Allison and Asher sat down in Annie's office while Everly hung out with Owen in the waiting area.
"How bad is it Nee," Allison asked.
"It's not surgical yet," Annie replied, "but there are changes over last year's images. I don't want to do surgery until we have to. Link is going to join us and Jenna. We're going to change medications and give her heart a rest. Cardio wise rescan in 3 months and see."
"And if we did surgery now," Asher asked.
"She doesn't need it," Annie replied, "the valve has deteriorated in the last 16 months from her previous scan but it's not surgical. It would be worse for her at the moment to do the surgery. Everly doesn't tolerate anaesthesia well, the risks are higher to replace it then to leave it for now. If that changes we will go down the surgical path. She might not need it changed until she's an adult. Time will tell. We'll monitor in 3 months and see. She's okay. She's not surgical."
"She's not," Asher confirmed.
"No," Annie repeated, "Everly does not need surgery."
"Okay," Allison replied.
"She's not in the clear," Annie replied, "the anaemia and B12 deficiency need immediate correction."
"We know that," Allison replied, "but I wanted guidance on dosages, reading the guides she's between 2 and I want to go to the lower dose but the efficacy."
"It's peds we go low first," Annie replied.
"Is it her CP," Asher asked.
"Likely genetic," Annie replied, "I am, mama, Allison, both my girls. There's a gene they isolated in mama, Ellie and I. Allie you should be tested and consider testing Ev."
"I will be and if Ev wants to when she's older she can be," Allison replied, "it's not a medical necessity. My daughter has medical trauma, I don't need to add to it or make things worse for her. She lost a lot of body autonomy. I'm not forcing her to now."
"Just something to think about," Annie replied, she knew how strongly Allison and Asher felt about their daughter having a say in her medical care as much as possible and enforcing that Everly was in charge of her own body.
"Mom," Everly called from outside Annie's office.
"Coming," Allison replied.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Everly shouted.
"I'm coming," Allison replied.
She walked out of Annie's office and led Everly to the nearest staff bathroom before swiping her fob to let her in.
When Everly was done she asked, "do I need surgery?"
"No," Allison assured, "you don't right now. You might in a few years but not right now. Auntie Nee wants to watch your heart a bit more closely then we have and change your muscle medicine."
"But I need it," Everly said.
"I know you do," Allison replied, "we're going to change it to a different one that will be gentler on your heart."
"Will my legs stop hurting," Everly asked.
"Maybe," Allison replied, "we're going to talk to Jenna and Link about it and see what we can do for that. Is that why you want your chair more?"
"Yes,' Everly admitted.
"Princess why didn't you tell us,' Asher asked.
"It makes mom sad," Everly replied.
"I don't like seeing you in pain baby girl," Allison replied.
"Can I just not walk for a while," Everly asked.
"We can pull back," Allison agreed sitting on the bench beside her.
"If you don't walk princess you'll lose all of the strength you worked so hard to build," Asher replied, "you have to keep working on it in physio and trying at home."
Allison and Asher knew this day would come, Everly had never loved walking, she had always been happier and more comfortable in her chair but they had wanted her to have the option to choose as she got older. They knew if they didn't keep working on the skills she would lose them but taking a break from forcing it out would be okay.
"I have to at swimming," Everly said.
"It's your choice," Allison replied, "your dad is right, you have to keep going to physio and you need to walk in the house. Is there anything else?"
"Kids make fun of how I walk," Everly whined.
"That hurts," Allison agreed.
"I know it really sucks," Asher replied.
"How can we help baby," Allison asked.
"Let me use my chair," Everly whispered.
"Okay," Allison replied.
"Let's try it," Asher agreed.
They knew there would be a day when Everly would have a clear preference and it was up to them to support her and her decision. It wouldn't be an easy path but it was what their daughter wanted.
'Can you go get my chair,' Everly asked, "you made me leave it in grandpa's office."
"After we go talk with Auntie Annie," Allison agreed.
They walked back into Annie's office and Annie explained the new plan to Everly.
"So just new medicine," Everly asked.
'Yes," Annie replied, "iron and a vitamin, nothing big. Your mom or dad will stop at the drugstore on your way home and get it. Everly you do not need surgery on your heart now."
"Ever," Everly asked.
'I can't promise that," Annie replied, "I don't know and as you get older and grow up things will change for now you don't need surgery but I can't promise that you never will. Everly that's not something we can promise anyone, we will make sure you are healthy and able to do all the things you love but we can't promise you won't need surgery ever in your life. That's too much time to predict. I'm confident that you won't need it on your heart in the next year but that's as long as I can predict without it being a lie and I won't lie to you."
'Okay," Everly agreed.
"Now I think you and your dad are going home because your mom needs scrubs and to come with me," Annie replied.
'Do you have to work all night," Everly asked.
"I do,' Allison replied, "I'm sorry sweetheart. We all hate when I'm on nights. Two more nights then I'm off for three days. Totally off no hospital phone or pager."
"And it's almost christmas," Asher smiled.
"Does mom have to work on christmas," Everly asked.
"I'm on call Christmas Eve," Allison replied, "but it's like grandma and grandpa or your aunts and uncles. I might go, I might not. But I have Christmas day totally off and new years. The other interns were very kind and let me have the time off to be with you."
"Really," Everly asked.
"I'm the only one with a family in Seattle," Allison replied, "they all understand that you and dad are the most important things in my life. Ev if this isn't working for our family I can switch specialties so I'm home more."
"Allie we're not there yet," Asher assured, "we miss you but we understand. Allie you have to do this for you. You gave up going away for med school and residency for us we can be patient."
"It's not fair to either of you," Allison replied.
"We're okay," Asher assured, "it's only for a few years babe. Ev we can do it right?"
"Yep," Everly agreed.
"I know you miss mom being around all the time," Asher told Everly, "we have to be busy when mom works at night. It's like when I used to go away for a few weeks to work and you and mom stayed busy and had fun with out me now you and I get to have fun with out mom. What fun thing should we do tonight?"
Everly thought before demanding, "nails, mom won't paint my nails for school."
"I can do your toes," Asher said.
"And go for frozen yogurt," Everly asked.
"We can," Asher agreed.
"I have to go work you two," Allison sighed wanting to stay with her family.
"Text me later," Asher asked.
"I will," Allison agreed, hugging him, "I love you."
"I love you two," Asher replied, giving her a quick peck.
"Mom no," Everly complained.
"I have to go princess," Allison replied, "I will be home to take you to school in the morning. Can I have a hug before I go change?"
"No," Everly pouted.
"Okay," Allison agreed, " I do have to go. I will call you before bed time and see you in the morning. I love you so much Ev."
Everly looked away.
"Bye," Allison said, looking defeated.
Asher sighed as Allison walked away.
"That hurt mom's feelings," Asher said when Allison was out of earshot.
"I don't like when she stays here all night," Everly replied.
'I know it's hard for you," Asher replied, "it's been a big change with mom working and not being in school."
"And I can't just see grandma and grandpa when I want," Everly said, "we moved away and you didn't ask me."
"It's been a lot of big changes in a short amount of time," Asher agreed, "we're still getting settled in new routines with mom working the way she does. It won't be forever and she doesn't like being away from us. Mom really wants this and to be a surgeon. She wants to be able to help find a cure for CP and in order to do that she has to be here and work. She's doing it for you and I. It doesn't make it easy for our family but we have to let mom try this. Everly, she doesn't want to leave us overnight and not be with you everyday. We will do this you and I. It's only a few more months of her being an intern then when she passes her intern test and is a full resident her schedule should be better."
"If it isn't," Everly asked.
"Then we will have a family meeting and work on a plan," Asher assured, "is it the hours mom works or the nights?"
"Nights and when she has to go in the middle of a game or swimming," Everly replied.
"I know she found that hard with grandma and grandpa as well," Asher replied, "it is hard when she can't fully relax. Next year should be better and every year will get better."
"What if you have another baby," Everly asked, "I heard you and mom talking."
"We want to one day," Asher replied, "but not for a while and we will always want to be with you. You made us parents."
"Not for a long time," Everly asked.
"We haven't decided," Asher replied, "and mom and I will tell you if it becomes something for us to think about as a family. Right now it's an adult conversation between mom and I."
In the intern's locker room another intern turned to Allison, "have you ever heard of Beads of Courage?"
"We have," Allison replied, "Everly doesn't qualify for their programs."
"Really," the man said.
"I've looked a couple times but she has cerebral palsy and gets support and time with other kids with CP through a local group," Allison replied.
"No, my cousin's daughter has it after being in the NICU," the man said.
"Brad she was a full term baby," Allison replied, "39 weeks 6 days, the day before her due date. She's not qualified. We've looked into it a few times."
"I didn't know," Brad said, "and the man you were with earlier?"
"My husband," Allison replied, "I'm married, our daughter is 8, she's in third."
"You okay," Brad asked.
"She doesn't like me working overnight," Allison replied, "and was mad at me. It's easier if we're at home and she's had down time with me before I come to work but she had a cardio appointment today so we were all here."
"Everything okay," Brad asked.
"Ya," Allison replied, "it's my sister Annie will be extra careful with Ev."
"Is parenting hard," Brad asked.
'Some days," Allison answered as she tied her shoes, 'do you have kids?"
"My girlfriend is pregnant," Brad said.
"Is she doing okay," Allison asked, "how far along?"
"Seven weeks and so so," Brad replied.
"First trimester was hard, needing a lot of love and support but not being able to tell your closest friends," Allison replied, "only our families knew."
"It is hard for her," Brad said, "and we want to tell everyone but can't."
"We did at 12 weeks," Allison replied, "some friends did at 14 or 16. It's when you're ready. And if she wants to talk she can talk to me."
"Working how we do," Brad replied.
"It's hard," Allison replied, 'but your baby will only know you working like this. Everly struggles because I was 18 when she was born and she only knew me in school."
"18," Brad said.
"We were in high school," Allison replied, 'but I'm in ortho tonight so I should go. I'm trying to get Schmidt to let me scrub in on the first thing that comes in."
'Good luck," Brad said, "I'm trying to get Riggs Jr to let me scrub in."
"Ask Josh about his kids to suck up or talk about basket ball," Allison hinted, "he's married to my sister trust me."
"Thanks for the tip," Brad replied.