POV Of Savanna

"Mrs. Mendelsohn, I'm so glad you could make it so soon," A nurse said. "Well I have 4 other children at home and it took me an hour to get them settled down. They wanted to come but for whatever reason, my husband told them they couldn't and had to stay home with him." I stated. "Well Everyone except my oldest Tobias; He and Miriam are so close and I couldn't bear to see him stay home". I said. The nurse nodded. "Let's go talk in a separate room" The nurse pleaded. I swallowed my breath and looked at Tobias with concern. "Ok," I obeyed.

"Please Take a seat," The Nurse said as we were walking in. I see a general pediatric doctor and an orthopedic doctor sitting in the room. We sat down. The doctor started talking. "When Miriam fell she landed hard 20ft straight on her back" He explained. I nod. "She has severely broken her back" He stated. Tobias just starts bawling. I start to cry as well. "She has a T2 spinal cord injury and will never be able to walk ever again," The orthopedist said. Tobias and I hugged each other. Letting out sobs and chokes. "I will give you two times to regain your composure then you can tell Mirian the news and we can discuss the right wheelchair for her and her 5-hour surgery." "I just don't want to overwhelm you with too much information at the moment, I know it must be hard having to hear this." The orthopedist stated. The nurse and both doctors all left the room. Tobias just buried his head in my chest. "Oh sweetheart she'll be ok" I choked. "My little sister in a wheelchair for the rest of her life" He sobbed. "That's the last thing she deserves" He stated. " What will dad think?" "How will she stay safe in our car?" "How many surgeries will she need?" "How long will she be in the hospital?" "What if she gets bullied at school?" He asked. "There are a lot of unanswered questions Tobi." I said "It's more than ok to have them" I stated. "I just can't answer them all," I explained.

After a good 10 minutes, we were both ready to break the news to Miriam. Tobias nodded "Miriam is probably terrified without us I'm ready to tell her." He insisted. "I agree Tobias, let's not waste another minute". I replied. We then walk out and start to go to Miriam's Hospital room. I see Ming and Mei walk in. Ming Notices us immediately and walks over to us and gives us both a big hug"I'm so sorry you guys, that's all I can say. Did you get to say your goodbyes"? "Can Mei say goodbye?" she asked. "No Miriam is just fine. It's just just" I stuttered. "What"? Ming asked. I took a deep breath and continued "She is now paraplegic" I choked. "Omg, I'm so sorry, do you know how bad it is" She questioned. She showed me the documents. "She's a T2 but it's so severe they can't treat it". "She will never walk ever again," I stated. "Have they told Miriam yet?" I asked. "No not yet I kinda thought Before I told her she and Mei could visit for a while?" I replied. "Sure of course Mei would love to let me go get her," Ming responded. "Oh also if you won't tell Mei the extremity of her injury please." "They want me to deliver the news" I petitioned. "Of course I understand," Ming replied. "Thank you, Ming," I said

While Mei and Miriam Were talking. Ming had a nice chat with Tobias. him. "How are you doing Tobias?" She asked. "I'm ok but Miriam has had a rough go at it lately." " Her diabetes diagnosis and now this". He sighed. "I can't imagine how scary it has been," she replied. "Thanks," he replied. They both had a good conversation for 20 minutes. "Tobias, I think it's time to tell Miriam the news," I stated.

Tobias and I took a deep breath and walked into Miriam's Hospital Room. We pulled ourselves together hoping not to upset her even more. We opened the door and walked in. "MOM"! "TOBIAS"! She cried in excitement. "Oh, Miriam I'm so glad you're ok," I said, giving her a gentle hug. Tobias hugged her as well. I noticed she had a blanket with skateboards on it and a stuffed monkey. "Oh Miri, did they give these?" I asked. "Yes Mom, they gave it to me for being so brave during my MRI and X-ray". "That's great honey," I said, rubbing her cheek. "It is! They know I like skateboarding." "Well Miriam the ambulance picked you up at the skatepark," I stated. She chuckled and I smiled knowing she was in good spirits. I then frown knowing I had to break the news to her. "Miriam We need to talk," I said. She Frowned "I know mom I need to be careful of who I talk to" She responded. "Oh, honey it's not that at all," I replied. "What is it about then?" She asked, looking down at her monkey. "Miriam I don't know how to tell you this but you have something called a spinal cord injury." I sighed. "Mom what do you mean I learned about this in health class." She said, starting to cry. I took a deep breath and continued. "Honey It's really bad and you will be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life." "What no! Mom, are you teasing me right now"?!? She sobbed. "Oh, Miri I wish I was but you know I never do that to you," I stated. "So I'm never going to walk ever again?" She asked. I shook my head. "You also need surgery," I explained. She starts bawling. "Oh Miriam I know I know," I said comforting her. "Miriam It's going to be ok you will get through this because you are a very strong girl," Tobias said. "I'm so scared mom" She cried. "I know sweetheart we all are" "But we are going to get through this together," I stated. "Ok, Mom I think I'm ready to talk about my surgery" She requested. I push the call button on her bed.

After about 5 minutes the orthopedic doctor came in with the surgeon. They explained her surgery and how they would be putting a rod in her back and told her they would clean the fragment of bone in her back. Miriam sighed. I look at her stroking her face. "Hey, I forgot to ask where everybody else is," She asked. "Miriam I think dad is just having a bit more of a difficult time with this," I explained. "Well can't you call him and tell him I will be just fine." She asked. "Of course, I can Miriam." I obeyed

I called my husband Bob and explained everything. "WHAT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!" " TELL THAT BRAT SHE'S GROUNDED WHEN SHE GETS HOME!" "Bob How could you" I snapped. I looked over to Miriam who was tearing up. "BOB! She heard that and you made her cry. Do you even know how much pain she is in?" I asked. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT HER ANYMORE I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE A DAUGTHER IN A WHEELCHAIR OK?" he yelled. I start to cry. "Bob you are being a terrible father right now" I choked. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT MIRIAM AND I NEVER WILL AGAIN!" He screamed. "I WILL TAKE THE KIDS TO THE HOSPITAL AND I WILL MOVE AFTER THAT!" He insisted. I hung up. I just completely lost it in front of Miriam and Tobias. I choked down tears and yelped in anger. "Mom?" Miriam asked. "Does Dad not love anymore?" She questioned. I ran out of the room sobbing. I find my knees start to collapse and I fall to the ground sobbing. Tobias walks out. " Mom It's ok all we need to do is show her just how much we love her." He stated. No Tobias It's not at all ok now go in and be with your sister". I insisted. " OK Mom, I understand." He obeyed. He walked back into her hospital room. I take a deep breath and regain my composure. I walk back in. Miriam's eyes were bloodshot red and Tobias was doing everything he could to calm her down. " Miriam It's ok you know we still love you right?" I asked. " I know you guys do but dad doesn't." She sobbed. "I know all of your siblings love you too," I said. Bob then stormed in and left the rest of the kids and stormed out. All my kids ran over to Miriam hugging her. "Miriam, are you ok?" Leah asked. Miriam was too upset to answer. "She'll be ok Leah" I responded. "Sissy Sissy Sissy" Hanna exclaimed jumping onto Miriam. "Hanna Be Careful" I warned. "She is very badly hurt," I said. I just knew I couldn't watch all of them so I had to call my parents and tell them what had happened and that I needed them to watch the younger kids while I was in the Hospital with Miriam. They were very understanding and came to pick up the kids right away. Tobias would be staying with Miriam and me for the night so then he could be there for Miriam's surgery in the morning.

When the kids left. I turned the lights off and told Miriam to go to bed. Her surgery was at 8 am.

The Morning of Miriam's surgery. I woke up at 7:45 am to help Miriam get her surgery socks on as she already had her gown on. The surgeon came and took Miriam back. "If the surgery goes well she can transfer to a rehab center in 3 weeks and then she will be in rehab for 4 more weeks." The surgeon explained. As they wheeled her out to surgery I kissed her on her forehead and watched her get wheeled away.

The surgery went perfectly and she could transfer to rehab in 3 weeks.