Finding out that they were going to be parents was both exciting and emotional. The pregnancy was hard, but they'd made it through. The birth was long and painful. But now, sitting in the waiting room, waiting to find out if their baby would even survive, was the worst thing that could have ever happened to Emma and Will.
Will wrapped his arm around sleeping Emma. It was the first time she'd slept for more than an hour in the week they had been at the Lima hospital, and Will was glad that she was getting some much needed rest. He laid his head on the seat back, and soon sleep washed over him.
Anneliese Claire Scheuster had been diagnosed with IRDS, Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome shortly after she was born, a week before. She had been taken into the ICU before Will or Emma even had a chance to hold her. She was immediately put through vigorous respiratory support. Will would often sit by little Annie and sing to her through the oxygen hood she had to stay in that was designed to help her breathe. The doctors kept telling them how Annie was doing much better than most infants with this syndrome, but Will and Emma both knew the statistics. IRDS killed 40,000 infants a year.
Will woke up to a quiet sob beneath him. He wrapped his arms around Emma and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Will" Emma asked through her tears, "What if she doesn't make it?"
Will pulled her in closer, "She'll make it through, Emma. I promise."
He could only hope that he was right.