The weather was good as Dad and I was hiking through the woods. I loved exploring places where few people have been. The smells were unique and fresh. Nature was beautiful. When we did see animals, it was as if we were a guest in their playground. The woods was an escape from the concrete rush of civilization. It reminded me of how beautiful the world was and how mankind destroyed this beauty. The woods were a place where animals and plants could live and have freedom from man. It was peaceful. For me, the woods were like a taste of heaven on Earth.
I always hiked with Dad. We were more than Dad and son, we were best friends. Sure, Dad could be strict and sometimes my behaviour could test his patience and anger, but I always knew that Mom and I were the most important thing in his life. I have noticed other children at school that did not have a good relationship with their dads. This confused me as to why would anyone have a son if they would not have the time or love for him. I knew that I was a lucky son!
I was 12 years old when all this happened. As you can see, I had a good life. The only problem was that I wished at times that I had a brother or sister. Mom explained to me that it was very hard for her to have children. When Dad and Mom got married, doctors told them that Mom could not have children. Mom told me that they never expected to get me. When I was born, I was the most wanted son in the world. Mom told me that I was very special and unique. I was a miracle and a gift that would be loved and cherished. It was a nice feeling that I was unexpected, and my birth was the best day in my parents' lives.
As you can see, I was a happy child that lived in a good home. I did well at school and had some good friends. I was teased a bit because I was very small for my age. The one thing that annoyed me was that I was on the verge of teenagehood and still was waiting for puberty. People found it hard to believe that I was 12 years old, as everyone thought that I looked like a small boy. I was an optimist though. Children always have some problems and I knew with time, I would grow and experience puberty.
So now you know a bit about me, the question is where do I begin this story?
My best friend was a girl from class. Her name was Catherine. She was fun to be with and always made me happy. We did everything together. Sometimes, she even was with Dad and me when we hiked. My friendship with a girl caused some confusion. At school, everyone assumed that we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Even Mom and Dad would ask if I was romantically interested in Catherine. It seemed as if no one could accept that a boy and girl could be friends and just have normal fun. To be honest, I did not fancy Catherine. It's not as if I wanted to be a Romeo and hold her hands and all that smoochy stuff. I was not ready for any romantic relationship. When I thought about Catherine, she was like a twin sister that was fun to be with. We could talk with each other and share our deepest thoughts and secrets. Catherine understood me and I understood her.
One day, she was visiting and we helped mom in the kitchen. Mom loved cooking and it was an activity that we often did together. I had a mom that was the best cook in the world. This was despite that she was obsessed with eating healthy. It was fun learning how to cook. It was amazing that a pinch of this and a pinch of that could change the way a meal tasted. It could bring food to a whole new level.
As I said, Catherine was visiting and we helped Mom cook dinner. Catherine and I joked and talked about school as Mom told us where she needed help. This must have been hard, as Catherine and I were in a giddy mood. Catherine started to blow some flour on my face. Of course, I responded and did the same back to her. This made mom laugh and tell us that we both looked like ghosts. I do not know how we managed to finish the meal, as we were fooling around so much. Despite this, the meal was done, and it looked like anything you would get in a fancy restaurant. Gordon Ramsey would be jealous if he saw it.
The problem was when we sat down to eat. I looked at the food and suddenly felt unwell. This was so strange as I was lucky enough never to get sick in my life. I never even had a cold. Now I suddenly felt as if I was hit by a train. When I looked down at the food, I felt as if my stomach was twisting around me. I started to feel weak and as if I would fall to the floor. I asked Mom and Dad if I could go to my room and rest. Both my parents looked shocked when I said this. I could understand this, they never heard me complain before. Catherine was also shocked. She offered to help clean after the meal and told me she wanted me to go and rest. I felt bad that I had to leave my friend the way I have done.
I was in bed for the next few days. My head was in so much pain as well as my back. On top of that. I felt so dizzy and at times it was as if my room was spinning and I was at times on a rollercoaster. At times, It was hard for me to breathe. As I never tried being sick before, this was all so new for me and very scary. It did not bother me so much that I could not go to school. It bothered me that I could not do anything, I just was in bed and trying to adjust to the agony my body had felt. Mom and Dad have done their best to make me as comfortable as could be. I also tried to be brave and not complain too much. I consoled myself that I would get better.
This did happen. I did not fully recover, but I was well enough not to be stuck in bed all the time. I spent my day on the sofa, which mom made as comfortable as possible. There were lots of pillows and blankets. This made Dad tease a bit and say that I was being spoiled like a prince. I tried to smile at Dad. I appreciated that my parents wanted to make me as comfortable as possible. They tried giving me aspirins for the pains in my head and my back, but it did not help. I did not want them to worry, so I did my best not to show how much pain I was in. I even sent Catherine some text messages telling her that I was beginning to feel better.
I think that everyone knew that something was seriously wrong with me when I told Dad that I could not hike with him in the woods. Dad told me it was a time for a serious talk. He wanted to know my symptoms. I explained the pains in my head and my back, as well as how I felt dizzy at times and could not breathe. Dad told me that we should go and see the doctor, as he could tell us what was happening. I had to agree. I have been feeling like a trainwreck for days. It was not as bad as it was. But I had enough pains and dizzy spells to tell me that something was wrong.
Mom was also worried, but she did not think I should go to the doctor. This confused me. How could she want me to suffer and not get rid of the pains? Mom would put on a brave smile and say that it was most likely just growing pains. She tried to cheer me up by telling me that this would be a sign that I would finally become a man. The pains that I had would quickly go. Dad tried to protest, but Mom was probably right, as it did make sense that I now was old enough to have puberty pains.
Another week went and things did not change. I was looking forward to puberty for a long time. I knew boys at school boasted that they already started puberty, but none of them ever talked about pains and dizziness. I did not think that this was puberty. I was worried that it was something like cancer or something. I have seen on TV where children could be so sick and die. This was so sad, It was also a scary thought that this could happen to me. I did not know if I could be brave enough if I found out I was dying.
Dad decided that I should go and see the doctor. I never did like doctors. They poked too much and they had needles. Dad told me the only way I would know what was wrong with me was by seeing a doctor. So we went to the doctor and he examined me fully. He smiled in the beginning, but I could see that he was even worried that he could not make a diagnosis. He took some blood tests and said that the results would answer what was wrong with me. Until then, I would get some pain tablets so I was not in so much agony.
The pain tablets did work. I was no longer in any pain. At times I did feel dizzy and tired as well as it was hard to breathe. I was quite happy that the pains were gone. I could once again go to school. It was great seeing my friends and especially Catherine. I told her how hard it was being sick, but I felt much better now. Catherine joked and said that I came back to school just in time for exams. This made us laugh which was great to be able to do once again!
I did not play during recess at school. I did not have the energy to be very active. This made me think that something was wrong. At the same time, I tried to look at things in a positive way that I could do more than I could some weeks ago.
Catherine told me that she considered me more than a best friend. She felt as if I was the brother she never had. This made me smile as I told her that I considered her a sister I never had. Then Catherine suggested that we made a pact, that we would adopt each other as brother and sister. She had already spoken with her mother and she thought it was a great idea. So when Catherine and I asked my mom, she smiled and said that it was unusual, but she agreed that it was a good idea. Mom told us that Catherine and I were soulmates, and this was something very special!
I was well enough to hike with Dad once again. It started well as we hiked through the woods. However, I soon became tired as we sat down and just talked. I noticed some smells that I never smelled and sounds that I never experienced before. I asked Dad if he experience the same. He did not which confused me. Maybe it was because he was so old. The new sounds and smells were like a new world for me and made being in the woods more exciting.
When we came home, Dad was speaking with the doctor on the telephone. After he spoke on the telephone, he told my mom that the doctor was worried about the blood tests. The tests confused the doctor, and he suggested that I would be examined by a specialist.
What did the doctor mean when he said the blood tests were strange and not normal?
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