We had just moved into a new house. For the first time in my life, I had a bedroom all to myself. The yard seemed enormous, and best of all, there was a little creek winding behind our property.

What more could a kid ask for?

I couldn’t wait to explore every inch of it.

As excited as I was, I was also a little nervous.

I’d left behind my friends, my school, and the neighborhood where there were always kids to play with and something going on. Now I had to start over.

It was my first day of third grade.

A new school.

New friends.

A new neighborhood.

I nervously climbed onto the school bus that first morning. I recognized a few of the neighborhood kids, but I really didn’t know any of them yet. I slipped into an empty seat near the middle of the bus.

Other than a few curious “Who’s the new kid?” looks, the other kids were busy talking to their friends.

I just sat there looking out the window.

I kept wishing the bus ride would be over.

More than anything…

I just wanted off that bus.

When the bus doors opened, I walked into a school I’d never even visited before.

Everything was new.

New hallways.

New classrooms.

New teachers.

New faces.

I was still trying to figure out where everything was when my teacher walked over to my desk.

“Billy,” she said softly, “are you feeling okay? You look really pale.”

I remember telling her that I didn’t know. I just didn’t feel right.

She helped me out of my seat and walked me down to the nurse’s office.

The nurse took one look at me, called my mom, and asked her to come pick me up.

Mom didn’t ask many questions. She took me straight to our family doctor.

The examination didn’t take very long.

I don’t remember much about what the doctor said to me, but I do remember the look on his face. Even as a little kid, I could tell something wasn’t right.

He turned to my mom and said something no parent ever wants to hear.

“Take Billy to the hospital.”

“Now.”

I didn’t really understand what was happening, but I could see that nobody was smiling anymore.

My first day at my new school had ended before lunch.

Nobody knew it then, but I wouldn’t walk through those school doors again for almost a year.

The funny thing is…

I remember thinking maybe one good thing had come out of all this.

I wouldn’t have to ride that school bus again for a while.