Rescue Nova

New Roles & Conquering Fear

"A breath-holding spell." Kimberly looked at the doctor with a mix of relief and disbelief.

Kimberly stood in the ER, just outside the room Nova was sleeping in. After a distressing ride in an ambulance, Kimberly had just been told that Nova simply passed out from a breath-holding spell, a harmless result of her being overly distressed.

Breath-holding spells occur when a young child cries so intensely and becomes so upset that they stop breathing. Not all children stop breathing long enough to pass out, but it's normal if they do. In fact, passing out is sometimes better, because as soon as they do, they resume breathing normally.

"Yes," the doctor answered, "they're not uncommon in young children, and considering her state of mind, it makes sense. You said her headspace is five years old, right?"

"Yes, but I thought breath-holding spells are something that only infants and toddlers do."

"It can happen to any child up to the age of six."

"And you're absolutely sure she's okay?"

"Yes. I'll look her over again in a little bit when the sedation wears off, and then you can take her home."

•••••••••••••••

Kimberly sat nervously watching Nova sleep. She still wasn't sure why Nova had been so upset. Did something happen when she was looking for the bathroom? Had someone said something to her? What had distressed her enough to cause the breath-holding spell? Kimberly had so many questions and almost no answers.

When Nova began to stir, Kimberly jumped to her feet and took hold of the girl's hand. Nova groggily opened her eyes. Her mind was fuzzy. She wasn't sure where she was. Luckily, Kimberly figured that the sedation might cause that and was quick to give Nova answers.

"Hi, honey. You passed out and were later sedated, but you're all right now. You're in the hospital, but after the doctor sees you again, we can go home."

"Sedated for what? And why did I pass out?"

Kimberly knew in that moment that Nova had finally come out of headspace. Kimberly couldn't have been more relieved.

"It's called a breath-holding spell. You got so overwhelmed that your mind shut down. You woke up a few minutes later, but by then I'd already called an ambulance. Police arrived before the ambulance, and when you saw the cops--"

"I get it," Nova interrupted. Knowing that she had awoken and found herself surrounded by police was all Nova needed to hear to understand why the paramedics had to sedate her. "I'm sorry I caused so much trouble. Where's Emily?"

"It wasn't your fault. And Emily's fine. One of the teachers took her home right before the ambulance brought you and me here."

"Okay."

"Honey, do you remember what had you so upset?"

Nova only remembered some of this latest time in headspace, but it was enough for her to remember how jealous she'd been all week. She was very embarrassed about it and wished this was one of the circumstances when she was completely amnesic to her time in headspace. Then she wouldn't have to admit her feelings to Kimberly. But Nova did remember being so jealous, and she figured, after all the trouble she'd caused, she owed Kimberly the truth. It was the least she could do.

"This is going to sound ridiculous, but I heard Brandon call you Mama, and I was jealous. Actually, I've been pretty jealous of all your students all week. And at the book fair, I was feeling bad about not having a mother. I kept thinking that I was the only one there without one. I resented everyone, including Emily. So when I heard Brandon call you that, I just snapped and ran off."