AUGUST 5, 1861

Lilly hadn’t been feeling ‘right’.  She knew something was wrong, but she didn’t know what, so on her lunch break she went to see Serena. 

After examining Lily, Serena told her to get dressed and she would talk to her in a minute. Serena went to get Daniel and explain to him what she had found. She also told him of the only treatment that she knew of. 

“Is there any other way? Any other treatment?” Daniel inquired.

“Not that I know of, and it would take too long for me to write to one of my friends back in Boston. It might be too late by the time I got the response back. And then there is no guarantee that they have found another way. I’ll go get Javier. They should both make the decision. You tell Lilly in the exam room, and I’ll tell Javier here in my office. Then we’ll let Javier in the exam room to talk it over with his wife.”

Daniel brought Javier from the store and led him into his office, so that they could talk privately.

Serena was in the exam room already talking to Lilly. “Lilly, I’m afraid that I have some bad news. You have what they call Cancer of the Cervix.  The only way that Daniel and I know to stop the cancer from spreading is to do a total hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is surgery to remove a woman's uterus. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix must also be removed. This will mean that you will not be able to have any children. But if this is not done very soon, you may die. Daniel is in his office talking to Javier right now. He’s explaining everything to him.” After a pause, Serena continued, “I must tell you that Daniel has a friend in Boston that may know another way, but by the time we get the response back, it may be too late. The cancer may have already taken your life, or it may be progressed so far that even surgery wouldn’t help. I’m going to let you and Javier talk about it. Daniel and I both feel that this is something you both must agree upon.”

Back in Daniel’s office, Javier was sitting in a comfortable chair, but he was far from being comfortable. He was afraid that he was going to lose the love of his life—his wife. “Can I go talk to her?”

“Sure, right this way.” Daniel led him to the examining room.

Once inside and alone, Javier said, “Your life is the most important thing right now.”

“But we won’t be able to have children, and I wanted a big family.”

“We won’t be able to have children without the surgery anyway. Besides, this cancer will kill you. I love you, and I don’t want to loose you. I can live without children if I could have you. Besides, we can adopt as many children as you want. We will go to an orphanage when you get all-better and adopt as many children as you want. These are children that don’t have any parents and we can be their parents. Lilly, I just want you alive and healthy, whatever it takes. I will always love you no matter what.”

Lilly could tell by the look and love in his eyes that he meant it. She was touched and knew that she had made the right choice by marrying Javier. “If you really think it’s the right thing to do, then I’ll have the surgery.” She said with great sadness. She was beginning to mourn for the children she would never carry or give birth to.

Javier and Lilly told Daniel and Serena their decision. The two doctors then prepped Lilly for the operation and proceeded to take the cancer filled womb out of Lilly. 

Javier went over and told Charity and Caly about Lilly needing immediate surgery and that Daniel and Serena said it would be a six-week recovery time. Charity and Caly were saddened and worried about their friend and co-worker but promised to cover for her at the restaurant. He then went over and told his father what was going on, and Simon promised the young man that he could take care of the store and for him to go take care of his wife for the next six weeks.

After Javier and Lilly got home, Simon, Charity, and Caly brought over some supper and Caly and Charity organized a system where someone would bring over some supper for them everyday for the next six weeks, everyone in town would help. Everyone would take their turn.  Charlie and Grace were still on their honeymoon, but Charity and Caly felt sure that they would want to take their turn at helping out the young couple.