His Two Miracles | Thomas Barrow

Chapter 46

Ellie was a happy and bubbly girl, always smiling and laughing. But for a couple of days now a day after he had gone into the village for her birthday gifts, Thomas had noticed a change in his daughter's behavior. She had become withdrawn and clingy, never wanting to be anywhere other than in his arms.

Within the space of a few hours, Ellie's symptoms worsened, and Thomas grew increasingly worried. She developed a cough and fever that left her weak and lethargic.

Thomas Barrow sat in the servants' kitchen, cradling his daughter Ellie in his lap. Her small head rested heavily against his chest, rising and falling with each of her shallow breaths. Thomas's expression was one of concern as he listened to his daughter's chesty cough and wheezy breaths.

"It's alright, my love," Thomas murmured softly, his hand gently rubbing and patting her back. "Daddy's here."

But despite his words, Thomas couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that washed over him. He had always been fiercely protective of Ellie from the moment she was born, but he couldn't help that she was vulnerable to illness and infection. Now, with her cough and fever, he could see the toll it was taking on her tiny body.

Thomas stayed by Ellie's side, never leaving her for more than a few minutes at a time. He tried to keep her comfortable, giving her medicine and making sure she was getting enough fluids. He sang to her, telling her stories, and doing anything he could to keep her spirits up.

As the day went on and he continued to hold her close, Thomas's mind raced with worry. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to his daughter.

~

In the blink of an eye, things changed drastically Thomas watched helplessly as his daughter's tiny body convulsed with each seizure, her eyes rolled back and her breathing became shallow. He felt a wave of panic wash over him, but he knew he needed to stay calm for Ellie's sake. He quickly put her in the recovery position and checked her airway, making sure she was breathing properly.

As he waited for the doctor to arrive, Thomas thought back to his time in the army medical corps during the war. He had learned a lot about treating injuries and illnesses, and he hoped that this knowledge would come in handy now. He felt a sense of gratitude for his training and the experiences that had prepared him for moments like this.

An ambulance was called and Ellie was rushed to the village hospital. When Doctor Clarkson immediately assessed Ellie's condition and diagnosed her with pneumonia, which had caused her fever and cough. He explained that the seizures were a result of the high fever and lack of oxygen to the brain.

Thomas listened intently as the doctor outlined the treatment plan, which included antibiotics to treat the infection and medication to control the seizures. He watched as the doctor administered the medications and monitored Ellie's vital signs.

Thomas stayed by his daughter's side, holding her hand and talking to her in a soothing voice. He was amazed at her resilience and strength, even in the face of such a serious illness, she fought hard to recover but because of the fever and infection, the seizures seemed to continue.

Doctor Clarkson rushed to Ellie's bedside, and he and the nurses tried to stop the seizure. Thomas watched in horror as his daughter's body convulsed, tears streaming down his face.

"It's okay, Ellie, Daddy's here," he whispered, his voice cracking. "You're going to be all right. Please, God, don't take her away from me."

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the seizure stopped, and Ellie lay still, her eyes closed. Thomas felt like his heart was breaking, but he refused to give up hope.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Doctor Clarkson sighed and looked at Thomas with a sad expression. "I'm afraid it's too soon to tell, Thomas," he said gently. "Ellie's condition is quite serious, and we need to monitor her closely. But I can promise you that we'll do everything in our power to help her."

Thomas nodded, his face pale. He knew that Ellie was in good hands, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He stayed by her side, talking to her and stroking her head, trying to will her to get better.

"You're so brave, my sweet Ellie," he whispered. "Daddy loves you so much, and he's not going to leave you. Please, fight for me, fight for us."

Days passed, and Ellie's condition remained critical. She was still having seizures, and her fever wouldn't go down. Thomas barely slept, spending every moment he could with his daughter, holding her hand and talking to her. He was exhausted and scared, but he refused to give up.

And then, one day, the day before her birthday there was a glimmer of hope. Ellie's seizures became less frequent, and her fever started to go down. Thomas couldn't believe it, but he felt a surge of joy and relief.