doing time

"What're you in for?"
This sounds like it could be a line in a movie set in a prison or jail cell.
In reality, it goes through my mind every time I see a new face at this House.
Everyone here is here for at least 4 days, many for much longer.
We expect to be here until February.

Without asking that specific question, I receive many replies.
Some families are here for a couple days of testing to find out exactly what is going on with their child's body.
Some are here for transplants. Their stay is usually a few months.
Some are here for cancer.
Some are here for the psychological damage that bullying has done.
Some are here for their "yearly maintenance." (annual testing and treatments)
Some are here for surgeries to fix imperfections.

To many (or most), it does feel like a prison of sorts.
There is no other place for us to be, but we didn't do anything to HAVE to be here.
It just happens.

Although, in many cases, instead of fervently wishing for an early parole (which we do, at times), we plan/hope to stay for the full course of treatment.
Often, it's the ones who get an "early parole" who don't have such a good prognosis, and home is where they will be most comfortable.

It is so much like a different kind of family, those who live here.
Everyone REJOICES when a family who has been here a long time gets to go home.
We understand that there is life after treatments.
That having more than one room for a family to live in should not be taken for granted.
That being able to eat dinner on matching dishes and normal silverware is a luxury.
That being together as a family is heavenly.

So, for now, even though it seems like a VERY long time for our family to live separately, we are content to be here until our as-yet-undetermined release date sometime early next year.