Chapter 25:
Solitary Survivor
A/N: Here it is, the last chapter of our emotional roller coaster. Thanks to all my readers, and all those who have put so much time and tears into this story. Look for the upcoming sequel, Child Survivor, Hero, Friend. Also, thanks to my real life Matthew, without whom none of my stories would be so heartfelt and my life would be so much less musical, colorful, and all around beautiful. You are my inspiration, and I thank God everyday for allowing me to be a part of your life.
Two Years Later
Matt Potter: 8 years old
"Well, Matt. Everything looks good as usual. We won't need to see you again, but your regular doctor will need to give you a check-up annually."
Matt jumped down off of the hospital bed, so much taller than he was years earlier that the jump wasn't half as big as it used to be. He gave Dr. Powers a big smile and shook his hand heartily.
"Thanks, doctor. I'm glad to hear it."
Dr. Powers shook his hand, eyes soft with emotion at how much the little three-year-old wizard he had first met had grown. "I'm glad, too. You're a little success story, and I've loved to be a part of it."
A silence fell at what was to be a long goodbye. Matt turned to Hermione and two-year-old Jeremiah who were both sitting in a chair in the corner. "I guess it's time to go, Mom. Thanks for everything, Dr. Powers."
"Thank you, Matt. I guess this is goodbye."
"For a month. I'm running the survivor lap at Relay for Life. You are going, right?"
He gave an elfish chuckle. "Of course."
Jeremiah slipped out of Hermione's lap and toddled over to Matt, arms extended upward. Matt knelt down and picked up his brother. Hermione stood up and shook Dr. Powers' hand.
"Thanks, Dr. Powers. See you in a month."
"Take care, you guys." Hermione patted Matt on the back and pulled her car keys out of her purse.
"Come on, boys. We've got to go home so we can finish arithmetic!" Since Matt had missed his first year or two of school, Hermione was home-schooling him until it was time for Hogwarts. "We also need to get something for supper tonight." Jeremiah looked at her in excitement.
"Do we gets mac n cheese?" Hermione laughed and touched his face gently.
"Maybe, love. Here, come to me so brother doesn't have to carry you all the way to the car." Jeremiah was transferred to her, and the three loaded onto the elevator.
As the elevator went on its downward descent, Matt grew unusually quiet. He could see his reflection in the elevator's shiny doors, and for some reason, it did something strange to his emotions. The reflection was nothing special, just a mirror of his black hair, green eyes, and sun-kissed face, but it struck in him the miracle of life.
He was nothing special, just an eight year old boy. He was no better than any other person, no different from those who hadn't beat the cancer that had once ravaged his body. And yet, he survived, and the others didn't. It was such a simple thing to state, and an impossible thing to comprehend. He had lost so much, gone through more than any of his peers would ever understand. In the course of only three years, he had lost one who had seen him as an equal, one who loved him, one who was a friend for the short time he was alive, and one who was a best friend, hero, and big brother all in one. All of those who were dead had taught him valuable things that he knew would be kept close to his heart for all his life. From, Jerrod, he had learned that your life is what you make it, and that if you looked at life negatively, life would be negative. From Missy Lyn, he learned of love and innocence, from Keith he learned friendship and courage. And from Jeremiah, well, Jeremiah had taught him the most. Overall, it was really overwhelming, and still Matt stood strong. He had survived for a reason, but he really didn't know what it was. All he could do was trust that God would bring him through the road ahead.
The elevator doors opened and the bright light of the lobby hit Matt's eyes. He blinked to clear them and stepped out of the elevator. It was the last time he would ever step off of that elevator, the elevator he had ridden for five years. He touched the button console softly and stepped off, careful to not let his mother read his thoughts. He waved good-bye to the same receptionist and stepped through the hospital doors and into his future.
One Month Later…
Matt walked around the track solemnly, as he had for the past two years. He was so thankful that he was alive to be a part of the Relay for Life Survivor lap, and he couldn't help but feel proud at the cheers of his family, but it always humbled him to realize how miraculous his existence was.
He was the only cancer child from that certain time period of the hospital to ever walk out of the hospital, cancer-free. He had gone against all odds of his demise and survived. True, Matthew Potter was no one particularly special, but everything about him was a miracle. He had first entered the hospital, a sickly child. He had fought the disease of death that pulsed with the life within his wrist. And even though the odds were against him, he had beaten the cancer, a solitary survivor. The future was unclear, but Matt's future was brighter than anything he could have ever imagined before cancer. God had brought him through it for a reason, and he would never take a moment of the life he had so graciously been given for granted.
As he walked, Jeremiah's words from the first Relay for Life played in his head.
Whenever you are able to walk that first lap, I'll be right there with you the whole time, every step of the way.
Matt smiled, realizing that Jeremiah had kept his word. He was there now, every step of the way, and he knew that no matter where the paths of life may take him, the things that he had learned in the hardest time of his life would give him guidance and wisdom, and his life would never be the same.
The chapter of his life with cancer had come to a close, and a whole book was before him, the pages blank so he could write the remainder of his story.
Fin
A/N: It is finished at last. To all those who have been asking, here is the story of the real life Matthew.
The real Matthew was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2. I did not know him at this time; this story is based off a central story and created solely from my imagination. All that I know for certain about the real Matt's bout with leukemia is this: He was so little when he got it, that his parents didn't think he would make it. He underwent treatments at a hospital similar to the one in this story with about ten other kids. The other patients died off one by one, and Matthew kept getting sicker and weaker. His parents really thought that he would die; his little brother was born as a result. There was no Jeremiah, no Missy Lyn, but I like to think that some of the people that were at the hospital with him were like these. Somehow, though, he began to fight, and, through God's grace and mercy, Matthew survived and went into remission at age 5. He, too, was a solitary survivor. He fought the battle to gain his life, and I live in constant thankfulness of his miraculous existence. He is currently 15, almost 16, and living his life to the absolute fullness.
This story was originally written for Matthew's parents. They are the strongest, nicest, most God-fearing people I have ever met in my life, and I love them like my own parents. His father was the one who originally told me of his leukemia. I heard him say that Matthew's leukemia was the hardest thing he had ever had to go through, thus the title of this story. After seeing Matthew's experiences in the hospital, his mother became a registered nurse in an attempt to help others who were living with an illness. Matthew's brother doesn't remember anything about his brother's illness, but once he was told the story, he appreciated his brother more, and the two are absolute best friends, despite their five-year age difference.
Matthew's whole family has been completely changed by Matthew's incredible life, bringing them closer together as a family and closer to God.
Matthew likes to help leukemia fighters, and he still walks the first lap at the Relay for Life every year, ten years after his remission.
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