Stars that fade

STARS THAT FADE: the unexpected storm

chapter 3: the unexpected storm

Ughhhh, it hurts," Jimie groaned in pain. "Mummy, I don't know where it hurts, my whole joint hurts, my chest hurts too... I can't breathe properly, Mummy!"

Jamie cried with a fever that started last night after the saga at the Ramsons'. Anna noticed swellings on Jamie's joints and said, "James, we need to rush her to the hospital. I can barely manage her now."

"James, get the car key!" Anna instructed. James lifted Jamie up from bed as she couldn't walk properly on her own.

"Taking her to the car, following behind him was Anna."

"Arriving Evergreen Hospital"

"Doctor! Doctor! My daughter has been in pain all night."

Jamie was rolled into the ward, and James and Anna were asked to wait outside. The sterile smell of the hospital filled the air as they sat in anxious silence, their eyes fixed on the door, waiting for any news.

The doctor walked out of the ward, his expression serious. "Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, I'd like to see you in my office, please."

James and Anna exchanged worried glances and followed the doctor to his office. They sat down, their hearts racing with anxiety.

The doctor looked at them over the rim of his glasses. "I need to ask you some questions. What are your genotypes, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson?"

James and Anna exchanged a confident glance. "I'm AA," Anna replied. "And I'm AS," James added.

The doctor nodded. "Did you know your genotypes before you got married?"

Anna nodded, "Yes, we checked before marriage. We were both aware, and we were told we were safe."

The doctor leaned forward, his expression grave. "I think it's relevant to Jamie's condition. We'll need to run some more tests, but it's possible she's showing symptoms of sickle cell disease... given your genotypes, it's unlikely, but we'll confirm."

The doctor's words hung in the air like a storm cloud.

James' eyes widened in shock, and he immediately grasped Anna's hands tight. "What?! But... but that's not possible. We're sure of our genotypes - AA and AS. How can this be?"

The doctor's expression remained serious. "I understand your confusion, but to be absolutely sure, I'd like to run the genotype tests again on both of you. Just to confirm."

Anna's voice trembled. "You think there's a mistake with the tests?"

The doctor nodded. "It's rare, but possible. Let's re-run the tests and get a clearer picture of Jamie's

James' grip on Anna's hands tightened as they both nodded in agreement. The doctor called for a nurse to take blood samples from both of them. The minutes ticked by like hours as they waited for the results.

Finally, the doctor returned, his expression unreadable. "The tests confirm it. Anna, your AS, and James, your AS too But.…..”

James and Anna exchanged a confused glance. "But... we did the test before marriage," Anna said, her voice shaking. "Both of us were safe. We were told we were safe."

James' face twisted in confusion. "How can this be? We did the test, we were both AA and AS…….”

The doctor leaned forward. "I'm afraid it looks like there was an error in the previous test results you ran before marriage . It's rare, but it happens.

Anna's eyes brilled with tears. "What about Jamie? What happens to her now?"

The doctor's expression softened. "We'll do everything we can for Jamie. Let's focus on getting her treatment started. We'll discuss the details later."

James' voice was laced with desperation. "So what's the treatment plan for Jamie? What's the next step?"

The doctor nodded. "We'll start with pain management and hydration to help manage the sickle cell crisis. We'll also run some more tests to check for any complications. In the meantime, I want you both to stay calm and focus on supporting Jamie."

Anna's tears streamed down her face as she nodded. "Okay, Doctor. We'll do whatever it takes."

James stood up, determination etched on his face. "Can we see her now?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes, you can see her now. But try to stay calm, she's asking for you both."

James and Anna rushed to Jamie's bedside, their hearts heavy with worry. Jamie's eyes were closed, her breathing labored, but she opened them slightly when she heard her parents' voices.

"Mummy... Daddy..." she whispered, her voice weak.

Anna grasped Jamie's hand, tears streaming down her face. "I'm here, baby. We're here. The doctor's taking care of you."

James leaned in, his voice cracking. "We'll get through this, sweetie. You're strong."

Jamie's eyes fluttered closed, her grip on Anna's hand tightening slightly.

The nurse stepped in, checking Jamie's vitals. "She needs rest now. You can stay with her, but let her sleep."

As Jamie drifted off to sleep, Anna and James sat beside her, holding hands, and watching their daughter's every breath. The hospital room was quiet, except for the steady beep of the machines and Jamie's gentle snores.

Anna's tears had slowed, but her eyes remained fixed on Jamie. "James, how did this happen?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We did everything right."

James' jaw clenched, his eyes welling up with tears. "I don't know, Anna. We'll figure it out. We'll get answers."

The doctor stepped in, his expression sympathetic. "I want to update you on Jamie's condition. She's stable for now, but we'll need to monitor her closely. I'll also arrange for a counselor to speak with you both."

Anna nodded numbly, her gaze never leaving Jamie's face.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, is this the first time Jamie's experienced a crisis like this?"

James and Anna exchanged a worried glance. "Yes, Doctor," Anna replied, her voice soft. "This is the first time we've seen her like this. She's never had anything like this before."

The doctor nodded, making a note on the chart. "Alright. Given that she's 15, and this is her first crisis, we'll need to monitor her closely and adjust her treatment plan accordingly."

James frowned, concern etched on his face. "Does this mean... she's going to have more crises like this?"

The doctor's expression was serious but calm. "We'll discuss that once we get more test results. For now, let's focus on managing her symptoms and getting her stable."

Weeks had passed since Jamie's crisis, and she was finally getting stronger. The hospital visits had become less frequent, and Anna and James had begun to adjust to their new reality. They'd spent countless hours researching, attending support groups, and talking to doctors, and they were determined to give Jamie the best life possible.

As they sat in Jamie's room, watching her smile at a cartoon on TV, Anna turned to James, her eyes filled with determination. "You know, I was thinking... we can't change what's happened, but we can change how we face it."

James nodded, his eyes locked on Jamie. "I've been thinking that too. We need to make sure she gets the best care, and we need to be there for her, every step of the way."

Anna smiled, a sense of resolve settling in. "We'll do it, James. We'll make sure she's okay."

James wrapped his arms around Anna, pulling her close. "We'll do it together."

Jamie looked up, sensing her parents' gaze. "Mummy, Daddy... what's going on?"

Anna smiled, her eyes shining with tears. "Nothing, baby. We just love you so much."