You were born on a kitchen table, in a rainstorm, via emergency c-section by a kitchen knife. Eventful way to make your grand appearance, to say the least. I was rushed to surgery while you were, as I presumed, safe in the nursery. Instead, you were in the NICU, practically enclosed in a bubble, egg shaped incubator. The whole thing was draped with foam, and you were covered with tiny plasters and wrappings and wires. Osteogenesis Imperfecta, they told me when I woke up. Just like your brother, I had thought, let me hold her before she dies, too. Type III, Arizona told me. Dangerous, but you'd live. You wouldn't grow past 3 feet, and even sneezing could break a bone.
Later that night, I got to hold you in your foam padding and casts. It was terrifying, yet the best thing that'd happened in a long time.
"You ought to name her." Arizona said, " Shes a fighter."
So we called you Harriet. Jackson's mother had pushed for some outrageous names, my mom too boring and your father not even trying. "Whatever you like, I like." He had said, so we settled on Harriet Catherine, for his mother.
You laid still in my arms for hours. Sleeping peacefully, not bothered by the casting wrapped around your fractures. The round the clock nurses came in every hour for vitals and diaper changes and feedings. But a new nurse, Tabitha, was obviously not informed about your condition.
"Just here for a diaper change." She smiled tiredly, lifting you from my arms.
Instinctively, I curled my arms around you protectively. "No. You've got to be careful with her."
Tabitha seemed irritated as she continued to take you and lay you down for your diaper change.
"New mommy? Yes, you're all very protective of your babies, but I can assure you I know how to change a diaper quickly so she can be back with you in no time."
"No!" My voice was shaking, "you've got to be careful with her. She's got osteo-"
Snap! She had pulled too hard and your little leg bent the wrong way. You let out an ear piercing scream that grabbed the attention of whoever was on the floor. The whites if your eyes flashed a vibrant blue and I panicked.
"What did you do!?"
"I-I don't kn-know!" She stammered, stepping away from you. "I broke her?"
"Don't you know how to handle an infant with OI?" Arizona snapped, "get out of here before I snap you."
It was the first break out of the womb of many for you.
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Fragile
FanfictionJackson Avery and April Kepner have already gone through enough. When their son, Samuel, dies of type II Osteogenesis Imperfecta, they are heart broken. When they become pregnant with their daughter, they are both overjoyed and terrified. Reassured...
