The New Normal

After Scarlett's second episode Danny was able to call New York Presbyterian hospital. Scarlett was taken to the hospital by ambulance just in case another episode were to occur. It was going to be an extremely long night so Danny dropped Wyatt off at Mary's and met Jessica and Scarlett at the hospital.

By time they were in the new hospital and settled, Scarlett had experienced another aggressive seizure. Jessica and Danny were still oblivious as to what to do, but the doctors immediately took charge. Jessica and Danny felt much more comfortable at this hospital. It was one of the best and their mind was at ease knowing they had hands on doctors.

Since it was so late they did ask to start testing in the morning. It would be a lot on Scarlett so they wanted to wait until she had a good nights rest.

Nurses were on call and near her room in case of another seizure. Jessica and Danny planned to stay awake all night.

Doctors warned Jessica and Danny that Scarlett could possibly have epilepsy. It was devastating to hear, but they know that she's in good hands now and will be taken care of.

Scarlett fell asleep on Danny. Jessica sat in the chair next to the bed. She was a nervous wreck. Every little move her daughter made she went into automatic panic mode.

"Jess, I have a feeling we will be in the hospital for a while. Especially if epilepsy is the answer." Danny whispers

Jessica sighs "I know. I'm so scared, Danny. How could this happen. It's all so sudden." Jessica softly cries

"Listen, I have faith that she'll be in good hands here. Maybe we can call back home and ask for prayers."

"I think I'm going to call home in the morning." Jessica says

Danny reaches for her hand and smiles. "You try to get some rest. She's on me so I'll know if it happens again. One of us will need the sleep, babe."

//-//

Throughout the night Scarlett had yet another seizure. It was a sleepless night for everyone. Early at the crack of dawn the doctor wanted to get started on the testing. The test was called an EEG. It was scary for Jessica seeing all types of wires attached to Scarlett's head. She was not thrilled and it took a while for her to relax. The doctors were now hoping she'd seize again so they can pin point what exactly is wrong. So now it was just a waiting game.

After Jessica got Scarlett calmed down Danny came into the room with things from home, mostly stuff for Scarlett. When Danny walked in, he was stunned seeing his disgusted hooked up to all types of wires. It took a lot out of him.

Jessica immediately noticed his change in attitude.

"Look baby, daddy brought the iPad and some snacks from home! Do you want to play on the iPad?" Jessica says getting up from the bed and taking the bags out of Danny's stiffs hands.

He just stood there, speechless.

"Yes, please!" She smiles happily

Jessica unlocks the iPad and she goes to town. That gave Jessica a quick Opportunity to pull Danny aside.

"Danny, what's gotten into you? You look like you've just seen a ghost." Jessica whispers

Then, Danny breaks into tears and cries. Jessica was shocked to see him this upset.

"Oh my gosh, Danny what's wrong?" Jessica says hugging him

"My poor baby girl is going through hell right now... she's so scared. It's hard seeing her with all these wires connected to her... I didn't expect this to ever happen. I guess it's just a lot to take in." He cries

Jessica hugs Danny tightly and cries with him.

"We just have to stay positive and be there for her and make this as easy as possible for her." Jessica says soothingly.

"I'm sorry, I guess I didn't prepare myself."

"It's okay... it was hard to watch." Jessica whispers

Danny pulls himself together and walks over to Scarlett.

"Hey girl, Wyatt made something for you." He says sitting on the bed next to her and pulling out a little card.

Scarlett smiles. Mary obviously helped make the card, but it was so adorable to see. Wyatt and Scarlett were best friends, so them being away from each other was hard.

"Where Wyatt?" Scarlett asks

"He's at home baby, but you'll see him soon."

"Good!" She smiles

//-//

The test was still going on. It was lunch time now and Scarlett still didn't have any seizures yet. After a little snack she fell asleep. That gave Jessica some time to call home. Jessica wanted to call her parents first.

....

"Hello?" A familiar voice answers, and it wasn't Dorthy or Albert.

"Mom? It's Jessica... there's-"

"Why are you calling here Jessica? Do you need something?" Ann snaps

"Ann? Please, put mom on the phone." Jessica begs. She was not in the mood to argue.

"What? Do you need mom to plan you another wedding or what? Don't call, Jessica."

"Damn it Ann, put mom on the fucking phone!" Jessica yells as she tries to hold back any tears.

Ann goes silent and then hears Dorthy in the back asking who was on the phone. When she hears Ann say Jessica, Dorthy snatches the phone.

"Jessica, hi sweetie! How are you?" Dorthy says, oblivious with the way Ann spoke to Jessica.

"Mom, Scarlett is in the hospital."

Dorthy gasps "Oh my god, Jessica... what's wrong? Is she okay?"

Jessica then starts to sniffle "She's been seizing, a lot. She's had about five seizures in the last twenty four hours. She's getting an EEG right now."

Dorthy's heart broke into a million pieces.

"We will pray for her, Jessie... how is she doing now?"

"She's been a little shaken up so we've been trying to distract her, but she's sleeping now."

"Do they think it's epilepsy?"

"Yes" Jessica sighs

"I'm so sorry... do you need me to come out there? Can I do anything?"

"Just pray for us..."

"Of course, I'll let everyone know... if that's alright."

"I doubt Ann or Jane will care, but Alright." Jessica huffs

"Oh Jessica, you and your sisters just need to talk it out."

"I don't have time to talk things out at the moment. They are the least of my worries."

Dorthy knew the girls weren't talking, she thought that Ann and Jane needed to cut Jessica slack. At time they could be a bit too aggressive, so she understood Jessica's frustration.

"Keep me updated, sweetie. Give Scarlett and Wyatt a ton of kisses and tell them that grammy loves them!"

//-//

Jessica tried to keep her sisters out of her mind, especially when they started sending through some texts. Nice or not, she didn't want to read them. All she wanted to do was focus on Scarlett.

Around two Scarlett was up and alert. The test was still going on. A nurse came into monitor Scarlett as she played with her toys.

She looks at the screen and immediately presses the emerging button on the wall. Jessica and Danny become very alert.

"What's going on?" Jessica says taking Scarlett's hand. She suddenly feels it go stiff. She looks now and recognizes this body position.

"She's about to seize. Please let go of her hands." The nurse says taking everything off the bed.

This was the seizure they had been waiting for. The doctor comes in and pushes Danny and Jessica aside.

As much as Jessica hated seeing this, she was glad to know that this seizure would lead them to answers. Jessica and Danny sat back and their bodies shook with fear. This seizure, it was the worst one yet.

//-//

"Jessica, Danny... we have a diagnosis." The doctor says

Jessica and Danny sit in front of the doctor at his desk and hold each other's hands. Scarlett was with a nurse who was monitoring her while Jessica and Danny left.

"You do?"

"Yes, I'm sorry to say that Scarlett does in fact have epilepsy... but we still aren't sure what triggers these seizures. But the test came back very clear."

Jessica cries softly and Danny tries to comfort her. Of course things could be worse, but epilepsy is a big deal. It can change her life even at such a young age.

"Oh god" Jessica cries

"I'd like to start her with medicine. She'd take a few pills daily that will hopefully help with the seizures. They are pretty aggressive, that's why I am going to put her on a high dosage."

"So she can still have seizures, even with medicine."

"Yes, it's not a very high chance, but there is a chance."

"What happens if it doesn't work?"

"We have to wait a while and see, just because I really don't want to rush into surgery. Especially at her age. I'm very hopeful though."

"Will she have this her whole life?" Jessica asks

The doctor sighs "It's hard to say... she can grow out of it, if the medicine works maybe down the long road she can wean off of it and be perfectly fine, or she could have it her whole life. That's to be determined."

"... but I'd like to keep her here for another night. Just so we see how the medicine goes. And we can teach you two what to do in case of an episode. I would suggest a helmet. After her grand mal, it's best. She could get seriously injured. Especially if she was on the floor or standing."

Jessica and Danny sat there for what felt like forever listening to the doctor, taking notes, and taking it all in. Their life was going to change and so was Scarlett's. It scared the hell out of them. They just tried their hardest to be positive and hope that surgery could be avoided and that this would be something she'd grow out of. Their hearts ached for their little girl. She didn't deserve any of this. Jessica and Danny were not going to let epilepsy be Scarlett's new normal.

//-//

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