An Effort To Honor
In an effort to honor the girl’s final wish, he hoped to bring some joy into her life. His only intention was to make her smile and prove that kindness still existed in the world.
The bond between them was forged through words—his voice, her repetition. It was a simple act, but it carried deep meaning. For the first time in ages, the little girl laughed, filling the room with warmth as the crowd applauded.
Yet, unbeknownst to everyone, their well-meaning actions set in motion something far darker. What seemed like a moment of happiness was, in reality, a grave mistake, one that no one saw coming.
Pretending To Be His Bride
The doctor initially thought the young girl was merely pretending to be his bride, a playful gesture that felt right for both her and her family. She had been in his care for months, enduring more than most could imagine.
Throughout her time under his watch, she demonstrated remarkable courage, resilience, and strength, defying expectations at every turn. She became a symbol of perseverance, inspiring everyone around her.
She was the first patient to make such a profound impact on him. Sadly, despite her incredible fight, her journey had come to an end.
Most Significant Occasions
The doctor had one suit he reserved for the most significant occasions, and today, he had chosen to wear it. Before heading to the hospital, he made sure to visit his barber for a neat trim, ensuring everything was perfect.
According to the girl’s mother, everyone was already waiting. The girl’s family had gathered, and she was dressed in a lovely gown, ready for what was to come.
However, the doctor remained unaware that he was on the verge of making a grave mistake. The weight of the moment hadn’t yet dawned on him, and the true nature of his task remained unclear.
Arriving At The Hospital
When he arrived at the hospital, the first person he saw was one of his subordinates. She quickly approached him, cautioning him against moving forward with his plans.
Despite her warning, he remained undeterred, sensing there was no turning back now. Her words, however, lingered in his mind, hinting at something he hadn’t considered.
“It doesn’t matter,” he muttered to himself. If he had listened to the warning earlier, he might have avoided the costly mistake ahead. But now, it seemed too late to turn back.
Importance
The doctor understood the importance of honoring a person’s final wish, especially when it came from someone as young as the little girl. His promise to her mattered more than anything else.
As he left his office, he walked down the hallway toward the childcare wing. There, waiting for him, were the girl and her family. He could feel the weight of the moment with every step.
When he knocked gently on the door, a realization struck him. He hadn’t fully grasped the significance of what was about to unfold. There would be no turning back now.
Entering The Room
The doctor entered the room to a warm greeting, the door creaking open. Despite her frail appearance, the girl offered a smile, and as she waved at him, his heart ached. He couldn’t help but wave back.
The doctor and his colleagues had done all they could, but there was no saving this kind-hearted soul—just weeks left, the prognosis was clear. Throughout his career, he had learned to keep his distance, never getting too attached to his patients. His parents had always taught him to remain objective.
But today, faced with her innocence and hope, he broke his own rule. For once, he allowed himself to feel the weight of the situation, unable to turn away from the girl’s smile, despite knowing the inevitable.
Repeating The Words
The doctor gently held the girl’s hand, repeating the words he had carefully prepared. A tear slipped down his cheek as he felt her fragile grip.
Her faint smile grew as she listened, her attention fixed on his every word. The doctor marveled at the purity of the words, finding them more beautiful than anything he had ever read, despite her youth.
Yet, even amidst the beauty, a dark realization lingered in his mind. The innocence in her eyes only seemed to emphasize the harshness of the situation, leaving him with an unsettling feeling that would not fade.
Spoke Her Vows
The girl spoke her vows just as briefly and directly as the boy, echoing the simplicity of the doctor’s words. Though uncharted territory for her, her words were filled with profound emotion.
In a quiet but significant moment, the girl placed the ring onto the doctor’s finger. He embraced her in return, mirroring the sentiment she had shown.
The room erupted in cheers, sealing the moment. There was a shared understanding among all present—there was no turning back now.
The Small Town
The small town of Lubbock, Texas, was taken by surprise when Dr. Oliver Turner, a respected cancer specialist from Jackson, Wyoming, made an unexpected request. Known for his expertise and steady hands, Oliver’s presence in Lubbock was not one many anticipated.
Emilia, a terminally ill patient, approached Oliver with a deeply personal desire. She wanted to experience something she’d always dreamed of, even though time was running out. Her request was unconventional yet heartfelt: she wanted to have an imaginary marriage before her life came to an end.
Moved by her courage and the weight of her wish, Dr. Turner agreed to help make Emilia’s final request a reality. It was a moment of hope and joy in the midst of her battle, a small but meaningful gesture as she faced the end of her journey.
For A Decade
For a decade, Oliver dedicated his skills to Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, making a significant impact before relocating to Lubbock to continue his mission of helping others.
At 37, he was known not only for his work ethic but for his compassionate approach, always going above and beyond to care for his patients. His dedication to improving lives was evident in everything he did.
However, Oliver soon discovered the emotional toll of forming deep connections with those he treated, learning firsthand the difficult consequences of becoming too attached.
Meeting Emilia
Oliver met Emilia in his second year in Lubbock. He’d already made a name for himself there as one of the institution’s most caring and thorough doctors.
He’d been carrying out research in the hospital’s lab when one of his colleagues came to inform him of this sickly little girl who had just been admitted to the children’s wing. Would the doctor be interested in looking at her?
Taking Center Stage
Since Oliver was one of the few doctors in the facility who had extensive knowledge of cancer, he took center stage in examining the little girl.
At this point, she would drift in and out of sleep, barely being able to talk when Oliver first came in.
Talking to her parents, he learned the little girl’s name was Emilia Hutch. She was only four years old and had been complaining about stomach pains for a while.
Their Last Hope
The parents revealed that they’d taken Emilia to many medical institutions all over town. But no one could pinpoint what was wrong with their little angel.
But one doctor had theorized that she might have a tumor in her belly and insisted she get tested.
And so, the worried parents were here, eager to know what was wrong with their child. Without wasting any second, Oliver got to work.
The Tests
The doctor started with blood and urine samples, followed by an ultrasound. For the latter, he moved a small wand around Emilia’s skin.
The gadget gave off sound waves, picking up the sounds’ echoes as they bounced off tissues.
The echoes translated into a picture on a computer screen in real time, and what the doctor saw made his brows furrow.
What Is It?
Emilia’s parents knew something was wrong the moment the doctor’s face was leached of color.
They saw how rigid his frame had turned and noted that he’d stopped talking to them completely.
“What is it?” Mrs. Cicilia Hutch, Emilia’s mom, asked. Tears already dripped down her cheeks. “Is she alright, doctor?” But even Oliver couldn’t speak.
It’s Not Looking Good
“Please, doctor,” Mrs. Hutch continued. “It’s still too early to say,” Oliver finally answered.
Even he wished he had different, less saddening news. He’d never enjoyed telling people that their lives were in danger.
“I still have a few different tests to run, Mrs. Hutch,” he said. ‘But it’s not looking good,’ he said internally. The woman broke, “I can tell it’s bad. Look at you. You can’t even look me in the eye!”
A Few More Tests
Emilia’s dad had to cut in. He apologized for his wife’s behavior, even though he, too, was in tears. But Oliver assured him it was okay.
“As I said, I still have to run a few more tests to ascertain what’s happening before we make a clear-cut verdict,” he said.
The next week saw him run several tests on Emilia. After CAT and MRI scans and a thorough upper endoscopy with biopsy, Dr. Oliver finally understood what was happening to Emilia.
The Results
“Acute gastric MALT lymphoma or stomach cancer,” Oliver shared solemnly. A few days had passed since he and his team started the tests, and he was heartbroken to have to share the results with the Hutchs.
“The cancer stemmed from a chronic infection of the mucosal layer of her stomach with H. pylori.”
He explained that for Emilia to develop stomach cancer, she had the infection for a while. It ate away at her stomach lining, leading to inflammations that resulted in severe changes in her stomach linings, thus the cancer. Her parents were beyond devastated.
Getting To Know Her
Oliver started Emilia’s treatment right away. Since her cancer had already graduated to a dangerous state, he and his team had little time to try and curb it.
It was during this time that he got to know Emilia.
At first, the girl was quiet. She rarely spoke whenever Oliver was in the room. She’d greet him, then take her medicine and sleep. But one day, all this changed.
The Remedy
Emilia had been in the hospital for two months when it happened. Oliver had put her on chemotherapy, eager to stop the growth of the cancer cells. He was in with Emilia’s injections since stomach cancer necessitated him to administer the medicine straight into her veins.
Before, he and his team had considered surgery, which is usually the best bet against stomach cancer. But Emilia’s condition had progressed too much.
She was also weak, and they weren’t sure she’d survive the surgery. The doctor should have known that this would end in tears.
A Question
Usually, Oliver came in, administered his tests or remedies, and left. He’d noted that Emilia wasn’t much of a talker. But that day, she smiled at him when he entered the room.
“I have a question for you,” she said meekly, her smile still holding fast.
By now, the side effects of the drugs in her system had taken root, and she looked like a former husk of herself. Still, there was life in her bright eyes. “Yes?” Oliver answered.
Do You Think He Was Wrong
“Tai Lung,” she said. “Do you think he was wrong?” “What?” Oliver asked with furrowed brows.
“Tai Lung, the tiger from the first Kung Fu Panda movie,” the girl said brightly. “Do you think he was wrong?”
“Wrong, how?” the doctor asked, setting the medicine aside. “Well, his master promised him he was the chosen one. He built him up and did nothing when Oogway tore him down. Do you think he was wrong to be a bad person?”
An Odd Question
Oliver was taken aback by the question. He’d never watched the movie the girl was talking about. But telling her that made the situation worse. “We’re watching it when you are free!” she declared, her hands folded over her chest.
Oliver had never been one to get too close to patients. But Emilia’s personality had resonated with him. First, he’d never met someone with such fire, especially in the face of such heartbreaking adversity.
Second, after watching the movie, he became astounded by Emilia’s take. He was even more surprised when she applied the character’s situation to herself, asking why the world had promised her life just to snuff it away. “But I’m not angry about it,” she said. “I got to experience it, though briefly. I’m thankful.”
An Unlikely Friendship
Oliver and Emilia struck an unlikely friendship, and as the months counted, they would spend time watching movies, playing games, and discussing Emilia’s interests.
For a four-year-old, she displayed critical thinking way beyond her age and would always leave Oliver stumped with the way her mind worked.
But although her friendship with Oliver blossomed, her health continued declining. The cancer wasn’t responding to the drugs Oliver and his team were administering. Slowly and gradually, the light in her eyes started fading.
Heartbreaking News
It was eleven months after Emilia’s diagnosis that Oliver shared the terrible news with her parents. The treatment had taken a toll on the little girl’s body.
But worse than that, the cancer had grown, graduating to its worst state. “She only has a few weeks left,” Oliver said.
The family cried that night, and Oliver joined them. But he was surprised to see Emilia nod understandingly when her mom told her what was happening. But that wasn’t the most heartbreaking part.
It’s Okay
Emilia smiled and wiped her mom’s tears. “It’s fine,” she said. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be an angel now and get big white wings.
I’ll watch over and protect all of you, and I can meet Grandpa George and Grandpa Lenny!”
Watching her talk made Oliver realize he needed to do anything to save her life. But hadn’t his team worked tirelessly to reverse Emilia’s condition? Could they have missed something?
Too Late
The team had exhausted everything. Throughout the next week, Oliver spent sleepless nights looking for ways to save Emilia.
He talked to colleagues back in Houston, even reaching out to experts all over the world, from Europe to Asia and Africa. But the verdict was the same. It was too late.
One night, while he was busy researching, he got a call from Emilia’s mom. She told him about Emilia’s last wish. “Emilia confided in me about how much she loves you,” she said. “She desires to marry you someday.”
The Wedding
That’s when Emilia’s mother asked Oliver for a considerable favor. Would he be willing to marry her daughter in a mock wedding? Oliver agreed.
The wedding, though fake, went as expected. Emilia was beyond excited throughout the experience.
She’d written the vows and chosen a beautiful sunflower dress. She’d even chosen a cake flavor for the event. But right after the mock wedding, the worst happened.
Desperation
Emilia’s condition worsened, and Oliver had to put her on life support. Her laughter and constant bright eyes were now a thing of the past.
But Oliver was working overtime, looking for a way to help the girl. Driven to desperation, he decided to try out the one thing he and his team had ruled out.
“Surgery,” he suggested. His subordinate was warning him against this, saying it would end badly. But Oliver had no other choice. He discussed it with Emilia’s parents, even footing a massive chunk of the bill. Would they accept?
Surgery
Emilia’s dad, an officer of the law, pulled him to the side to talk. Although grateful for everything, he shared that Oliver’s mistake since this ordeal began was trying to take shortcuts. “We bobbed and weaved, and here we are, at the start. Surgery.”
For most cancers, surgery is often used to take out the tumor and a margin or edge of the healthy tissue around it. Since Emilia’s tumor had grown exponentially, Oliver wondered if it would be possible.
“We have nothing else to lose,” Emilia’s dad said. “A chance, though small… a saving hand… With your help, doctor, we can do it.”
Fighting
Oliver commenced the surgery as soon as possible. Throughout the procedure, Emilia’s pulse was low, and her breath was almost nonexistent. But each would spike occasionally, telling the good doctor that she was also fighting from the other side.
After hours in the theater, the doctor and his surgeons finished the procedure. Now, all they had to do was wait and see. Before, Oliver and his team had been sure that Emilia would not survive the procedure. She was too weak. But she’d proved them wrong, and they couldn’t be happier.
The doctors watched her for days, still on life support. They were speechless when her vitals started improving, with the cancer all but gone! The little angel was warring her way out of the Reaper’s grasp! Three weeks later, she opened her eyes, stared around, and drowsily asked her mom, “Did I just get married?”