Short Stories Collection

Golden Christmas (Christmas Short Story)

Do you believe in miracles, especially Christmas ones?

Noelle has a rare type of cancer in which there is a very small chance of survival. She has spent many years of her childhood in and out of the hospital with many different difficult procedures and treatments. After many rounds and other different treatments over the years, she only wanted two things: to beat cancer for good and to have her very own puppy.

Noelle gets to have one magical Christmas wish to help lift her spirit and have something to help her with her fight against battling cancer. Every year, Noelle's Christmas wish is the one thing she always wanted, and hopefully this Christmas she can finally have her magical Christmas wish.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cancer...

The big scary word that no one talks about, especially when it comes out of nowhere in the blink of an eye. It is the type of cancer where you either have a good or bad chance of survival, which depends on the treatment, what stage or even how soon you find out.

I didn't have many friends while growing up because no one wanted to be friends with the "sick girl with cancer". People were always afraid to hurt my feelings, think I was going to break like a twig or even send me to the hospital if I even played a simple childhood game like tag. I know the feeling of being alone, especially after spending many nights in a hospital bed with many different machines hooked up to me with many tubes instead of my skin.

No one really tells you about cancer. In fact, people just think if you get cancer you will die, but there are some people who actually survive by having the right amount of treatment that their bodies can handle. For me, I had about six rounds of chemotherapy, and every single round I thought it was the end. I just happened to be hit with luck, especially because my cancer type is state four, and everyone knows that is the worst type of cancer to have, especially as a child.

Every year, I raise money to help get enough for a puppy, but not just any puppy. My favorite type of puppy is the cute and fluffy golden retriever. Why, you might ask, because I am a huge fan of the Air Bud movie series, which always cheers me up and puts a big smile on my face. When I have to stay in the hospital for long treatments, surgery, or even for a procedure, I always bring my buddy movies. Sometimes some of the hospital staff comes to my room and we watch one or two movies while eating popcorn and trying to make the moment stress-free, especially knowing I could die at any moment. These moments are very special for my care team, family, or even friends, because I soon have time to spend with anyone.

Once a year, I always have to spend a month in the hospital for treatment with chemotherapy to help shrink my tumor in my head, and this year I get to spend my Christmas in the hospital. I'm glad I can be able to spread some cheer around the children's intensive care unit, but I definitely miss being home and in my own bed. But I get to spend lots of time in the hospital bed and the room where I always end up being placed.

I woke up from feeling hot and sweaty to the point where I soaked my bed sheets with sweat and I felt like I was going to puke when I moved an inch. I knew something was happening, to the point where I knew I would be making a trip to the hospital. I reached over to my bedside table and pressed the alarm button, which is for emergencies and to alert my mom that something is wrong. As soon as I pressed it, the alarm made a loud beep sound, and I immediately saw my mom running into my room with a worried look on her face and said...

"I'm here, honey, take it easy, and you're feeling really hot, like you have a bad fever." We'd better go into the hospital and get checked out, especially since we just had a round of treatment last week. "I'm calling the hospital right now," my mom said with fear in her voice, knowing

"I'm going to puke, Mom, and I'm hoping I get my favorite room," I said as I grabbed the puke bucket next to my bed.

"Hello, this is Serena, and I'm calling to make an appointment with Dr. Hope as soon as possible because my daughter has a high fever and is puking," mom said as she touched my forehead.

"Mom, do we have my emergency suitcase ready?" I asked her while in pain and slowly closing my eyes.

"Yes, sweetie, we do have one and you can bring your golden build a bear dog too," she told me and went back to the phone call with the hospital.

"Mom, am I going to spend Christmas again in the hospital?" I asked her while sitting up and grabbing a few things to put in my bookbag.

"Yeah sweetie, you are and it might be there for a while again, but don't worry, we will have to video call dad when we can," she said and began to take out my emergency hospital suitcase from my closet.

After a half an hour, we finally arrived at the children's hospital where I will be spending a month or two, also known as my second home. As I got older, I got the opportunity to work with my care team to learn things like giving myself medications through my tubes, cleaning certain areas that are in my body without preventing any infections in my tubes, or even my iv port. I know the drill of being in the ER and being admitted to the ICU. It's like a normal routine where I am put in a single room to be isolated from other people who might have a common illness such as the cold or flu or even a very contagious disease that can really kill me.

While being admitted to the hospital and waiting for a bed in the ICU children's ward, one of my favorite ER nurses came in to check on my tubes and port and do normal basic things like take my basic vitals for my doctors. While she was checking my port and cleaning it before placing an iv into my chest port, she asked me.

"How is the puppy fund going?" "I know you still want a golden puppy, and I really hope you do get one for Christmas this year," she said while beginning to clean my port area.

"I am so close I need another five hundred dollars because the breeder we are getting the puppy from is one of the best breeders in the area and I want to have the pick of the litter," I told her while showing her some photos and videos on my phone.

"Aww, what a beautiful puppy." "Is it a girl or a boy?" the nurse asked as she finished checking my chest port.

It's a girl. "The breeder said she is holding the puppy for Noelle and I hope she isn't bugging you about asking to donate money again," my mom said as she walked into the ER room.

"Nah, she was just showing her puppy with all the photos and videos she has on her phone to me." All done. I am going to talk to your mom outside for a bit, and don't worry, it's nothing bad. "See you in a bit, Noelle," the nurse said.

"Oh okay, I am just going to add more things to my shopping list and think of some names for her too," I told her while my eyes were glued to my phone.

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When I finally got a bed in the children's ICU, when we arrived, a nurse helped me into my new bed while my mom started unpacking my stuff and her stuff in the drawers. While the nurse helped me get all set up with a new iv and get comfortable, my mom started to decorate my room with Christmas lights and other things I like that are hung up in my bedroom at home. My mom always wants to make sure I am comfortable, especially when we don't know when I will be staying for how long. Last time I had to be hospitalized, I stayed for about a half year and missed summer. I love summer because I can just sit outside on the front porch and enjoy reading a book or even doing something fun.

Anyway, my dad and brother always have a bet on how long I have to stay in the hospital. They think I will miss Christmas and my birthday again. I think not, but if I do, I hope it will be a good birthday, Christmas, and hospital stay. Sometimes I hate my birthday on Christmas due to everyone getting presents, and other times I love it because I love eating cake on my birthday. The last time I was a year was a year ago when I had to stay in the hospital for my birthday and Christmas, but the staff was extra caring and even threw a special birthday party for me. They really did make my day and took special care of me, which I can never repay for what they did for me.

A few weeks passed by in the blink of a snowflake falling down from the night sky like a feather falling down from heaven. Watching the snowfall made me feel like I wasn't sick and was stuck in the hospital. As a child, I remember sneaking out in the snow and sticking my tongue out to catch as many snowflakes as I could, but my mother always finds out and has to drag me back inside, risking getting sick and ending up back in the hospital.As I watched the snowflakes fall from the inside of my hospital, hooked up to many different machines and having lots of tubes coming in and out of my body, I watched people entering or exiting their cars and the hospital. As I watched, I noticed a sparkly star that turned out to be a shooting star in the night sky. I closed my eyes and made my wish, which was to have a golden retriever puppy named Angel. When I opened my eyes, I smiled and prayed for my Christmas wish to come true too. Maybe this year I will truly get my Christmas wish. If not, it will be okay. There is always next year. It was Christmas Eve, when most people were at home with their families or friends, while I was here wishing I could be home in my pajamas, watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate.

When I walked away from the window and to my bed, my nurse came in to check on me and spoke.

"How are you feeling?" "Any pain or nausea?" she said while checking out the machines that I am hooked up to.

"Not right now, but if my dad brings in his favorite chili, then I might." Just don't tell him his world-famous chili sucks. Okay? Oh, and I didn't say anything, "I said and chuckled." "

I promised I wouldn't and I'm sorry you have to stay in the hospital again this year. I know you really want a Christmas and a birthday at home this year, but don't worry, I've got you something special, "she said, and gave me a small little box.

It's okay; it's kind of fun to be here for Christmas and my birthday, especially when I get to hang out with my favorite nurse. Are you sure your family can't come for some cake and, of course, ice cream? Plus, there is always next year to try not to be hospitalized again, "I told her and took the box from her hand.

"Oh my gosh, thank you so much for the puppy collar and it says angel on it. How did you know I wanted to name the puppy Angel? " I asked her with a smile on my face.

"Well, the last time you were here, we made a list of Christmas dog names and you definitely liked the name Angel, as in a guarding angel from heaven, and it was your grandmother's name too," she said and took the paper wrapping off the bed and tossed it out into the trash bin.

"I have to go check on my other patients. "I will come back in a bit to check on you, and who knows, your doctor probably got a gift too," she said and walked out of the hospital room while rubbing her hands with hand sanitizer.

As she walked out of the room, my doctor came in and had a big basket for her. I was confused at first. I knew what it was, and it was a Christmas and birthday present for me. As he walked to my bed, he said.

"Here you go, and I couldn't wait to give you your present and happy Christmas birthday, Noelle!" He said and smiled.

You didn't have to give me a gift; you already gave me a few years of cancer-free life, for which I have no idea how to say thank you. " I told him and started to open the big basket.

As I ripped the paper wrapping off the bag basket, I discovered a variety of items, including puppy travel items such as travel bowls, toys, treats, and more. Everything had a Christmas color theme and even had the puppy's name on it. I was honestly surprised and very thankful for this special gift. My mom walked in and looked at the bed full of dog items and said...

"Well, it's a good thing I didn't go shopping yet, and well, ops... I didn't say anything," she said, trying not to open her mouth.

"Mom, where are dad and Nick?" I inquired, expecting them to pay us a visit.

They will be here soon. I just forgot to pick up the cake and ice cream for tomorrow. "Sweetie, you should rest. You have a big day tomorrow. " Mom said, and started to put everything on the hospital room table.

"Oh okay, well tomorrow is going to be a good birthday and Christmas," I said and started to get ready for bed.

"You know, they both miss you and just wanted to see you tomorrow," he said as he walked out of the hospital room, leaving mom and me to finish getting ready for bed.

The next day, it was officially my birthday and, well, Christmas. It is one of my favorite days of the year because I get to have extra presents and, well, all the sugar treats I want. For the past few years, I was always stuck in the hospital, so my family and care team always made sure I had a good day no matter what was going on. I woke up with a smile on my face and quickly got up from my bed and walked over to the window to look outside, seeing all the fresh snow and people playing in the snow. My mom woke up and said,

"Happy Christmas, Noelle," she said as she rose from her bed and checked her phone.

As I walked to the bathroom to get ready for the day, I said

Once I was out of the bathroom, everyone was there except for my dad and brother Nick, but that's okay, they are probably running a little late. Everyone in my care team showed up, and even some of my family. As everyone pulled into the small room, I was told.

My dad said, "Sweetie, close your eyes. We have a special gift for you." He walked to the bed with the surprise in his arms.

"Oh and hold your arms too. Don't worry, it's not a bucket of snow." My brother walked into the room and sat on my bed with the camera ready.

"Okay, are you ready, Noel?" he asked me.

"Well, yeah," I said, grinning.

"Okay.. Ready.. One, two, three."Now open your eyes," Dad said. "

Oh my goodness, how do you do it? What did you do to sneak this puppy into the hospital? "Ooo, you are going to jail for breaking hospital protocol," I said and giggled.

"Happy birthday, Christmas Noelle," everyone said at once.

"We all chipped in and got your true wish. We know how much you wanted a golden retriever puppy and named her Angel after Grandma," Dad said and looked at me like he was going to cry in happiness too.

"Thank you everyone. This is the best birthday Christmas present I could ever ask for and I thank you for making my wish come true. " I said and smiled.

When everyone took turns admiring my new puppy and joked about how they would sneak into my room and steal her, which I have no problem with as long as I can get help taking care of her while I am stuck in a hospital bed due to my treatment, Some of the care Tam said will take turns coming in and taking her outside for potty breaks or if I need some time to sleep or anything that I need. My family is helping out too. My brother would probably take her to the nurses' station and walk her around the hospital since it's so cold outside and play with her in the empty hallway or room.

Well, I finally got my wish that I always wanted. I have a fluffy golden retriever puppy and I have no idea how they pulled this off, but I am very thankful to them. Even though being stuck on my birthday and Christmas is not a bad thing, I am just glad I get to spend it with all the people I care about and, well, of course, my little fluffy angel.