9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Whats a period? - Eddie Diaz

Isabella Diaz - 13

Eddie Diaz was just finishing up a particularly grueling shift at Station 118 when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen to see a text from his 13-year-old daughter, Isabella.

"Dad, I think something's wrong. I'm bleeding, and it won't stop. I think I need to go to the hospital. Please come home."

His heart skipped a beat. He quickly dialed her number, trying to keep his voice calm as he walked to his truck. "Bella, it's Dad. Tell me what's happening. Are you hurt?"

Isabella's voice was shaky and panicked on the other end. "I don't know, Dad. I woke up this morning and there was blood. It's still coming. I'm scared."

Eddie took a deep breath, his training as a firefighter and paramedic kicking in. He had dealt with all sorts of emergencies, but this was different—this was his daughter. "Okay, Bella, listen to me. I'm on my way home. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Just try to stay calm and lie down until I get there."

"Okay," Isabella whispered, her voice still trembling.

Eddie ended the call, his mind racing as he drove home. He couldn't help but think back to when he was a teenager, how confusing and overwhelming everything seemed at that age. He pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on getting to Isabella as quickly as possible.

---

Eddie pulled into the driveway, practically jumping out of his truck before it had even come to a complete stop. He unlocked the front door and rushed inside, calling out, "Bella? Where are you?"

"In my room," came her faint reply.

He bounded up the stairs and into Isabella's room. She was lying on her bed, her face pale and her eyes red from crying. She looked so small and vulnerable, and Eddie's heart ached to see her like this.

He sat down on the edge of her bed, taking her hand in his. "Hey, sweetie. It's okay. I'm here now. Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Isabella nodded, her eyes filling with tears again. "I woke up and went to the bathroom, and there was blood. A lot of it. I thought maybe I hurt myself, but it won't stop. I'm scared, Dad."

Eddie felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized what was happening. "Bella, I think you're having your period. It's completely normal for girls your age. It's nothing to be scared of, okay?"

Isabella looked at him, confusion and fear still etched on her face. "But why is there so much blood? Shouldn't we go to the hospital?"

Eddie gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "No, sweetie, you don't need to go to the hospital. Periods can seem like a lot of blood, especially the first time, but it's perfectly normal. It means your body is growing and changing."

"But what do I do?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.

Eddie smiled gently. "First, let's get you cleaned up and more comfortable. I think we need to go on a little shopping trip for some supplies."

---

After helping Isabella clean up and explaining the basics of menstrual hygiene, Eddie drove them to the nearest pharmacy. He felt a bit out of his depth, but he was determined to make this as easy as possible for her.

Inside the store, they walked down the feminine hygiene aisle together. Isabella looked overwhelmed by the variety of products. "Dad, there are so many. How do I know which one to get?"

Eddie smiled, trying to project confidence. "We'll figure it out together. Let's start with something simple. These pads are a good place to start. They're easy to use and will help you feel more comfortable."