Stef spent the better part of the next two weeks in tears. Not only was she heartbroken at losing her daughter one more time but she was also terrified for Callie was obviously very, very, sick. Even if she gave every last cent she owned for Callie's treatments it may still not be enough for while her money could buy the girl the best - the best was not necessarily good enough. There was a chance that Callie would not survive until a heart was available, or if she did get a heart then the surgery may not be a success; her body may reject the heart or the anti-rejection medication could compromise her immunity so much that any other infection, no matter how small, could kill her. And even if none of that happened, even if everything went perfectly, she new heart she gets may not last long which would put them all right back in this position.
Stef no longer worked on cases for her company - she didn't even pretend or try this time. Instead, all her energy went in researching everything she could get her hands on about Callie's condition, heart transplants in general and the best course of action for Callie's particular factors. She didn't have any say in what would happen, she probably wouldn't even be given those kind of details, but she needed to know; to understand; for she felt like she was walking through a maze in the dark.
Feeling like she had failed her daughter yet again somehow she thought about what else she could do. She could offer to support them in more ways than just Callie's medical needs - give them a more comfortable living - a larger home, a better car, whatever they could possibly want. But she knew that it was inappropriate; rude even, to make such an offer. But her wealth seemed to be the only thing that they needed and wanted from her so how else could she contribute. And then it hit her - there was something she could do; something that would actually make a difference in their lives; a way to truly make up for her mistakes. With a burst of excitement she picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years.
As it became apparent that Callie's need for a transplant was getting closer, Dana came down to help out while Stewart stayed behind to continue working and keep their home running until the surgery was actually scheduled. Dana proved to be a huge help for there were days when Callie simply did not have the energy to leave the house while Lena still had to run errands, discuss treatments and plans, not only with the doctors, surgeons and the transplant team but also psychiatrists, neurologies and physical therapists and the more she talked to them, the more she learned, the more overwhelming it all became. And apart from all of that, having Dana around gave Lena just a little time to relax each day. She was so worried and so stressed and so tired all the time that she just needed to stop and catch her breath every so often.
Callie was deteriorating fast - her skin was consistently pale and grey and her lips had barely any color at all. Her eyes lacked their usual luster and she looked like nothing but skin and bone. She hardly ever ate anything and had been prescribed nutrition shakes to keep up her strength. She would often get light-headed and couldn't stay upright for long and each day her name would move higher and higher on the list and the doctors gave her a pager that she had to keep with her at all times and when they had a match for her they would call it and they had to drop everything immediately and rush to the hospital. This still didn't guarantee that Callie would get the heart however for they would have to check her to make sure that all her levels were stable enough to perform such a drastic surgery.
Her work on the project also slowed tremendously for no matter how much she enjoyed it and actually wanted to do it; she just didn't have the energy it required. But still it didn't stop her from doing what she could. On some days she would actually spent up to two or three hours working while others mere ten or twenty minutes was all she could spare. And as the days passed it only got worse until she finally did take Karen up on her offer to help. The woman would work tirelessly with Callie, coming over to the house most evenings and weekends and write down whatever Callie said to her. The visual aspect of the project remained unfinished for Callie could do longer do it herself and Karen could not do justice to the image that Callie wanted to share. Whatever she had managed to finish, she would present and the rest sh described in the essay - if she made it to presentation day for that was nearing just as quickly as her surgery seemed to be.
Lena and Dana had formed a plan for when the pager did beep and they had to get Callie to hospital. A bag containing Callie's medical records, all documentation for the procedure, insurance and social services files along with basic essentials like clothes, toothbrushes and light entertainment for both Lena and Callie were also included in and kept ready in the trunk of the car. Once that pager went off it was Lena's duty to get Callie to the hospital. Dana was in charge of everything else - she would make sure that the house was closed up properly and she was responsible for informing whoever needed to be informed including Stewart, Stef, a few friends and CPS.
But right when they didn't think they could handle another hurdle in their path Lena received a phone call from her social worker instructing her to bring her lawyer and Callie down to the court house immediately and once again Lena felt like her world was falling apart for she knew it was possible that the state could find Lena an unsuitable parent considering Callie's medical needs and their lack of an appropriate support system.
