Welcome to Kyle's Smile!

...Let's get x-rays,

An MRI, a bone scan

Doesn't look like cancer

But we'll check his blood

LEUKEMIA

A voice on the phone says

Stretched, fast/slow, high/deep, it's an evil voice

I can't find the voice in my head

I'm screaming to my father, you can't have him yet!

There's a rush, in my brain, in my veins, to the hospital

Prep for an IV

A second attempt, then a fifth

His veins are too weak

So many voices now, such scuffling in my head

They have made miraculous progress with it these days you know

This is not a death sentence

But isn’t a sentence about death a death sentence? My mind is sad, silly, surreal

I can't shut it off

Blood tests, needle sticks, port implantation surgery

Liquid remedies in his mouth

Liquid poison in his veins

Little eyes plead with mine, Mom, please don't let them hurt me

He needs blood, he needs platelets

These transfusions are safe, mostly, we hope

Don't worry

But watch his kidneys

The chemo, the cure, can kill

Ultrasound, spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration

The are driving nails into my son

Oh God, Oh God!

Redundancy in my brain, my prayers, my pleading

Oral medication, tastes like bitter metal

Liquid poison floods his veins

Inje