Hi! It's been a really long time since I've written anything. My health and writer's block have been kicking my sorry butt! Lol My mom was also ill for a long time, and unfortunately she passed away last July, which took a bigger toll on my mental health (I'm getting treatment now, but it's still difficult). She'd be turning 60 tomorrow. Happy birthday, Mom! Miss you!
Summary: Kimberly and Tommy have rekindled their relationship and started a family, but when their daughter is born with a serious illness, they fight to save her life. Sadly, she passes away and they slip into a deep depression. But a couple years later, they get a glimmer of hope when they are given a special gift!
Matilda's Gift
Chapter 1:
It's been ten years since Kimberly passed on her Ranger powers.
Kim won three gold medals for the US gymnastics team in the Pan Globals. After the competition was over, she decided she wanted to return to Angel Grove to attend college with her friends after finishing high school.
As excited as she was for this new chapter in her life, her mind filled with guilt as she thought about her breakup from Tommy. He'd received a letter at the Youth Center one day which said that Kim had met someone else and that Tommy was 'like a brother' to her. Those cruel words destroyed him. He loved her with every fiber of his being. However, he later learned it was a lie.
When she got back to Angel Grove to move her things into her dorm, they'd had a talk and she told him that she never sent him a 'Dear John' letter. He was so confused, but he believed her. They wondered who would be so cruel to set her up like that. They soon learned that it was her own mother.
Kimberly was livid! How could her mom do that to her? She thought she could trust her. The betrayal cut like a knife. She confronted her mother, who revealed that she did it "for her own good," as she put it. She wanted her daughter to focus on her gymnastics and felt that having a serious relationship at such a young age was distracting her and she also felt jealous, as her own relationship with Kim's father had been painful and was acrimonious at best, even after the divorce when Kim was twelve and her brother Jackson was seventeen.
Kimberly felt her blood boil. Did her mother really resent her like that? She told her that she would never trust her again and to never contact her, effectively cutting her mother out of her life.
Tommy was there for Kimberly during this difficult time and they grew closer than ever before. They studied to be teachers, elementary school for her and high school science for him. They dated through college until their junior year when they found out she was pregnant.
It was unexpected, but they were thrilled to start a family together.
Kimberly decided to put her gymnastics on hold and focus on raising their child. Tommy was supportive of her decision and they both continued on with their studies.
During summer vacation of 2000, in early June, Kim gave birth to a little boy they named Evan.
As they started their senior year, they worked hard to balance parenthood with education.
After graduating, they got married in a small ceremony on the beach with just their close friends and family. That fall, they landed their first teaching jobs. It was a dream come true for them to give back to the town that had given them so much.
Even though they had put their Ranger days behind them, they knew that they would always be connected through their experiences and love for each other.
As they settled into their new roles as parents and educators, they never forgot the lessons they learned as Rangers. They taught their students the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and the power of friendship.
Their lives may have taken a different path than they had originally planned, but Kimberly and Tommy knew that they were exactly where they were meant to be. They had each other and a beautiful family, and that was all that mattered.
Evan was now four years old, almost five, and would start Kindergarten later this year. He was a happy, active child who enjoyed baseball, karate, and dinosaurs among other things and Kim and Tommy have been trying to give him a little brother or sister since his second birthday.
They had experienced some difficulty in getting pregnant again, but they never lost hope. They continued to live their lives and enjoy their family, knowing that everything happens for a reason.
One day, Kim was seated at the kitchen table, her grade book and stacks of her students' latest homework assignments in front of her waiting to be graded. She'd only just gotten started when she suddenly bolted from her seat and ran upstairs to the bathroom to vomit.
'This sucks!' She thought. She'd felt nauseous for the last two weeks and still didn't feel any better. She couldn't keep any food down. She initially thought it was the stomach flu, but her experience told her that this was not the flu. She scheduled an appointment with her OB-GYN for the next day.
The next day, Kim went to her appointment with her OB-GYN, Dr. Noelle Borland. Dr. Borland was in her mid thirties, about 5'6" with wavy mid-back length brown hair, which she usually tied up when she was with patients, and hazel eyes. After undergoing a few tests, Dr. Borland confirmed that she was six weeks pregnant and due in December. Kim was ecstatic but also slightly nervous. She went home, anxious to tell her husband the news.
"Hey, Beautiful!" Tommy greeted as she walked in the front door. "How did it go?"
"Great!" She went over to the couch and sat next to him, wrapping her arms around him lovingly as she planted a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Handsome! You know that, right?"
"I love you too, Beautiful! What did she tell you? Is everything okay?"
"Actually, everything is better than okay." Kim couldn't contain her excitement any longer and blurted out the news. "I'm pregnant!"
Tommy's face lit up with joy and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "That's amazing, Beautiful! We're going to be parents again!"
The couple spent the rest of the day in high spirits, talking about what they hoped for their growing family and reminiscing about their first pregnancy with Evan. They were excited to start this new chapter in their lives and couldn't wait to share the news with their loved ones.
Kimberly and Tommy shared the news with their family and friends, who were all overjoyed. Evan was especially excited at the prospect of becoming a big brother.
Kim's pregnancy proved to be tougher than her first. She experienced terrible morning sickness well past the first trimester and was constantly tired. It worried Tommy to see her so sick. He drove her crazy with his near daily calls to her doctor, but she knew he just wanted her and the baby to be healthy.
Tommy took on more responsibilities at home so that Kim could rest as much as possible. They both understood the importance of taking care of one another during this time.
But the morning sickness persisted and at five months along, Tommy mentioned it to Dr. Borland at her next appointment.
The doctor ordered lab tests, but Kim's results were normal aside from her being dehydrated and she gave a few tips to help, such as eating smaller frequent meals, avoiding triggers like spicy or greasy foods, eating more protein, and increasing her water intake.
"I'm gonna do an ultrasound now." She told her, wanting to check how the baby was developing.
Kim and Tommy watched the monitor eagerly as the doctor moved the wand over Kim's belly. They could see the fuzzy black and white image of their baby on the screen and their hearts swelled with love.
"There's the head." Dr. Borland stated. "There's the little arm and leg, and there's the other arm and leg."
They were in awe as they saw their baby move and kick on the screen.
"That's our baby." Kim whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"Would you like to know what you're having?" Dr. Borland asked with a smile.
Kim and Tommy glanced at each other, excitement building in their hearts.
"Yes, please!" Kim replied eagerly.
The doctor adjusted the screen and pointed to a small visual on the side of the monitor. "Congrats, it's a girl!"
Tears welled up in Tommy's eyes as he hugged Kim tightly. "We're having a little girl."
Kim felt overjoyed. "I can't believe it! Our daughter," she whispered. "Evan is gonna flip."
The doctor continued the scan and what she found was alarming. Something was wrong with their baby girl's heart.
Kim and Tommy were devastated. Dr. Borland explained that their daughter had a congenital heart defect, which meant that there was an abnormality present in her heart since early in her development. It was serious, and they needed to see a specialist as soon as possible.
They were referred to one of the best children's cardiac hospitals in the country where they would receive specialized care for their baby girl.
Kim and Tommy were scared, but they knew that they had to stay strong for their daughter. They put their trust in the medical team and started preparing for the journey ahead.
Fortunately, they didn't have to travel far to the Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as it was just thirty minutes from Angel Grove and the traffic was surprisingly calmer at this time. Tommy worried about Kim traveling this late in her pregnancy, particularly when their daughter was fighting for her life. They sat in the waiting room until a nurse called them in. "Dr. Steele will be with you in a moment."
Dr. Desmond Steele was a 6'2" tall man in his late forties with green eyes and short salt-and-pepper hair. He greeted the couple with a warm smile, which put them at ease. "Go ahead and lie down on the bed and we'll get started."
Dr. Steele examined the printouts from the previous ultrasound and carefully conducted a more detailed test of their baby's heart. Kim and Tommy watched on the screen, hoping for good news.
After what seemed like hours, Dr. Steele turned to them. "I won't sugarcoat it. Your baby girl has a very complex congenital heart defect, and it's going to require surgery. But I want you to know that we have a top-notch staff and facilities here, and we'll do everything in our power to make sure she gets the best possible care."
The specialized testing revealed that their baby girl had a congenital heart defect referred to as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It was a complex and rare condition that could lead to heart failure and require a heart transplant. Dr. Steele explained the intricacies of their daughter's medical situation, detailing the journey they would have to undertake.
Tears streamed down Kim's face as Tommy squeezed her hand tightly. "Thank you, Dr. Steele. We trust you and your team completely." Tommy said.
But the medical team was optimistic and prepared to help their daughter through a series of surgeries, starting with the first one soon after birth. They laid out a comprehensive plan of treatments, consultations with specialists, and close monitoring for their daughter's heart function.
"Don't worry! We'll take good care of you and your baby." Dr. Steel assured them.
"Thank you!" Kim replied.
After the appointment was over, Kim and Tommy drove back home. They were filled with emotions as they followed the medical team's advice, making preparations for their daughter's arrival while keeping their spirits up. They would stay in close contact with their doctors as they prepared for the birth and subsequent treatments.
Next chapter will be up in a bit!