Nicholas
Alvin C. Johnson, Jr.
October 1, 1996
Nicholas was alive.
After a bone marrow transplant for leukemia at the University of Iowa, our
son's new immune system was building. Nicholas, our seven-year-old, had nearly
died following the transplant. He developed a virus that began multiplying
and choking off what little bone marrow production he had. I asked the doctor,
"Do I need to call in Nick's grandparents and the rest of the family?"
"I can't say," the doctor replied. "We'll know more this evening."
Later that afternoon, the chaplain came to visit. My wife, Vickie, and I
were deeply frightened, and after some conversation, we asked her to lay
hands upon Nick and us for healing. Later that day, Nicholas turned the corner.
Six weeks later, we packed up our van and brought him home to the awaiting
celebration. Friends and members of our church had decorated our house, cleaned
it from top to bottom, and filled the pantries. We were frightened and joyful,
but we celebrated our homecoming.
Two-and-half months later, Vickie and I heard the words from the oncologist
that made us weep for joy: "Your son is in remission." The news washed over
us like a long-awaited, late-summer rain. The next evening, however, just
before I left the house to lead the Bishop's Committee (governing board)
meeting, the phone rang. My wife picked it up. I watched as she turned ashen
gray and began to cry. It was the oncologist. Further microscopic analysis
of Nicholas's bone marrow, he said, revealed four leukemia cells.
"What does this mean?" Vickie asked, desperate.
"Nothing is for sure," the doctor said. "You will need to wait two weeks
for Nicholas to take another test."
After a brief moment in quiet panic, Vickie and I quickly decided to buy
time; we would not ...
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