Hunter Green was an average fifteen year old boy, who came from mixed descent. Hunter’s mother Rachelle was Jamaican, Puerto Rican, and Italian. Hunter’s father, Max was African American and Hispanic. Hunter was an attractive, ethnic looking young man. Hunter was an athlete; he partook in such sports as soccer, lacrosse, cross country, and crew, all while maintaining a 4.2 grade point average and being class president. The boy had it all going for him, or so it seemed.
One Tuesday night after soccer practice Hunter was hanging out with his girlfriend Anna, kicking the soccer ball around and taking shots on each other. Hunter abruptly heard his cell phone vibrate in his soccer bag. He saw that the call was from his mother, Rachelle, he automatically answered.
“Hey Mom, what’s up?”
“Hunter, hunny I need you to come home now. Raven’s sick and dad has to take Chris to football.”
“Aw, is she okay?”
“Yeah, I think so, it’s probably just a cold.”
Hunter gathered his belongings, said goodbye to Anna and began to walk home from school. The Green family lived in the small town Cumberland, Ohio. The population was under four hundred. Everyone knew everyone, and Hunter hated that. Cumberland was as flat as a parking lot; you could see for miles and miles. The walk from school to home took a total of five minutes max. Hunter arrived at home, unlocked the door, threw his bags on the ground, and was excitedly greeted by the family golden retriever Sunny.
“Hey, Sunny! How ya doing buddy?” Hunter happily asked.
“Hunter! Is that you?”
“Yeah, Raven. Where you at?”
“Living room.”
Hunter made his way into the living room where his eight year old sister, Raven was sprawled out on the couch, tissues in hand, remote control in the other watching SpongeBob Square Pants on Nickelodeon.
“How are you feeling? What’s wrong?”
“I feel awful, Mom says it’s just a cold. My nose is running, my throat’s burning and I’m running a fever.”
“I feel awful, Mom says it’s just a cold. My nose is running, my throat’s burning and I’m running a fever.”
“Aw, poor thing. Can I get you anything?”
“A glass of orange juice and my snuggie would be great, thanks.”
Hunter went off into the kitchen to pour his sister some OJ and then walked into her bedroom to search for Raven's snuggie. The robe/blanket was located under a pile of clothes on his slob of a sister’s floor. The sweet older brother walked back into the living room to deliver his ill sister her juice and blanket.
Hunter went off into the kitchen to pour his sister some OJ and then walked into her bedroom to search for Raven's snuggie. The robe/blanket was located under a pile of clothes on his slob of a sister’s floor. The sweet older brother walked back into the living room to deliver his ill sister her juice and blanket.
“Thanks Hunter, you’re the best!”
Raven said as she slurped the orange juice.
Raven said as she slurped the orange juice.
“Yeah, I know. Anything else I can do?”
Hunter looked around the room and discovered the big pile of soiled tissues Raven had been using. A disgusted look came across his face.
Hunter looked around the room and discovered the big pile of soiled tissues Raven had been using. A disgusted look came across his face.
“Raven, seriously? That’s gross. Why would you not get a garbage can for these?”
Raven shrugged her shoulders and continued her attention back to SpongeBob.
“Ugh. Whatever.”
Hunter muttered and began cleaning up the used Kleenex and deposited them into the hall trash can. Hunter rubbed his face without thinking and went to his room and began his geometry homework but passed out of exhaustion within minutes. A few hours later Hunter woke to his mother, Rachelle calling him to dinner. He switched into sweats and a hoodie and headed downstairs to eat. Hunter’s night was nothing out of the ordinary; he ate dinner, completed dish duty, finished up his homework, took a shower, watched Jersey Shore and hit the sheets. The next morning Hunter awoke to the sound of his alarm. He went for a three mile jog, showered, got dressed, and ate breakfast. His mother informed him that Raven, would be staying home again as a result of her illness. Hunter shrugged it off and walked to school. The day was going to be amazing, Hunter was sure of it. It was his and Anna’s one and a half year anniversary, and the soccer playoffs. If the Bulls won the game today, they would be heading to championships for the first time in well over a decade. Hunter was pumped! It all started in fourth period, Woodshop. Hunter began to feel ill. His head felt abnormally hot, his nose began to run and his throat felt as if he had consumed fire. Louis, Hunter’s best friend of twelve years, elbowed him.
Hunter muttered and began cleaning up the used Kleenex and deposited them into the hall trash can. Hunter rubbed his face without thinking and went to his room and began his geometry homework but passed out of exhaustion within minutes. A few hours later Hunter woke to his mother, Rachelle calling him to dinner. He switched into sweats and a hoodie and headed downstairs to eat. Hunter’s night was nothing out of the ordinary; he ate dinner, completed dish duty, finished up his homework, took a shower, watched Jersey Shore and hit the sheets. The next morning Hunter awoke to the sound of his alarm. He went for a three mile jog, showered, got dressed, and ate breakfast. His mother informed him that Raven, would be staying home again as a result of her illness. Hunter shrugged it off and walked to school. The day was going to be amazing, Hunter was sure of it. It was his and Anna’s one and a half year anniversary, and the soccer playoffs. If the Bulls won the game today, they would be heading to championships for the first time in well over a decade. Hunter was pumped! It all started in fourth period, Woodshop. Hunter began to feel ill. His head felt abnormally hot, his nose began to run and his throat felt as if he had consumed fire. Louis, Hunter’s best friend of twelve years, elbowed him.
“You alright, bro?”
“I don’t know. All of a sudden I feel sick.”
“Tell Mr. G that you aren’t feeling okay and go see the nurse.”
Hunter went up to the Woodshop teacher Mr. G, who also doubled as the soccer coach and asked for a pass to the nurse.
“What’s wrong bud? You alright?”
“Coach, I feel sick. It came on suddenly.”
“Go see Ms. Traci. I hope you feel better though, we got a big game tonight.”
Hunter went to Ms. Traci’s office, where he had his temperature taken. It was 101 degrees, way above normal. Ms. Traci gave Hunter some cough drops for his throat and a box of tissues.
“Hunter, I think you should go home. You’re sick.”
“Ms. Traci I can’t go home, today’s the playoff game!”
“I understand, but from a medical point of view I honestly do not think it is safe for you to stay in school around many kids, let alone play in a physically draining game in cold temperatures. I’m calling your mother.”
Fifteen minutes later Rachelle showed up to take Hunter home.
“Two sick kids? Jeez, can I ever catch a break?” Rachelle mumbled.
Hunter and Raven stayed home together, consuming large amounts of OJ and going through box after box of tissues. The children stayed home together for the rest of the week. The symptoms however worsened dramatically. The Green kids both had difficulty breathing and swallowing. They had lost their appetites completely and were experiencing double vision along with slurred speech. Raven and Hunter looked terrible. Rachelle finally decided to take her children to the hospital.
“Hunter, how are you feeling?”
“I feel terrible mom.” Hunter replied hoarsely.
“How about you Raven?”
“I’m so sick of being sick, Mommy.” Raven cried.
“Dr. Springer will see the Green family now.” The angry receptionist screamed.
The Green family was walked into the doctor’s office.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Springer, nice to meet you. What seems to be the problem?”
“Nice to meet you Dr. Springer, both of my children are ill.”
“Hmm, that’s quite interesting. What are the symptoms they have been experiencing ?”
“Well Raven’s been complaining about her sore throat, trouble breathing, and deep cough. Hunter has told me that he’s been suffering from double vision, a sore throat, and a loss of appetite.”
“That’s all very intriguing. I believe that I have an idea of what the disease is but let’s run a few tests first.”
“Uhhh, what kind of tests?” Hunter asked nervously.
“It is called the Schnick test. It allows us to find out if you have been immunized against Diphtheria.”
“Alright, let’s get this over and done with.” Rachelle sighed.
Both Green children were given the Schnick test. It involves placing a small amount of Diphtheria under the forearm skin, if the individual develops a reaction of redness/swelling, they do not have the antitoxin or vaccine against the disease, although if no reaction occurs the person has previously been given the antitoxin and is not at risk for acquiring Diphtheria. The children both developed the redness/ swelling, they needed to be treated for diphtheria.First, Hunter and Raven were isolated in the hospital. They were both given the Diphtheria vaccine and antibiotics to stop the disease, thankfully both were in the early stages of Diphtheria so they could still be cured. Then the rest of the Green family (Chris, Rachelle, and Max) were given vaccines and antibiotics as well to prevent acquiring Diphtheria. The health department was notified about the cases of Diphtheria. Raven and Hunter were both on bed rest for about a month. The siblings returned back to school about a month and a half later. Hunter was back on the soccer field for the indoor season. Life was once again good for the Green family.
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