CHAPTER 19

((Hey everyone…I hope everyone will forgive me about the awful cliffy…I really had no choice…I've explained this to a lot of people…I had to get off the computer…hopefully the end of this won't resolve in another cliffy, because if it did…I think I'd have people after me if they aren't already…I hope ya like everything so far…R&R…XOXO, Christine)

VCD

They found an empty room. There was no doctor, no Ms. Montez, no baby. Gabriella gasped. "Oh my God," she said. "Where are they? Where's my baby?" She ran out to the desk. "I need information," she said. "My baby isn't in her room."

"Name?" asked the receptionist.

"Haven Montez."

She looked through her computer. "She is at the other end of the hospital. In the neonatal unit."

"Neonatal Unit?" Gabriella practically yelled. "She's three months old!"

"I'll find the doctor for you," said the receptionist. She put her phone on intercom. "Paging Doctor Willis. You're needed at the e.r. front desk." She hung up the phone. "It shouldn't be long, now."

About a minute later, the doctor arrived at the front desk. "How may I help you?" he asked.

"We were just told that our daughter Haven was sent up to the neonatal unit," Troy said. "We just wanted to know why."

"Haven's lungs were under-developed when she was born. We sent her up there to have a specialist see her and decide on the severity of her condition. She will be moved to a normal room after that."

"Okay," said Gabriella. "Can we see her?"

"Sure," said the doctor. "One moment. I will get an assistant to take you up to the neonatal unit." He walked away.

"The neonatal unit?" Gabriella asked scared. "Her condition must be really serious. Oh, God, this can't be happening."

"It's alright," Troy said pulling her into a hug. "Everything will be okay. I promise."

A nurse walked out. "Hello," she said. "I'm Cheryl. I will be escorting you to the neonatal unit. If you'll just follow me." They followed her through the endless hospital. They lost count of the amount of elevators they stepped on and off of. Finally, after what felt like an hour, they arrived in the neonatal unit. "You may sit down," she said to Troy and Gabriella pointing to some chairs. They both sat nervously while Cheryl talked to the receptionist who went back to talk to the doctor.

A nurse walked out for them about five minutes later. "Follow me," she said. They walked down the hall into the room where Haven was. They were delighted to see that the ventilator was unhooked for the time-being.

"Hi, I'm Dr. StaAna," said a middle-aged woman with black hair and startling eyes. "We have checked over Haven and have concluded that she will struggle with severe asthma and VCD for her whole life."

"What's VCD?" asked Gabriella fearfully.

"VCD is short for vocal chord dysfunction," said the doctor. "Haven's vocal chords are very sensitive and they will tighten and try to deny air if she has certain things in it. Mucus is the biggest trigger, but other triggers are smoke and tobacco smoke. It is very important that anyone close to her does not smoke." She saw the horror-struck looks on Troy and Gabriella's faces. "Don't worry," she added, " Vocal Chord Dysfunction isn't fatal. It just makes it hard to breathe. As she gets older, we will have her doing certain excercises to help herself gain control over her vocal chords."

"Is there a particular reason they're so sensitive?" Gabriella asked.

"They don't want to let the smoke and mucus into the lungs. If it gets in there, it can cause and infection. But, I have to say, once she gets older, if she's careful, she won't get an infection from it."

"Is there anything we can do to keep her from having the asthma and VCD attacks?" Troy asked.

"No smoking and keep her warm. Do either of you smoke currently?"

"No," replied Troy and Gabriella in unison.

"Good," said Dr. StaAna. "Then we shouldn't have any problems. We want to keep Haven here in the hospital for another two weeks just to be safe. We are hoping that with our meds, we can strengthen her lungs in the time that she is here."

"Thank you very much," said Troy. They shook hands with Dr. StaAna.

"Oh," said Dr. StaAna, "and I almost forgot, she will need to have weekly appointments with an Asthma/Allergist Specialist weekly for a few months, then we will make the visits more sporadic. Anymore questions?"

"No," said Gabriella. "Thank you."

Taylor and Chad visited just before Haven got out of the hospital again. They brought some cute little books, something Troy and Gabriella had really needed more of.

"Thanks you guys," said Gabriella. "This is so helpful. I am forever grateful."

"Listen, Troy," said Chad, "the guys and I have talked and we decided not to pressure you to keep up with the team. You have a sick child, you need to be there for her. We understand. No hard feelings."

"Thanks," said Troy.

Mr. Bolton came in soon after that. "So I heard," he said.

"About what?" asked Troy. What was he talking about?

"You quitting basketball," said Mr. Bolton, "you could have been a legend you know. I mean you already are, but an even bigger legend.'

"I may play next year, dad, we'll see," Troy didn't want to leave Gabriella with the baby when he didn't have to. He would break it to his dad later that he was giving up basketball for good. Somewhere in private, so he wouldn't blow up in public. Troy knew that his father wouldn't understand.

((See no cliff hangers! You cant get mad now…I hope everyone liked it and just for some info…you might wonder why I know so much about VCD…well I have asthma and VCD and let me assure you, they aren't life threatening if you have everything you need which is only an inhaler for the asthma…there is currently no cure for VCD but it isn't that bad…I have breathing excercises I have to do and they really do help…review please…XOXO, Christine))