Kaylee Jaymie Halstead

The appointment

10am
Jay pov
We were running late and Kaylee was still getting ready
Jay: Kaylee we need to get going
Kaylee: five minutes
Jay: we have to go now
Kaylee: keep your hair on
Jay: Kaylee
She ran downstairs and we made it out to the car when she forgot something
Kaylee: I'll be right back
10 minutes later she came back out
Jay: come on. We're already late
We arrived at med and checked in. Sharon took us to Dr Abrams office and we went in and sat down
Jay: sorry we're late
Dr Abrams: no worries
Jay: what's this appointment about?
Dr Abrams: I briefly told you yesterday. Vagus Nerve stimulation
Kaylee: why do I need that?

Kaylee pov
Dr Abrams: due to your seizures not responding well to medication we need to explore other options.
Kaylee: what other options?
Dr Abrams: there's the ketogenic diet. But I've heard that you struggle with food at the moment so it wouldn't be the best course of action.
Kaylee: what about surgery?
Dr Abrams: your seizures start at various places so we would end up removing multiple parts of your brain. So the best way forward is Vagus Nerve Simulation
Kaylee: what's that?
Dr Abrams: it delivers pulses at regular times. Due to the cause of seizures being because of imbalanced electrical rhythms, the simulation will help regulate the signals hopefully reducing the seizures
Dad: what is the surgery?
Dr Abrams: A device will be implanted under the skin in the left chest area. An electrode or wire is then attached to the device and placed under the skin. The wire is attached around the vagus nerve in the neck. If she feels a seizure coming on, a magnet can be swiped over the device to send an extra burst of stimulation to the brain. This can stop the seizure
Kaylee: but I'm not aware of them most of the time.
Dr Abrams: there are newer devices where it can detect a fast increase in heart rate. This triggers an extra burst of stimulation to help stop these seizures. It may not work straight away so don't be disappointed if nothing changes. You'll still have to take anti seizure meds but if VNS works then it's possible to be taken off them
Kaylee: if it's under my skin would people be able to see it?
Dr Abrams: Because of the size of the stimulator there will be a small lump where it lies, and a small scar where it was put in. A lead connects the stimulator in the chest to the vagus nerve in the left side of the neck. Because the electrodes are coiled around the nerve in the neck, there will also be a small scar where they are inserted, usually in the fold of the neck.

Dad: what will happen after the surgery?
Dr Abrams: The stimulator is usually switched on within four weeks of it being implanted. I will programme the stimulator and set the amount (strength and length) of the electrical stimulation given. The amount of stimulation needed will vary but I'll start at a low level and slowly increased to a suitable level. Usually it is set at 30 seconds of stimulation every five minutes through the day and night. The battery can last up to ten years. When the battery is low, the stimulator needs to be replaced, during an operation similar to the one when it was put in. Does this sound good?
Kaylee: so I'll be able to be a normal teenager?
Dr Abrams: hopefully you'll have more freedom than you do now
I turned to dad.
Kaylee: dad I want to do the surgery
Dad: if your sure but remember that there's no guarantee that it'll work
Kaylee: I know but this is my closest shot to a normal life
Dr Abrams: there are some side effects that include Coughing, Hoarseness, Change in voice,
Neck pain or throat pain or tickling, Shortness of breath/trouble breathing, Trouble speaking, Trouble swallowing and
Headaches. Serious side effects include paralysis of the vocal cord, cardiac arrest and sudden unexplained death.
Kaylee: I want the surgery
Dr Abrams: I don't have any appointments until the end of the month
Dad: that's fine
Dr Abrams: I'll be in contact with a date
Dad: thank you
We left his office and we bumped into uncle Will
Will: hey trouble
Kaylee: hi
Will: how'd it go?
Kaylee: I'm getting the surgery
Will: good for you kiddo
Dad: I've got to get this one to school. Talk later?
Will: sure I'll pop round after shift. See ya trouble
Kaylee: bye uncle Will

We went to the car and he drove me to school
Dad: be good
Kaylee: mhm
I got out and signed in before walking to my class. Art with Mr Brown. I walked in
Kaylee: sorry I'm late sir. I had a hospital appointment
Mr Brown: no worries. You got your report?
Kaylee: nope. Can I go get it from Principal Monroe?
Mr Brown: go on then
I ran out the class and to the office. I got my report and ran back. I put the report on his desk and sat down
Mr Brown: I'm gonna give you a project. You can either do a painting, drawing or model. You'll be working in pairs. Your theme is Family. I want you to get to know each other. You can create a booklet, family tree. It's up to you. You have 10 minutes to get into pairs. Once you've found your pair I want you to plan your project
Zach: hey Kaylee you want to work with me?
Kaylee: yeah sure
Zach: I guess we should start planning
Kaylee: what if we made leaves on each of our family members and include details on them. Then we stick them onto a tree. Yours on one side, mine on the other
Zach: yeah that could work. Just to warn you I can become a liability.
Kaylee: don't worry I'll help you.
Mr Brown: the project is in three weeks
Zach: we got plenty of time. How long you in for today?
Kaylee: just this lesson
Zach: lucky I still have one more.
The bell went off
Mr Brown: remember to at least make a start on your project by next Monday. I don't want any project to be started last minute
We got our reports and left the classroom
Zach: I'll see you tomorrow
Kaylee: see ya
I walked to the principals office and she signed my report. I went into the car park and dad was there. I got into the car and showed him my report.

Jay pov
I looked at her report
1) Don't be late - Had an appointment
2) follow all instructions ✅
3) don't talk out of turn ✅
4) don't get distracted ✅
Reminder: start project due 2 weeks from today
Jay: well done peach
There was no response but I could hear her lips smacking. I looked over and she was staring into space and fiddling with the stitching of her sleeve. After a few seconds she stopped before going into another one. She had about 20 in five minutes. She seemed to come around
Jay: you okay?
Kaylee: mhm
We were on our way to the district when kaylees arm started twitching. I glanced at her and her eyes were rolling back. I pulled over and went to the passenger side. I reclined the seat and took her seatbelt off. After a few minutes she began seizing. It took a few more minutes for the seizure to stop. I got back in the drivers side and reached the district. I carried Kaylee in and laid her on the couch in Hanks office.

Hank: she okay?
Jay: seizure activity really high today.
Hank: you wanna take her home?
Jay: I'm not needed?
Hank: it's just paperwork. You can take yours with you
Jay: you sure?
Hank: yeah
Jay: thank you pops
I carried Kaylee to the car and laid her in the backseat. I was driving home when my phone started ringing
Jay: hello
Will: you at home?
Jay: on my way why?
Will: I've got lunch
Jay: alright I'll be 10
Will: cool I'll wait outside
I reached home and carried Kaylee to the door.
Will: she okay?
Jay: high seizure activity
Will: taken meds?
Jay: yep
Will: shit. You got a surgery date?
Jay: sometime at the end of the month
Will: the sooner the better
Jay: yep
We walked inside and I laid her on the couch while me and Will went into the kitchen and plated up lunch
Jay: thanks for this
Will: No problem

We had lunch and I got on with paperwork. Will went home. Hours later it was time for dinner and Kaylee woke up
Jay: hey peach
Kaylee: d-dad
Jay: you okay
Kaylee: h-hurts b-body h-head
Jay: I know peach I know. You hungry?
Kaylee: No
Jay: I'll make you a smoothie okay
Kaylee: okay
We had dinner and went to bed