The Black Notebook

Mom, mommy! Help I can’t breathe! I can’t-Callie’s mother came running upstairs desperately trying to get to her six-year-old daughter who was crying and gasping for air. It’s going to be okay; you’re going to be fine Callie’s mother assured her.

There was a big thud, it sounded like someone had stubbed their toe on the stairs really hard and fell. Suddenly Callie’s father came in half tripping over every step he took. Adelie what happened asked Callie’s father? I-I don’t know Cedric she replied shaking, hurry and call 911 dear!

Only moments later did Callie hear the loud sirens out by the front of their house and loud heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. She felt something slide of her fingers, it was her mother’s hand…she hadn’t even noticed her mother was holding her hand until now.

Next thing she knew, she was being put in the back of an ambulance and driven away to the hospital. On the way there she started to feel lightheaded and passed out not knowing what was happening to her.

Hours later Callie opened one eye, then the other. There were bright lights shining down on her from above that made her wince. As she turned to take the water bottle off her nightstand, she realized that she was in a hospital bed. She sat there in silence and then heard faint voices that sounded like they were having a conversation in the room next door. It sounded like her parents, and her mother was crying.

“Oh Cedric darling, what if she doesn’t come back…I won’t be a mother anymore. Sweetheart she’s going come back, she has to. I trust god to do what’s right for our daughter, we just have to pray and have more faith that’s all”.

Then the door opened and in they came, her mother’s face was red and stained with tears. Immediately both her parents ran to her bedside the second they saw that she was awake. Of course, her parents didn’t want to overwhelm her with questions, but it seemed they just couldn’t help themselves but to ask her what seemed to be a million times if she was alright, hungry, thirsty, if she was feeling nauseous or tired.

Callie knew her parents loved her, but all she wanted to do was rest. She still didn’t really remember what had happened and it seemed like her brain was overwhelmed with questions herself…she just didn’t have enough energy to ask them.

Just then a woman wearing a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck entered the hospital room. She had beautiful dark brown hair and clear blue eyes like the ocean, her skin was a light tan color with light pink surrounding her cheeks. Good evening Mrs. and Mr. Paloma she said, I am Doctor Asa, and this must be your sweet little girl Ms. Callie. I’m not little Callie replied with a grin.

So, can you describe to me what happened last night exactly the doctor asked Callie’s parents. As Mr. and Mrs. Paloma started explaining this to the doctor Callie noticed pictures of many children hanging from the wall. One was of a boy playing with a golden retriever in a field filled with gorgeous purple and yellow flowers and the greenest grass Callie had ever seen. Another was of a few bald children standing next to each other smiling and laughing. The last one was of a big tie-die sign that said, “celebrate every win, no matter how small!” written in large lettering across the center.

Callie, Ms. Callie? Callie turned around to see Doctor Asa by her bed side holding many different bottles of what seemed to be medicine. Is that for me Callie asked? Yes dear, it is replied the doctor. You need to take these twice per day, do you thank you can do that for me honey asked Doctor Asa? Callie just looked at her with wonder. She didn’t know how to take medicine by herself, mommy and daddy always said not to touch any medicine without help and permission from an adult. Doctor Asa laughed, that’s alright she said, I know how you feel. I’m going to give these to your parents and their going to help you okay? Still Callie just stared, not knowing what to think. She was too little to understand the concept of pills or anything really. She had just gone into kindergarten and was learning about many different things at once and that was a lot of pressure for a little girl. She didn’t need another thing to worry about, especially at such a young age.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Callie, Happy birthday to you! It was Callie’s thirteenth birthday, and she was really excited. Today was the official day she became a real teenager! She was so excited! She had invited her best friend Dakota who was twelve and a few other friends from online school.

Ever sense the sudden incident when she was six years old, Callie came in and out of hospitals. Whether it was for meds, weekly checkup, or another occasion where she couldn’t breathe. On the second day that she was at the hospital when it first happened, she was diagnosed with severe lower respiratory disease. Of course, Callie was too little to understand what that meant at the time, but now as she got older, she learned to except it more and more. Her parents “but mostly her father” had taught her to be grateful for all the great things she had in life and not focus on what she thought was wrong or unfair. She knew they were right, but sometimes she couldn’t help but wish that her life was a little different.

She couldn’t help but notice her parents talking here and there about Callie. Sometimes she would catch a few words on what they were saying. A few different times she heard them talking about Callie’s expensive health and how they were having trouble paying for everything to keep her in good shape. Callie had decided not to ask her parents about this because she thought they already had enough on their shoulders and didn’t want to stress them out anymore. Besides, it would work itself out as it always did wouldn’t it?

At the moment she was in the hospital because of her checkups and medicine. Her checkup didn’t go as well this time and the doctor said that the disease was getting worse. They were going to try different medicines to improve her breathing capacity, in hope for her to live a longer and stronger life. This also costed more money than usual, but did her parents really have a choice?

It was almost time for everyone to come to her party. Almost everyone from her side of the hospital chipped in to make her day special and to help decorate. There were streamers hanging from the doorway and over Callie’s hospital bed and colorful balloons attached to each side. They took down the original hospital pictures that hung and replaced them with pictures of Callie’s friends and family, and even some with nurses she’d known throughout the years of being there. There was even a round wooden table covered by a cute strawberry pink cloth in the corner of her room for all the presents to go.

She was so excited about it that it took her mind off all her current problems. All she had to do now was have a great time and celebrate finally being a teenager with all her friends. It couldn’t be that hard could it?

When everyone finally arrived the first thing she did was get up and hug her best friend Dakota. They hadn’t seen each other for a couple of months now and it felt so good to be back in her company.

There was pink lemonade, soda, bunches of chips, and there was even a small chocolate fountain. When it was time for cake, Callie got up herself and took the box with the cake over to her bed. The cake had not been taken out of the box yet because Callie wanted to open it herself and let everyone see what a beautiful cake she picked out.

It was a double layered cake with a thin light blue and purple swirled layer of fondant carefully placed over the top and sides of the cake. There was dark purple icing around the rim of the cake and on the top of the first layer there was pink icing made to look like small roses. But best of all, at the very top of the cake it read “Happy thirteenth birthday Callie!” in bright yellow frosting.

This was the best party Callie had ever had in her life, but eventually it was getting late everyone had to leave. She said her goodbyes and hugged everyone as they left saying thank you for coming and then slowly walked back to her bed.

She didn’t have time to open presents while everyone was there because they were all just having too much fun. But when Callie’s parents came back in from walking everyone out of the hospital and back to their cars, they had something behind their backs.

Callie, her mother said. We wanted to wait to open this with you till everyone left because it is very special to us and we hope it will be for you as well darling.

Her father pulled a small dark blue box out from behind his back with the words Paloma written on it. He opened it and there inside was the most beautiful necklace Callie had ever seen. It had a thin silver chain with a fairly large charm attached that looked like a golden angel. Her mother took it out and placed it around her neck. This is a necklace that’s been in my side of the family for years, said her mother. It’s a sign of hope and forgiveness. I hope that this will give you strength to hold on and never let go my darling, can you promise me that her mother asked? Of course, I can mom, Callie replied. I’ll always hold on and never let go she repeated.

There’s also something we’ve been needing to tell you said her father. Lately we have not been able to pay for your visits to the doctor and all the medication that you need. Everything is fine he assured Callie, it just means we have to do something about it, and I feel it is the right thing to let you know. We have set up a fundraiser of $10,000 for you, her father continued, and it’s coming up this Friday. He pulled out a small black notebook from his back pocket and handed it to Callie. I want you to write thank you notes for everyone who ends up supporting the fund. We may not make it to our goal, for it is very high…but maybe a few people will be inspired and interested and helping.

Callie nodded, I’ll start writing right away dad, she said. Thank you darling, he replied. Now get some rest, you have had quite the day today. I will, I love you Callie called out as her parents walked out of the room.

Friday came and by the time Callie woke up her parents had already left hours before to start the fundraiser. The day had gone by slow, but it was now almost 7:00pm and her parents would be back any minute now. She was correct, her parents walked in with the biggest smile on their faces. They had not only raised $10,000, but they had raised $20,000! They completed their goal and more and saved their daughters life. Callie heroically decided to donate $7,000 to the children’s hospital. this just goes to show that if you have faith, trust, hope, family and friends by your side, anything can happen!