Free Radiate by Marley Gibson

good thing. What do we have to do to get rid of it?”
    Mom takes my hand and squeezes it as we both focus on my uncle’s suggestion.
    “I’ve made several calls, and you have options. These types of tumors should be approached aggressively, with wide surgical resection. You could come to San Francisco and I could refer you to a colleague of mine who specializes in orthopedic cancers. Or, you could go to the Mayo Clinic, which is world-renowned for its cancer treatment.”
    San Francisco? No way. That’s on the other side of the country! “Where’s the Mayo place?” I ask.
    “It’s in Rochester, Minnesota.”
    My eyes roll from the information. “California? Minnesota? I can’t be that far away. I have practice, and camp, and—”
    “Hayley!” Mom snaps at me. “This is your life.”
    I cower in the chair, still not believing the severity of this... this... cancer that’s attached to me. I won’t let it get the best of me. I mean, medical technology is at its best these days. I’ll go to the hospital, they’ll do a few tests, cut it out, and I’ll be back to cheerleading in no time.
    “Any place closer to home?” I ask Uncle Roger calmly.
    “The Mayo Clinic has a location in Jacksonville, Florida, which is closer.”
    “That’s about six hours from here,” Mom says.
    I continue to gnaw on my bottom lip as all of this unfolds around me. “That’s so far.”
    Uncle Roger lays his hand on my arm reassuringly. “There’s one more option, Hayley. I’ve got it on good authority that there’s a doctor that specializes in not only orthopedic cancers, but juvenile cases. His name is Dr. Tanner Dykema, and he’s been written up in
Cancer
magazine for his accomplishments. He approaches each case methodically and slowly, being conservative about surgical options and postoperative treatment.”
    Slowly? No, I need a doctor that’ll do this quickly. “Where is he?” I ask.
    “The University of Alabama in Birmingham. UAB, my alma mater,” my uncle says with a broad smile. “It’s only three hours, and your brother is in the area. Your parents will have a place to stay while you’re in the hospital, and your dad can drive back and forth to Maxwell.”
    “Your dad wanted to be here for this, but he had to be at the store. He and I agree this is the best option for you. We don’t want any rash decisions. We need to find out exactly what this is and how to treat it,” Mom says.
    “I know it’s hard to look at this in any kind of positive light, Hayley,” Uncle Roger starts, “but you’re very lucky. I believe you caught this in time, and your parents are getting you medical treatment right away. Back in the eighties, these types of cancers were rarer and the options were fewer. However, progress and technology are on our side, and Dr. Dykema and his team will get you fixed up in no time.”
    I certainly hope so!
    I hang my head, thinking of the lost time with my cheerleader practice. It’s a necessary thing, though. We’re talking
cancer
here. Not a cold or the flu or a pulled muscle or a sprain.
    This is my time .
.
. my time in the spotlight .
.
. my time to shine. Nothing’s going to slow me down for long.
    Lifting my chin, I turn to Mom. “I trust y’all. And I know I’ve got to get this done. Just promise me that I’ll be back in time for cheerleader camp.”
    “That’s not up to me,” Mom says. “It’s up to you, Hay.”
    “When do we leave for Birmingham?”
    “Monday morning,” Uncle Roger says. “I’ll make all the arrangements.”
    “The sooner the better,” I say.
    Suddenly my spirits perk up, and I sense the adrenaline zooming through me, perhaps rushing toward the unwanted guest in my leg, ready to do battle.
    And fight like hell, I will!

Chapter Eight
The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.
—C. C. Scott

    Chloe is pissed at me.
    Like I
chose
to have cancer and go to the hospital.
    “Am I supposed to hold your spot for you?” she asks