Sorry for the delay! A lot has happened in the past few weeks.. Hope everyone is still reading! Going to find out what's going on will Emma soon! Thanks for reading, leave a review please!
Regina sat with Emma in her lap while they waited in the doctor's office. Emma had her bloods drawn and there was still inconclusive data, so the doctors recommended a bone marrow biopsy. Regina read up on the procedure and wasn't happy that this was something Emma was going to have to experience.
Emma was nervous but on the outside she looked calm, but Regina knew that slight leg swing and the rotating of her bracelet were signs that Emma wasn't as cool and calm as she looked.
Regina kissed Emma on the temple and squeezed her tight hoping to relieve some of Emma's nervousness.
They only had to wait a few more minutes before their names were called. Regina stood and took Emma's hand as they walked to the examination room.
Once in the room Regina was expecting the doctor to enter soon but 20 minutes then 30 minutes passed and no one entered. Regina frustrated told Emma to stay in the room while she looked for the nurse or someone so they could explain what the hold up is.
Regina looked down the hallway but saw no one, so she went back towards the reception desk.
Regina cleared her throat, "Excuse me, but my daughter and I have been waiting in the room down there for the past 30 minutes. Would someone please care to explain why no one has entered, not even one of the nurses to check Emma's vitals?"
The receptionist opened her mouth but no words came out, before she could utter a sound Dr. Delsi appeared with another doctor smiling.
Regina raised an eyebrow wanting to understand their smiles.
Dr. Delsi gestured towards the second doctor, "Regina, this is Dr. Cills, he's a hematologist and a friend. I asked him to look at Emma's previous blood work, and he thinks he knows what going on with young Emma. Why don't you grab Emma and we will head upstairs to my office."
Regina nodded and quickly let for the exam room where Emma was still sitting. Regina lifted Emma and quickly rejoined Dr. Delsi and Dr. Cills.
Regina and Emma were escorted to the elevators and up to the 10th floor. Dr. Delsi lead them to his office and had them sit.
Regina placed Emma in her lap, and handed her her phone so she could play games while she and the doctors talked, while Dr. Cills took the other vacant seat across from Dr. Delsi's desk.
Dr. Cills got started right away, "So as Dr. Delsi stated I'm a hematologist, I study causes, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of blood related diseases. Now when I read over Emma's blood work up things looked out of whack, but when you have an idea of what to look for it begins to make sense. I believe Emma has what is called Addison's Disease."
Regina interrupted Dr. Cills, "I'm sorry but what exactly is Addison's Disease. I've never heard of it, nor did I come across it when looking up some of Emma's symptoms."
Dr. Cills nodded, "I wouldn't expect you too. Addison's Disease isn't really a common search and the symptoms can be explained by other diseases. Addison's Disease is a disorder where the body doesn't produce enough of the hormones cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. Many of the symptoms overlap with other diseases or illnesses such as fatigue, weight loss, nausea, etc. Now that I have an idea that this could be what ails young Emma I would like to run a few tests."
Regina sighed, "What tests? Does she still need to undergo the bone marrow biopsy?"
Dr. Delsi chimed in, "No, we canceled that. No need to put Emma through that if it's not needed right now."
Regina nodded, "So what would need to be done?"
Dr. Cills nodded, "Another blood test to measure her levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol, ACTH, and her antibodies. Next the ACTH stimulation test which would measure the cortisol levels both before and after an injection of synthetic ACTH. It will let us know if the glads are damaged or just not functioning at all. Those are the two that I would like to run ASAP."
Regina gulped, "Is this serious? Like it is… fatal?" Regina looked down thankful that Emma was not paying attention to the conversation in the slightest.
Dr. Cills sighed, "For the most part Addison's Disease is treatable and non-fatal. But, Emma's going to be taking medicine everyday for the rest of her life. Should she miss a day or more she has the chance of going into what we call Addisonian Crisis. It's when the blood pressure drops too low, the the sugar levels drop and the amount of potassium in the blood rises. This would need immediate treatment."
Regina bit her lip and kissed Emma's head for a few seconds longer than normal, Emma didn't seem to mind.
Regina looked back at the doctors, "How did this happen?"
Dr. Cills took a moment, "This could be hereditary, but to be honest we haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause yet."
Regina recoiled, "I-I could have done this? Her father could have done this?"
Dr. Cills nodded slowly, "Yes, but we honestly aren't at a point where we can test you or her father and tell you what the gene is, or if it's recessive or dominant. We just don't know. The good thing is that we know what Emma might have and we know how to treat it, in order to give her the best quality of life."
Regina wanted to cry, how could she be the reason behind Emma's illness? All she's ever wanted to do was protect Emma, make sure she has the best and fullest life. What if she's the reason Emma is sick all the time. What if she is the reason Emma's been suffering.
Dr. Cills could see that Regina was lost in her thoughts so he leaned over and placed a hand on her arm, "Ms. Mills, I know you are thinking this is something that you or Emma's father are the cause of, but to be honest it doesn't matter. We found the problem. We are going to make sure we are correct. We are going to treat this problem. And we are going to make sure Emma is happy. Everything else is irrelevant."
Regina appreciated his attempt in soothing her; and Regina knew he was right— there wasn't anything she could do now.
Regina and Dr. Cills worked out a schedule to get all of the needed tests done before the middle of next week. Dr. Cills is fairly confident that his diagnosis is correct and that the test will confirm.
Regina and Emma left the doctors office and both sighed breath of relief when they entered the car.
Regina looked back at Emma in the rear view mirror, "You ok darling?"
Emma nodded, "I was kinda scared."
Regina smiled sadly, "It's ok to be scared. Why didn't you say anything?"
Emma shrugged, "I didn't wanna make you scared or sad."
Regina turned in her seat and looked Emma in the eye, "Thank you for thinking about me, but I don't want you to ever, ever, not tell me how you are feeling. OK? Even if it makes me a little sad, I'll be happy that you were brave and told me how you were feeling."
Emma nodded. Regina then turned the car on and smiled, "How about we go to Grandma's? We can have burgers and play in the backyard."
Emma beamed, "Gamma!"
Regina and Emma were greeted with smiles and hugs from Cora and Henry, inviting them in.
Emma ran straight to the backyard where Henry had a small playground built specifically for Emma, for whenever she came over to visit.
Emma went right to the swings and smiled as she jumped on and immediately pumping her legs to try and get higher.
Cora, Henry and Regina followed Emma to the backyard but decided to say on the patio where the outdoor lounge chairs and outdoor kitchen were.
Regina sat in one of the loungers and placed her head back against the cushions before closing her eyes and just taking a deep breath.
Cora looked at Regina and then silently gave Henry a signal to leave them for a moment.
Henry caught on quickly and announced, "Well Emma loves Grandpa's burgers, so I believe tonight is burger night. I'll get started on those."
Henry then left mother and daughter to talk.
Cora placed her hand on Regina's knee and waited for Regina to lift her head and look at her.
Cora has learned over the years that if she just uses a bit of patience Regina will open up to her and tell her what is on her mind.
Regina doesn't open her eyes or lift her head, but she does tell her mother what has been such a stressor in her life, "The doctors believe Emma has Addison's Disease."
Cora leaned back, "Not something I am familiar with. Is.. Is she going to be ok?"
Regina opened her eyes but didn't focus on any one thing, "According to the doctor should she have this disease, she's going to be on medicine for the rest of her life… She's barely 5 years old and we are talking about medicating her for the rest of her life. Why Emma? Why is she the one that got sick? Why her?"
Cora lent forward again and took Regina's hand into hers, "Because Emma has a mother that would curse the world to protect her, a grandmother that would rip hearts out to protect her, a grandfather that would sacrifice himself for her, aunts that would go to the end of the world for her, and a inner strength that has never been seen before. Emma is strong enough to have this disease and live her life, and if she falters and stumbles she has her family to pick her back up."
Regina looked at Cora and knew her words were true. Cora continued when she had Regina's eyes locked on her own, "I don't know what this disease is, or what it's doing to her, but I do know that having a diagnosis and a treatment is better than a mystery and a no solution."
Regina nodded in agreement. Cora then clapped her hands and stood, "I'm going to check on your father and those burgers. Why don't you join Emma in the backyard. We will be outside shortly."
Regina stood and enveloped Cora in a hug, "Thank you."
Cora nodded, "You are welcome my darling."
Regina wiped her tears and opened the door to the backyard, seeing Emma still on the swings slowly swinging back and forth looking up at the sky.
Regina smiled and joined Emma, loving the smile that was just for her.
Emma waited until Regina got closer and then pointed up, "Look momma, that cloud looks like a heart!"
Regina smiled and joined Emma, sitting in the other unoccupied swing, "Ohhh, I see. Look that one looks like a turtle."
Emma smiled and looked where her momma was pointing. They continued to look at the clouds until Cora called them over for food.
Emma jumped off the swing and started to run towards food. Emma then paused and turned looking at Regina. Emma smiled and held out her hand, "Come on Momma! Gandpa has burgers!"
Regina smiled and jogged to reach Emma's hand. Both giggled and ran to the outdoor table where Henry and Cora were already sitting.
Regina sat at the table and helped Emma get her food. She sat back and watched Emma for a moment, not once has she lost her light— no matter haw poorly she was feeling.
Cora was right, Emma has a inner strength that is unrivaled. Regina thinks, 'If Emma can stay this strong then I will too. We will be strong together.'