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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Flowers (10/03/05)
All four corners of the poster were curling to the center. Tape, yellowed with age, was slowly peeling by centimeters. If she laid there long enough, she supposed she could watch the end of the debilitating process. She didn’t intend to. An Easter lily, surrounded by splashes of purple, dominated the heart of the picture. She wondered if they realized it was October.

“The doctor is on his way in now. It won’t be long. Are you comfortable?” the technician asked.

Peg nodded her head and resumed her study of the poster lily floating on the ceiling tiles. Several words were printed across the bottom but without her glasses she had difficulty making out the letters. If she squinted the nurse might think she was crying. She had done enough of that already.

The doctor swept through the door and took his position next to her left arm. “Do you want to watch your procedure on the ultrasound?” She glanced over her right shoulder to view the screen.

Peg wondered if he was joking. Politely, she declined with an excuse that she didn’t enjoy watching medical shows. She’d rather decipher the lily’s message. Barely making out the first two words, she suppressed a sigh. JESUS IS. She knew this was a Christian office but was still surprised. Peg had called on her God but not the Jesus that her Christian friends kept telling her she needed to meet. For thirty-seven days, she’d petitioned and bargained on her knees while waiting for her biopsies. She knew He must not have heard because the weight of her fear was as heavy as when she was first diagnosed.

“You are going to feel a slight sting and a little burn when I inject the pain medicine. I’m going to aspirate the cyst first and then we will go after the nodule.”

He was accurate with his description. Peg winced slightly from the first prick willing herself to stay calm. Three irregularities within one breast. She worried about her odds. She was familiar with some of them after watching her sister struggle with her own battle. Her odds were higher than she thought she could bear.

“I’m going to insert the hollow needle now. You’ll feel a slight pressure as we go through the breast. Let me know if you experience any pain.”

“Aaaaah!” She did. The doctor quickly inserted another needle and a warm sensation flooded her shaking feet. Peg searched the lily again and thought about their last Easter. She and her husband had stayed home from the church down the street because she hadn’t bought a new dress and didn’t want to stand out. Their meal had been a frozen pizza since their daughter was visiting a friend out of state. There was nothing reminiscent of her childhood holidays.

Peg risked squinting and identified the last word on the worn poster. HOPE.

JESUS IS HOPE. Instantly, she was flooded with more warmth than the medicine had earlier offered. Could Jesus be the answer? She wanted to believe. She needed to believe.

“Now I’m going to start suctioning the nodule. We’ll get it all.” The technician leaned over her other arm and assisted the doctor with scooping the cells into a waiting container. Over and over, they repeated the process until every piece of suspect tissue was removed. Finally, when Peg decided she could no longer remain in her fixed position, it was over.

“We are going to apply some pressure on the opening and then we’ll get you up and out of here.” The doctor was already backing out the door promising to see her again in three days for the second procedure. Peg glanced back to the ceiling and squeezed her eyes shut. HOPE. A faded Easter lily had delivered her a promise and hopefully would deliver it to the next woman who would soon take her place.

She swung her legs over the side of the table.

“How are you feeling? Are you doing alright?” The technician’s waiting arm reached for hers.

“I’m fine now. Thank you for everything,” she paused, “and thanks for the flowers.” Peg eyed the poster one more time and planted her feet on firm ground.
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This article has been read 2004 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Anita Neuman
10/11/05
Ooh, this is a chillingly realistic story. It's very well-written, with a wonderful message of hope. Great job!
Debbie Sickler
10/11/05
This was a good entry. The only suggestion I can think to offer is about the paragraph expressing her fear of her odds. It doesn't need the second sentence because it just reapeats the same idea as the last one which is phrased better. Everything else sounded great.
Jan Ackerson
10/12/05
This is beautifully done! I went through the exact same procedures not long ago, and experienced all of those emotions. Wonderfully written story.
Brandi Roberts
10/12/05
An incredible story of fear and hope. I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!
Alexandra Wilkin
10/13/05
Very, very good. I was held from start to finish. Beautifully told. God bless.
Julianne Jones
10/14/05
You've used a painful and confusing experience to show how God is always there. So realistic - I'm not sure if the tears in my eyes are from remembering the pain of the procedure or from your beautifully told story (I suspect both). Well done.
Garnet Miller 
10/15/05
Even in the most unlikely places, God can be found. When we least expect it, He shows up. That is nice to know. You seem to have more than a passing knowledge of the procedure mentioned. Nice article. Well developed:)
Val Clark
10/15/05
Loved your opening para. It really got my attention. Also liked the way you interspersed the procedure and your character's fears and misunderstanding about God really well with her gradual reading and aceptance of the message poster. Yeggy
Cassie Memmer
10/15/05
Hope in the midst of storm and firm ground to plant our feet on. Good story! I enjoyed it.
Karen Treharne
10/17/05
Great entry, Teri, and description of how God enlightens the lost to feel His hope. Have you or someone you love had a biopsy or nodule removal procedure? My sister-in-law had part of one breast removed 4 years ago, but I did not see it done. It didn't sound too comfortable, and of course, the waiting for results would be the most difficult anyway, I would think. May God bless you as you continue to write for Him. In His name, Karen
Deborah Porter 
10/17/05
Terri, congatulations on your 2nd place in the Level 1 Awards, AND your 5th place in the Editors' Choice. I was very impressed with your entry. I thought it was wonderful. It had the potential to be a sob-story, but you avoided presenting it in an overly emotive way. It was just enough to catch the reader and hold on to the end. Well done! Definitely time for you to move up to Level 2!

With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)
Amy Michelle Wiley 
10/30/07
Found this as I was browsing FW. Wonderful story! I love the realism of the old faded poster--I've seen many of those on medical ceilings.