Rooftop Summer | EN- Jake

5

Hanna awoke to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of medical equipment. The harsh overhead lights were dimmed, but even in the subdued light, the unfamiliar surroundings of a hospital room felt cold and impersonal. She blinked, trying to piece together where she was and what had happened. Her chest ached dully, a reminder of the pain that had overtaken her before she blacked out.

As her vision cleared, she saw her parents sitting beside her bed, their faces pale and drawn. Her mother was clutching her father's hand tightly, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears. Her father, usually so composed and in control, looked older, wearier, his expression a mix of fear and helplessness that Hanna had never seen before.

"Mom,,, Dad?" Hanna's voice was hoarded, barely more than a whisper. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced her to lie back down.

Her mother immediately leaned forward, her hand trembling as she brushed a stray lock of hair from Hanna's forehead.
"Sweetheart, don't try to move too much. You need to rest."

"What happened?" Hanna asked, though she already had an inkling of the answer. The pain, the blacking out—it all pointed to something serious, something she had feared but hadn't fully allowed herself to believe.

Her father cleared his throat, his voice unsteady as he spoke.
"You collapsed at home, Hanna. We rushed you to the hospital. The doctors... they ran some tests, and... and they found something."

The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. Hanna's heart pounded in her chest, each beat filled with dread.
"What did they find?" She asked, though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Before her parents could respond, the door to her room opened, and a doctor walked in. He was a middle-aged man with a kind face, but the seriousness in his eyes sent a shiver down Hanna's spine. He introduced himself but Hanna barely heard his name. All she could focus on was the somber expression he wore as he approached her bedside.

"Hanna," the doctor began gently, his tone carefully and measured.
"We've run a series of tests to determine what caused your collapse. I'm afraid the news isn't good."

Hanna felt her breath catch in her throat. She reached for her mother's hand, seeking comfort, as her world seemed to narrow down to the doctor's next words.

"We've discovered that you have a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy," the doctor continued.
"It's a genetic heart condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. It's a condition that can be present from birth, but in some cases, symptoms don't appear until later in life, which is likely what happened with you."

Hanna tried to process what he was saying, but the words felt distant, almost unreal.
"But... but I've always been healthy," she stammered.
"How could this happen?"

The doctor nodded, understanding her confusion.
"Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed until symptoms appear, especially in young, otherwise healthy individuals. Unfortunately, when symptoms do start, they can be severe, as you've experienced. The chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting spells you've been having are all signs that your heart is struggling.

Hanna's grip on her mother's hand tightened as she fought to stay calm.
"So... what do we do? Can it be treated?"

The doctor's expression softened, but his eyes remained serious.
"There are treatments available to help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Medications can be prescribed to help your heart function more effectively, and in some cases, surgical options are considered. However, given the severity of your symptoms and the progression of the condition, the situation is quite serious.