Parents.. with different treatment

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By the sixth day, Xander's condition had worsened, and Valerie's worry only deepened as she watched the doctors work around him. Xander now needed an oxygen mask to help him breathe regularly. A quiet hissing sound filled the room as the mask gently pumped air, helping to ease the strain on his fragile heart. An IV line was attached to his arm, delivering a steady flow of fluids and medication to keep him stable.

Valerie stayed close by, her heart aching every time she saw Xander's small chest rise and fall beneath the mask. His usually bright eyes were dull and tired, his body weakened from the ordeal. Each breath seemed like an effort, and even speaking became something he only attempted sparingly.

"Mom," Xander whispered through the mask, his voice muffled and weak. "I feel funny... like my chest is heavy."

Valerie's hand tightened around his, her face filled with a mixture of love and deep sadness. "I know, sweetheart," she replied gently, stroking his hair back from his forehead. "But you're so strong, and the doctors are doing everything they can to help. Uncle Sam and I are right here with you."

True to her word, Sam was by their side as often as he could be, his face lined with worry every time he entered the room and saw the state Xander was in. Sam's usual cheerful demeanor had given way to a fierce protectiveness, his determination to see Xander through this evident in every moment he spent with him.

One afternoon, while Sam was reading quietly by Xander's bed, Dr. Patel entered, her expression serious yet compassionate. "Ms. Davis, Mr. Golbach," she said, addressing Valerie and Sam. "Xander's condition is stable, but his heart is under a lot of strain. We're doing everything we can, but he needs peace and rest to make it through this. Any added stress could make things harder for him, so ensuring he has a safe and calming environment is absolutely essential."

Valerie nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She looked at Xander, who had drifted off to sleep, his small body lying so still under the hospital blankets. She'd never seen him look so vulnerable, so fragile.

Sam, sensing Valerie's inner turmoil, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll make sure he has what he needs, Val. Xander deserves a life where he doesn't have to worry, where he can just... be a kid. Whatever it takes, we're going to make it happen."

With each day that passed, Valerie and Sam stayed by Xander's side, determined to protect him and give him the safe life he deserved. As she watched her son slowly begin to regain his strength, Valerie knew they'd reached a turning point. She wouldn't let him return to a home where fear overshadowed love; her heart was set on giving him a safe, peaceful life where he could heal and grow.