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Room 315

I received the phone call around six thirty. The voice was familiar; the situation was also familiar. This time I was not the patient; it was my cousins daughter JaKaylee. “We’re in room 315, we might have to go to Dallas for medical treatment if the problem does not get any better, was the reply from Steph. Her kidneys are infected, she proceeded to explain further. For any child, yet alone an eighteen month old, I knew the situation had to be painful. I'm at the hospital by myself, could you bring me some chicken wraps from McDonalds, she stated. No problem, Steph I’ll be there in a few minutes. Having just ate dinner myself, the feeling of hunger mixed with stress from a tense situation was not a good combination.

I hurriedly put on my sneaks and was out the door. The drive to Mother Frances was only about fifteen minutes. After I departed from the elevator and located the room, I heard the familiar voice of Steph. The room was dark and the television was on in the background while JaKaylee lay next to her mother. I wondered if she would respond to me considering she has had a 104 fever throughout the weekend.

I handed her the food and began with the run down of questions. The past, present, and future medical issues that JaKaylee was facing. She has had some issues since birth but only minor. The kidney infections a sporadic. The issue was thought to be resolved soon after birth; however, with infants an acute illness can become complex at a moments notice. On Friday she was treated in the hospital and was released instead of being admitted due to ???

Nevertheless, as I sit and watch them interact with the French fries and cries I wonder how different it would be had they admitted her on Friday. The prolonged infection could not have improved her state. The face of her mother shows signs of tiredness; the face of the daughter the same. The burdens that arise from trying to maintain a living, family, and resemblance of a life begins to take its toll. As I look into the eyes of the little girl, I see the pain that she is enduring. She takes her arm and covers her eyes and cries “ma ma.” The redness from the fever is worn over her face matching her pink gown. The I.V. placed in her left hand is covered with a sock. When removed she begins to cry due to the sight of the tubing. The cough is muffled from the cold that she has started to receive. The screams begin from the attempts to wash her face. The campaigners of Mccain are heard through the speakers of the hospital bed. Besides the speech from the television and cries, the atmosphere is peaceful.

It’s different seeing someone else in agony; I know the feeling all too well. Kim just entered to take the vitals of the kaylee who begins to cry. The process is soon over; a request for apple juice is made. The brother of kaylee is at home with grandparents who have become stressed and separated at times; the announcement of marriage issues along with the word of another pregnancy. This time her baby sister; whose father's situation is like so many of the faces of yesterday. The announcement of the democratic speeches are now played over the speakers in the hospital bed. I know today was a rough day, to say the least.

Pray for my family.

"whatsreal"