Monique informed
Mom
that I had
an attack
this morning.
Mom and
well-meaning
step-dad
Jeff
hover.
Step-sisters
Quiana, 15
and Quinn, 13
try not to be
jealous over
the attention
that I get
from their dad.
But really,
all they see is
that I'm sick and
I probably need it
more than
they do.
Which isn't
true.
I wish
I could go back
and make
my own dad
quit smoking
before I was born.
Undo the damage
he did—
on accident—
to me.

I don't blame
him.
How could he
have known
his brand new
little girl
came with
a defect?
An AAT
deficiency
is what
the doctors said.
Dr. Brimmond
explained that
Alpha-1
antitrypsin
is a natural
protein
that keeps
white blood cells
from hurting
normal, healthy
tissues.
So the AAT
in my body
couldn't stop
the white blood cells
from stretching out
the tiny
air sacs
in my lungs.
That combined with
the second-hand
smoke
was a death sentence
for me.
Except
Dr. Brimmond
doesn't talk about
death.
He believes in
having a
positive attitude.
Even when my fate
has already been
decided.