre! Poor Story Deidre! But I'm glad everybody is there for her! And that Damo is being his usual Irish Concerned self! What a shame he got called back to LA just when she needs him most! I agree with what Ryan said! If I was Sharon I would get on the first plane to LA and let Murphy have it with both Irish Barrels! I don't think our girl can wait till Christmas to see Damo! GLEE CONTRACT OR NOT! DAMO'S PLACE IS AT HOME RIGHT NOW! SO SHARON GO BRING OUR LAD HOME!
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 14, 2011 22:14:29 GMT -5
Yes auntie, poor story version of me, haha. We'll see, maybe he'll come back, maybe he'll have to wait it out till Christmas... Yeah, Ryan is one for the wise words of the lot.
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 14, 2011 22:32:42 GMT -5
A week and a half later... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was at home, resting on the couch. Things had changed so much in twelve days. Since they were using harsher chemo, I had accelerated symptoms. Now, most of my hair was gone, and I didn't want a wig, so I wore a bandana in public, otherwise, I was uncovered.
DAMIAN CALLING......
I clicked on the bubble, I'd a quick conversation with him tonight.
'Hey.' I said.
He just looked at me.
'Can you take off your hat for a second, love?'
'Sure, here.'
And I did as he'd asked. I looked at myself on the screen, seeing what he did. The nightmare girl, with almost no hair.
'Now I don't have to spend forever doing my hair.' I said.
My joking didn't work. After that first chemo session, he'd never watched that again, I knew he hurt to see me hurt.
'Three more weeks and I'll be home.' he reminded.
'So far away..'
'I know. I feel awful. Right now, I don't care about my job, I would hop on the next plane to Belfast and drive like a mad one if it wouldn't get me fired.'
'I know, your job is very important.'
'But now, it's taken priority over what really is most important, my friends and family, and you.' he punched his fist into the desk where he was sitting.
'Life can be frustrating, but it will all be okay in the end. That's what your sister keeps telling me, at least.'
'She's a mind for the positive.'
'That she does.'
'If there was some way I could go home now, I would take it.. Some way, any way at all..' he mused, lost in thought.
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Nov 14, 2011 22:50:16 GMT -5
......*note to self: Never read right after tough practice when you are emotionally and physically weak*........WOW. This is incredible! And horrible...and amazing! Update!
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 14, 2011 23:54:17 GMT -5
Thanks? Is terrible and good a bad combination, tell me if im getting too sad, I can't really tell when it's gone on too long.
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 15, 2011 3:04:20 GMT -5
'Walk across the sea, like Jesus?' I suggested, raising an almost-not there eyebrow.
'Good one.'
Sharon was at my house, talking with my mam, and I could hear her voice from the dining room. They were talking about me.
'Needs it.. Not going to work anymore.. Maybe you..' mumbled Sharon.
'They're talking about me again. Wait a second, I'm trying to hear what they're saying.'
'Nobody matches, not even me! Why would he..' responded my mam.
'You never know, Michelle. It could work.'
'Or it could kill her.' her voice darkened.
'Wait, what could kill you?!?' he asked.
'I don't know, I can't hear what they're saying exactly, I just get bits and pieces!'
They both walked over, unreadable.
'We need to talk to you, Dierdre.'
'Okay, hold on.'
I typed quickly to him that I would let him know what was going on as soon as I did. I shut the screen off, and leaned back on the couch.
'Go ahead.' I encouraged them.
'I just got off the phone with one of the doctors. It's not good news. It's not been that long, but they say your not responding to the chemo like you should be. They're using the strongest drugs already that you can possibly handle. There is another option, maybe.' said my mam, sitting down next to me, Sharon to my left, my mam on my right.
'And what would that be?'
'A bone marrow transplant. Risky, but worth the try. We've all already had the test done to see if any of us match you so we could be the donor for you.' explained Sharon.
'Everyone? I had no idea..'
The phone rang sharply. My mam answered it.
'Yes, speaking. What? Really? You can't be serious? Okay, goodbye.'
'Who was that?' asked Sharon and I at the same time.
'Doctor Connolly. The results just got back.'
'And?' I asked impatiently.
There was silence for a few deafening moments.
'Nobody was a match.' she whispered.
'Was that my last chance?'
'Yes, it probably was. Now, if no donor comes up, you'll be put on a waitlist for a stranger's bone marrow, and the wait is a few months to half a year.' she wasn't going to sugar-coat anything for me, I knew that.
'No more chemotherapy, then?'
'Not for the time being, not if you get the transplant and they find a match. After they might start it up again, depending on how the transplant goes.' she responded.
'There has to be someone we've not tried already..' murmured Sharon.
'What about Damian, maybe?' suggested my mam.
'Neither Emmett, Gemma, or his mum or dad was a match, why would he be?'
'You never know, sometimes nobody is, then someone else works out.' my mam was hopeful again now.
'You'd have to ask him, and he's L.A. over, anyway.' I reminded them before they got their hopes too high.
'I can deal with the L.A. bit, you need to talk to him about getting tested, though.' assured Sharon.
They walked away to make some more calls, and I re-opened the conversation.
Signal lost. Please re-connect and try again.
I tried again, it didn't work. I gave up on the computer working, and I called him instead.
'I know what my mam and Sharon were talking about.' I said quietly.
'What, tell me!'
I swallowed, then spoke.
'My body's not taking the treatment like it should be. They've already given me the strongest drugs I can handle. My only other chance is a bone marrow transplant. Everyone was tested to see if they could donate to me, but nobody was a match.' I said hoarsely.
'Jaysus, no! It's my worst fears coming to life!'
'I know, mine too. Sharon had this idea that even though none of your family was a match, maybe you'd be. Apparently sometimes it happens. She said she could sort out all the you being in the USA stuff. Basically, they put me up to asking you to help and try to save me.' I felt guilty for having to guilt-trip him into it a little bit.
'I'll do it, I'll do anything I can! Oh, Sharon just texted me, I'm leaving right now for LAX, I'll see you soon.'
'This wasn't the circumstances I wanted to have you come home, but I guess it'll have to do. Don't get your hopes up, you might not be a match too.'
'It wasn't what I'd imagined it to be, either. See you in fourteen hours. Bye.'
'Bye.' I said.
I hung up the phone.
'Mam, Sharon! Damian's going to try, he's coming home!' I called out to them. I felt wetness on my face, they were happy tears for seeing him again, sad ones because of why he'd be coming back to our walled hometown.
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Post by celticbear on Nov 15, 2011 21:37:16 GMT -5
Deidre! I knew you would find a way to bring that lad home earlier! Oh to have been a fly on the wall when Sharon had her talk with Murphy! NOW LETS HOPE THAT DAMO IS A MATCH AND THAT THESE TWO LOVE BIRDS CAN HAVE THE HAPPY CHRISTMAS THEY DESERVE!
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 15, 2011 21:40:43 GMT -5
'Now, we've to do something before he gets here tonight.' said my mam.
'Whats that?'
'We're taking you shopping!' announced Sharon.
Several hours later, I'd a blue halter knee length dress, small high heeled sandals, and a matching blue-crystal scarf. I'd insisted it wasn't necessary, but Gemma had insisted. Now, we were waiting anxiously an excited at the gate, for the moment he would appear.
Twenty minutes later. No Damian.
An hour later. Still no sign.
Hour and a half later, he finally appeared! He looked tired, hauling his giant case down the hallway, but his fatigue turned to joy as soon as he saw us waiting. I couldn't stop myself, I ran as best I could over to him, almost knocking him over. I hugged him so tight, I never wanted to let go.
'Hi.' I said, breathless.
'Its been too long, Dee.'
'I know. I look different, don't I?' I asked.
'Yeah, but your still the same girl who almost launched me heartbeat off the city walls!' he teased.
'We were eight, they seemed really high up to me!'
'That's why your mam made sure Emmett and Gemma were below to catch us.' he said.
'Oh yeah, I remember that.'
His arm around my waist, mine around his, we walked back over to the group. He said hello to everyone, clearly glad to be where he knew he was needed most. It was almost perfect, almost a happy reunion.
But it had notes of bittersweet along with the bliss, the bitterness that now, my life hung in the balance; and he was the only one who could bring me back from the edge.
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Post by celticbear on Nov 15, 2011 21:45:18 GMT -5
Love how Dee tackled him when he finally arrived! Love the outfilt also! Please let Damo be a match! I want Dee and Damo to have thier wonderful Christmas and many more to come!
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 15, 2011 21:51:07 GMT -5
'I'm so glad your here.' I told him.
'This is the only place I want to be.'
'More than L.A.?' I asked incredulously.
'America is grand, but at the days end, I'd rather be at home with my family and friends.'
'True, there's no place like home.' I agreed.
'Aye, Dorothy girl. All you need is ruby slippers!'
'No, because I am where I want to be, I just need to stay put for awhile.' I grinned.
'More than awhile, the next sixty years, more like!'
'We'll see about that.' He hummed the song,'our first christmas together.' he winked at me. I rolled my eyes at him.
'Not the first one, the tenth one or so by now!' I teased.
'And many more to come, Lord willing.'
'Mhm.'
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Nov 15, 2011 22:24:59 GMT -5
Oh, my goodness, he better be a match!! Terrible and amazing are a GREAT combination. They're what make the most famous writers. UPDATE!
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Post by CelticCailín on Nov 16, 2011 2:09:39 GMT -5
After more small talk and the general din had began to wane, we were all piled into two lorries, and going to head out for supper. We went to a sushi bar, and it was really originally done, blue glass partitioned off the space, eccentric shaped lights illuminated the room.
'Have you seen this yet, Dierdre?' asked Ryan; as he shoved a People magazine into my hands.
I stared at the headline in horror and shock, disgusted thoroughly.
The headline read, 'Irish Glee star Damian has a shocking secret! Pg.45'
I flipped through the glossy pages, expecting to see an article about him dating some celebrity girl, or a past 'secret'. But the paragraphs and pictures weren't describing him. It was all about me. I read the whole thing out loud, for everyone to hear.
'Damian Mc Ginty appears to have the luck o' the Irish lately, but other people in his life could use some of it. While Mc Ginty's been living the life in Los Angeles filming Glee since late August; the people close to him back in Northern Ireland are keeping secrets from the world.
Yes, for all you Damian fangirls, sorry. He's taken. An inside source has revealed that Mr.Mc Ginty is in a relationship with Dierdre McCann, also 19, and also of Derry City, Northern Ireland. Damian will not be appearing in the next episode of Glee, as he has returned home for personal reasons.
So, you ask:Is he quitting Glee? No, that's not quite the reason for the Irish sensation's sudden jaunt back home. A source close to the young couple has told us the reason behind his absence. His longtime girlfriend has cancer, and is not expected to live past Christmastime this year.
He may be off the dating market now, but soon will be single again. By:Dave Jackerby for PEOPLE magazine.'
'I can't believe this garbage! It's all lies! Nobody has said, nor hinted, not anything that she'e going to die! Rude people trying to make a quick buck.. Don't believe anything but why you actually hear me say, everything else is fabricated by these lowlifes.' Damian was more than mad, he was enraged!
'Heartless folk..' I murmured quietly.
I couldn't believe that for one thing, people bought into this trash, and that some seemed to be eager for me to kick the bucket! I'd had photographers come up to me before, it was common knowledge we were together, but this took it and put privacy invasion onto a whole new level! I was pretty sure I'd know if I was going to die in two weeks, which I'm fairly sure I'm not!
I was hurt about it, annoyed, angry, all those things.
It was hard enough going through this, made exponentially more so by having the world known and some not sad over it, some sad, and it was weird having the knowledge that some crazy folk actually wanted me to wind up dead like the article said!
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Post by meg_cahill21 on Nov 16, 2011 17:07:30 GMT -5
aww....that sucks...hope the transplant works out...haha u actually reminded me that i have a story based just like this to update...lol UPDATE SOON!!!!
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