"911, what is your emergency?"

"My daughter! She isn't breathing.. My-my wife went to check on her, and..."

"We're sending someone right away, sir."

"Please hurry! She, she's a preemie, so she's very small and fragile. Please hurry!"

Jessica was doing everything she could in the meantime.
Danny called his mom, and she came right over.

When the ambulance came, Danny and Jessica both went along with her.

Danny held Jessica as they worked on her.
They both sobbed and prayed harder than they've ever prayed before.

I feel like we were just in this situation.
Fearing for my child's life is not something I should get used to.
Please heal her tiny body from this. I wouldn't be able to live without her.
I feel like it's my fault. I wasn't able to carry her and now she'll always have problems.

***

When they arrive at the hospital they take her back and Danny and Jessica are left in the waiting area.

"Danny, I can't take this, I need to be back there!" Jessica sobs.
"They're gonna make sure she's okay.. She's gonna be fine!"
"What if she's not? Danny, I was holding her lifeless little body... I.. I just can't do it, I can't!"
"Jessie, you need to calm down for the boys."
"I CAN'T!" She screams.
"Danny, our daughter could die!"
"I know that, Jessica, but I need you to calm down! I can't take what happened the last time."
"Oh and who's fault was that?! Huh? If it wasn't for you, I would've had a normal pregnancy and none of this would be happening to us right now!" She pushed him to the wall, and hits his chest with her fist.
"... I'm sorry..." He says in a low and shaky voice.

"Ugh!" Jessica grabs her hair in fists, and walks down the hall.
Danny lays his head back on the wall, and cries hard.

We can't do this. We cannot survive this. God, please don't break us.
I will do anything!
I know I say that all the time, because.. Well I've asked a lot of you lately, but please hear me when I beg you... Please don't take my baby girl.

Jessica walks back and says, "Danny, they've been in there too long."
Danny opens his mouth to talk, when the doctor walks out.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lange."
"Is she okay?!" Jessica asks in a panic.
Both of their hearts race, then they hear him say, "She's okay."
"Oh my God! Really?" Tears poured down her face.
"She's okay?" Danny asks.

They weren't expecting to hear those words come out of his mouth.
"Yes."
"Can we see her?"
"Yes. She's on oxygen right now, and will need to stay the night here, but she'll be okay."
"Oh thank you so much!"

They walk into the room and see her once again hooked up to machines.
"Oh poor baby!
... What happened? What caused this?"
"Well it's what happens to a lot of babies. She was going through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS."
"She was dying?"
"Yes, but you caught it. You are extremely lucky that you got out of bed when you did. Two more minutes and it would've been too late."
"Oh my God."
"Could this happen again?  How much can this little girl take?"
"No, it is highly unlikely for it to happen again."
"But it could?"
"Yes, but it is a very very slim chance."
Jessica closed her eyes and sighed.
Danny wraps his arm around her and tells the doctor, "Thank you so much for everything."
"You're welcome.  I'll give you three some time."
"Thank you."

Jessica was looking at Arabella with tearful eyes.
"It's not gonna happen again."
"How do we know that?  She's sleeping with me from now on.  I don't care!"
"That's fine."
"Danny, how are we gonna have two more babies when she requires so much extra care?"
"Jessica, we can do it."
"I love them and I'm not saying that they were a mistake or that I don't want them, because I do!  I'm just worried, because Arabella obviously isn't totally out of the woods yet.  What if I get too pregnant to do anything for her?  Or what if something happens, and I have her and newborns to take care of?"
"Jessica, sweetie, I am and always will be here for you.  Okay?  You don't have to worry about that.  I'll help you and we'll make it through."
Jessica just looks at him and pauses for a second.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me, that's what I'm here for.  I will never leave your side."
Jessica hugs him and lays on his chest.
"I'm sorry about what I said before... It wasn't your fault.  These things just happen.  Please don't listen to what I said.  I was just worried and all I wanted to do in that moment was blame and hit someone else.  I love you and I don't blame you for what happened."
"Thank you... and don't worry about it.  I understand."

Danny walked outside to call his mom and to let her know what was going on, while Jessica stayed with the baby.

Arabella was asleep, and Jessica couldn't take her eyes off of her.

"Well here we are again, baby girl.  I'm so sorry that this is how most of your life has been.  Hopefully this isn't what it's always gonna be like.  This is it for hospitals from now on! 

Oh Bella, I love you so much!  I really really do, Princess.  please don't ever leave me, because I couldn't take it, baby girl." Jessica sighs and rubs her little arm.

"Look at you!  You look like you're deep in thought, or asking a question, the way you're sleeping!  Silly girl!" She laughs quietly.

"In a few months, we'll be back at this hospital, for your brothers to come into this world, and you'll be a big sister!  Only happy times after this.  I promise you." She bends down and kisses her forehead.

Danny walks back in with the doctor.

"We're gonna take her off the oxygen now.  I'll try to be gentle, but she might wake up."
"Oh she's a very light sleeper, she probably will." Jessica chuckles.
"Heh, well if she needs to eat, you can feed her in here, or if she stays asleep we can wheel her to your room that we will put you in for the night."
"Oh okay, thank you."

The doctor took her off, and Arabella started to squirm.
A small smile appeared on Jessica's face when she saw her little legs kicking around, and her arms waving in the air.
She let out a tiny cry and in a teary voice, Jessica says, "Oh, isn't that the most beautiful sound you've ever heard?"
"It sure is." Danny says staring at the baby.

"Come on, baby, come to momma." Jessica picks her up and bounces her.
"I could take you to your room if you think she can wait two minutes to eat." The doctor smiles.
"Yeah, I think she can wait." Jessica giggles.
"Alright, right this way."

***

"Alright, Bella Boo, boobie time!"
Jessica lifted her shirt and Arabella latched on.
She softly ran her fingers on the side of her face and spoke softly to her, "Yeah, I know, baby girl.. its been a long day, hasn't it?  And we woke you up!  I'm so sorry.  Your poor little eyes look so sleepy!" Arabella just stared at Jessica with big eyes.
"You gave me and daddy quite a scare, didn't you?"
"Don't you ever do that again!" Danny says smiling down at her.
"Look at how alert she is, Jess."
"I know." She smiles.
Arabella looks at Danny as she drinks, and Danny chuckles.
"Are you looking at daddy?  Huh?  Do you see your daddy?" Jessica smiles.
"Hi!  Oh gosh, you're so beautiful!  Even when you have a boob in your mouth.  Isn't that right, baby?!" Danny says in a baby voice, as he chuckles.
Jessica laughs and he smiles at her.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Danny gives her a small kiss, then pulls away.
She smiles and he asks, "How are you feeling?"
"I feel okay."
"Good.  You two take the bed, I'll sleep on the couch."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, of course.  I just hope the bed isn't too bad on your back.  Remember when Jax was here?"
"Oh yeah!  Ugh, that bed was horrible!  Plus, he was so restless that night, so it made it even worse."
"Yeah.  Maybe it'll be okay this time.  Just let me know if you need any more pillows, or anything like that."
"Alright, thanks."
"No problem, beautiful." He smiles and softly rubs his nose back and forth on her.

***

What do you guys want to see in this story? 

Oh and that actually happened to my youngest brother.  He was a few weeks old and my mom went to check on him in his bassinet, and he wasn't breathing.  I can't even imagine how scary that was.  I just remember waking us and my parents telling me that he was in the hospital the night before.  I saw his little hospital bracelet and asked if they brought me powdered donuts from the vending machine. 😕