They’d never made a rule against leukemia
 |
| Image: All Rights Reserved |
| New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers |
| 2004 |
Leukemia? Marc didn’t know much about medicine, but that was a name he’d heard. It meant something awful, didn’t it? He sucked in a painful breath and made his presence known.
“Leukemia? Mallory has leukemia?”
His father turned toward him, his face etched with lines that hadn’t been there minutes earlier. “It’s not certain yet. They have to repeat some of the tests.”
“But they think she does? That’s… People die from leukemia, don’t they?” Marc asked, feeling numb, in shock. Mallory was only six. She couldn’t die.
His mother, incapable of answering, collapsed in her husband’s arms. He was clearly as stricken as she was. Marc had never seen either of them in the shape they were in at this moment. They’d always taken care of everything, protected their kids from any sort of peril. His entire world was rocked around him.
He’s actually considered his parents overprotective, insisting on crash helmets and shin guards and keeping them informed where he was all the time; warning him against trying drugs or getting into a car with anyone without their permission; setting curfews and requiring that they be met; knowing who his companions were and knowing their parents.
But they’d never made a rule against leukemia. What could anyone do against a hazard like that?
The Solie family had always been strong and united and happy. They lived in a decent house and drove nice cars and went to church and celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter with great joy and enthusiasm. Marc and Mallory usually got pretty much what they asked for their birthdays, within reason. They’d hardly ever been deprived of anything they needed or truly wanted.
Marc felt his universe crumbling, his foundations unable to hold him. It couldn’t be true; nobody in their family could be dying. Yet he felt as if he were, the strength leaking out of his legs so that he was going to fall down.
Extract from the book Blood on His Hands
by Willo Davis Roberts
All Rights Reserved.
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2004
Call Number: Y ROB
Extract contributed by Phua Ree Kee
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It takes a true crisis to strengthen a person. Do you agree?
June 16th, 2010 at 10:24 am
If the person is able to withstand the crisis & overcome it, he/she will definitely become stronger… However, it may have backfire at times.
July 1st, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I agree that it takes a true crisis to strengthen a person. When a person encounters a crisis, they will learn to be strong and overcome it. Next time when they encounter a more serious problem, they will learn not to take it so hard and try to accept it.
If a person does not encounter any crisis at all, he/she will not be able to focus on the bright side when they encounter one. They may not accept it. Whenever the person is met by a crisis, he/she should have a positive attitude. It may be easier said than done but he/she still should try. The same applies to us too.
Only by coming across a crisis will it increase the person’s strength, level of acceptance and willpower.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:06 am
I agree to it as, if someone don”t go through hardship,he won”t learn to overcome problems.They won”t be able to carry on life as it may be hard for them to accept the challenges ahead of him/her.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:23 am
For Mallory to most likely have Leukemia at such at such a young age if he really knew he had a only a few months left, it will be very terrifying to have one less in a united and whole family it would be very heart breaking.But if miraciously manage to survive ,then he should learn that such serious illness like Leukemia does not mean it is the end of the world
July 13th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I think for Mallory to have Leukemia at six is horrible. If he miraculously manage to survive, he would think nothing is impossible . He would accept the challenges ahead of him but i would hate to have such over protective parents. I would not wear shin guards or helmets. But I would follow the advice to not take drugs and to putting curfews so I can wake up in the morning to wake up for school. sorry now I cannot type any longer my hands are tired and I want to rest nicoleanne says I am lazy do tou think so isagail 4 gen sayonara.
July 13th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I agree that it takes a true crisis to strengthen a person. if they don’t overcome their problems and fear, it would ruin their lives forever and will live in sorrows.
July 27th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I agree. A true crisis will force the person to meet up to life and see what there is to see, hear what there is to hear, and most importantly experience what there is to experience. As Confucius once quoted, “The difficulties you encounter will only strengthen you.” It indeed takes a true crisis to strengthen a person.