And Baby Makes...?

Chapter 21

Sam was awake before the two of us. I went in to see if she was awake, she was already dressed.

"Well, I'm impressed. The teenager is awake and dressed before the parent," I smiled.

Samantha did not return my smile.

"It was a little hard to get back to sleep an hour ago when you woke me up for the fifth time," she grumbled.

"Wow. Someone is in need of coffee. How's your blood sugar? I didn't check it yet," I said.

"It's fine. 91," she said.

"Okay. Teeth brushed? Meds?"

"Yes and yes," she said.

"Alright. Let's go get you breakfast. I'll just grab my phone," I said.

Samantha headed downstairs while I went into the bedroom to grab my phone. Jenna was up, feeding Rosie, and said they'd be down in a few minutes.

"How was Sam?" She asked me.

"Grumpy," I said.

"I bet," Jenna smiled.

"Yup," I sighed. "Our teenager is very much a teenager today."

"Is she going to school? Should she?"

"I haven't heard from the doctor yet about what time her test is at, and she's awake and dressed. I see no reason why not," I said.

Jenna didn't answer. I wasn't sure about sending her to school, either, but I didn't see a reason really to keep her home. She'd missed so much school already.

I went downstairs and found Samantha eating a bowl of cereal.

"Is that all you're having?"

"It's not like you made breakfast," she snarked at me. "Or Mom."

"Hey, watch your tone, kiddo," I warned.

Sam glared at me.

Just then my phone rang. It was Sam's doctor.

"Good morning Mr. Joseph. How's Sam this morning? How was her night?"

"She's not a happy camper this morning. But she's awake," I said.

"Good news. Okay. I've booked her an MRI for one o'clock. If you can have her at the hospital for 12:30, that would be great."

"Okay. Will do. Thanks," I said, hanging up.

"Alright kiddo. MRI at one. We have to be at the hospital for twelve thirty so I'll pick you up at noon," I said.

"What's the point of me going to school if I'm going to have to leave early again anyway?" She asked.

"Because, you've missed a lot of school already."

She mumbled something incoherent and I decided not to follow up on it. I was putting today's attitude up to lack of sleep.

Jenna and Rosie came downstairs just then.

"Some one is looking for her big sister," Jenna said, bringing Rosie over to Sam.

"Someone's big sister has to go get ready for school," Sam spat, as she put her bowl in the sink and went to gather her school things. Jenna looked at me.

I shrugged.

"I'm putting this down to lack of sleep. If it persists after today, I'll talk to the doctor."

"I'm just so worried about her," Jenna said. "She's been through so much and she doesn't need more on her plate."

"Jen, she had a pretty severe accident. She had a head injury. And she was in a coma. She still needs time to heal," I said.

Jenna sighed.

"I know. I just don't want anything else to be wrong with her. She's already dealt with so much."

I kissed my wife, and the baby, and called for Samantha so I could take her to school. 

She didn't answer.

"Where'd she go? Upstairs?" I asked.

"I don't know. I think so."

I went up the stairs and to Sam's room. The door was open and I heard an odd banging and wondered what was happening. I walked in and Sam was on her floor, having a seizure. I ran to her.

"Jenna!" I yelled. "Call 911!  Sam's having a seizure!"

Jenna came running up while on the phone with 911.

"They say make sure you're timing it and that you get her on her side and move anything she can hurt herself on."

I started a timer on my phone and tried to roll Samantha over onto her side. She was pretty much in the middle of the room, so I didn't think she'd hurt herself on anything. 

I spoke to her gently as she seized. I didn't know if she could hear me, but if she could, I wanted her to know she was going to be okay.

Finally, after what felt like forever, but my timer said two and a half minutes, she stopped seizing. Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing.

"Sam?" I said, quietly, touching her shoulder. She didn't respond.

"Sam, honey?" Jenna said, kneeling down beside Sam. Sam's eyelids fluttered, but she didn't open her eyes.

Tears sprang to Jenna's eyes.

"I'm going to go meet the ambulance," I said. Jenna nodded and sat beside Sam on the floor, rubbing her back.

Downstairs, I opened the gate at the end of the driveway and waited at the front door. When I heard the ambulance coming up the drive, I opened the door while they unloaded their equipment.

As they came in the door I told them everything that had happened this morning, the night before and the past couple of months.

They assessed Sam up in her room, loaded her onto their stretcher and headed downstairs.

"Ty, you go with her. Rosie and I will follow," Jenna said. I nodded. I couldn't really trust my voice just now.

I jumped into the back of the ambulance and held Samantha's hand as we raced to the hospital.

Sam's eyes never opened during the trip. Not fully.