Heartbeat

Heredity in the Mix

This past week I've had five appointments concerning my health.

Nothing is getting better. All they can do is keep checking my blood pressure and make sure my heart rate isn't increasing... But it has been.

They are making me take a pill every morning and night.

Everything about it makes me feel nervous. The list of possible effects is dreadful: heart failure, dizziness, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems that can lead to something more serious.

I called Ethan- I guess you can say that we are going on a "date" to the movies on Saturday. I still can't believe all of this is happening... It's like I'm dreaming.

Today when I came back from school, my mom told me that the doctors want me to come over immediately.

So I'm here now, in the waiting room.

Waiting to see what they found out about me.

Waiting for my life to get worse than it is.

We are in the same little room we were in before- the room that brings back memories of being diagnosed with 'Tachicardia".

"Hi. We wanted to do one more test before your treatment tomorrow."

My heart sinks.

Tomorrow is my date with Ethan. I knew nothing about a treatment.

"We are going to take your blood pressure again, only this time we will look at how your heart is reacting to it."

While they draw blood from my wrist, they have the same tool they always use to check my heart on me.

The nurse is whispering to the doctor, who has the needle in me.

After it's over, Doctor Clyne comes in and shuts the door.

"We have found yet another problem, but it is related to Tachicardia."

My mom and I are listening to him so carefully.

"Your heart is still beating abnormally, but it is now having trouble responding to the charges from your heart. So, if the blood tests on Monday don't go well, meaning your heart is still not doing well... We will just see. At that point there will be many symptoms."

"Symptoms?"

My mom sounds frantic.

"Well, let's just say heart cramps, dizziness, seeing fuzziness, and other things. That's not the problem though. It's a matter of the rate of your heart. Your heart may fail, if this keeps constant."

I'm sweating. Tears begin to fill my eyes.

"Anyways, we will see you tomorrow at 9:30 AM."

Relief sweeps through me. I can make it to the movies tomorrow night!

"Okay. Thank you. Do you want us here early tomorrow?"

"No. Come at 9:30. The treatment begins at ten."

"Okay. Bye."

The doctor leaves the room, leaving my mom and I alone together.

"Hunny, I'm really sorry you are going through this."

She gives me a sympathetic look.

"Before you were born, your grandfather had the same thing you have... With the rapid heart rate."

I look back at her.

"It got worse and worse, and before we knew it, he was..."

Her voice trailed off.

I swallow.

"He was what?"

After moments of silence, she begins to speak again.

"I keep praying nothing else will happen to you. You know that, right?"

I nod.

"Well, your grandfather, he was a strong man."

I stare out the window.

"When he had to go to the hospital because of his heart rate going over 130 beats per minute, not even doing anything extreme, we were all worried. But we had faith, from the very beginning, that nothing will happen," she said shakily.

It's raining outside.

I follow one of the water droplets roll down the window with my eyes.

"I was with him in the hospital. He didn't look good at all. We were there, there when his blood pressure dropped, and..."

I know what she is going to say.

Before I knew my grandfather, he died from the same thing I have.

Tachicardia.

My mom doesn't even need to finish the sentence.

We walk out to the car and drive all the way home, in silence.

At night, when I say good night to her, she holds my hand.

"Be up by 8:30 tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. Good night."