Little Rosie’s Health

~FIVE YEARS LATER~

“6th best celebrity photographer in the world,” Izabelle smiled to herself as she read that aloud from her phone. She was given an Award as the sixth best photographer in the world and the award ceremony was being held in Russia. Too bad she couldn't travel there due to some emergencies.

It's been five years already and she finally achieved her goal as one of the best celebrity photographers in the world. She was one of the most sought out people that only a handful of people could get access to. That's how far she has come these past few years. It wasn't easy but she strived so hard to win.

As if something flashed in her head, Izabelle’s jaw dropped as she gaped at the time in her phone and quickly sprang out of the couch and ran to the room to grab her bag.

“Oh damn. I totally forgot it's time.”

Running like a mad woman in her apartment, she picked up her small bag, wore her shoes, and dashed out of the house not bothering to lock the door properly. She would be back soon anyway. She took fast strides to the parking lot and immediately got into her car and out of the building.

She stopped in front of a pretty large building with the name ‘City Hospital.’ With a smile, she got out of her car and walked into the city hospital. She couldn't wait to see her little bundle of joy and gather her into her arms giving her unending kisses and hugs.

“Mommy,” she heard the voice she had been dying to hear as she saw a little girl sprint towards her just as she was sighted.

“Rosie, Sie Sie, don't run so fast,” she kneeled on the floor and accepted the tight hug from the little girl who clung onto her as if she never wants to be separated from her skin ever. Izabelle hugged her in the same manner and kissed her all over her face. The cute little girl giggled and pulled away from the hug a little.

“Mommy, you're late. Didn't you say that you'll come before 1? It's 2 pm now. We even have a flight to catch in one hour,” the little girl complained.

She pulled away from the hug and held her daughter’s face in both her hands before pinching her cheeks a little and dragging them softly, making her look funny in her frown. Isabelle couldn't take her eyes off her cute-looking daughter.

“Sorry, baby. Mommy’s mind was occupied. I forgot that I promised to pick you up by one pm. Forgive mommy please.”

“Okay, I forgive you. The nurses here are kind and they took care of me too. Mama, did you buy me chocolates?”

“Don't worry, I'll get you plenty of them once we get out of here. How’s your health? Do you feel any discomfort?” She asked and smiled as the girl shook her head. Standing up from the floor and picking her daughter in her arms, she walked towards the doctor's office.

“Aiyo. You're getting heavier each day. Do you eat behind my back?”

Rosie giggled at her mother's joke and wrapped her arms around her.

“I don't, Mommy.”

Finally, they got to the door of the doctor’s office and Izabelle dropped the child down. “Sie Sie. Stay here, okay? I'll go see your doctor and come back quickly, hmm? Be a good girl.”

The little girl nodded in understanding as she knew her mother didn't want her to hear the conversation with the doctor. She smiled at her mother and watched as she entered the office before sitting on a bench not far from the office door.

“Ahh, Miss Rossador, you're here. Please sit,” the doctor stood up from his chair to acknowledge her presence and shook her hand before offering her the seat astride him.

“Thank you, doctor Zach. Sorry for coming late. I hope Rosie didn't cause you any trouble.”

“Not at all. She's such a sweet child. She's been obedient all day.”

“Ahh..good then. How is Rosie’s health?” She asked.

The doctor’s smile dropped as he heard her question. He rummaged through the files on his desk and gave a single paper to Izabelle. It was a paper containing Rosie’s test result.

Izabelle took the paper with shaky hands and stared at the words written on it. She couldn't quite understand these medical words written in it even though she had seen some of them more than once. They still seemed foreign to her. She raised her head to stare at the doctor for further explanation.

Doctor Zach understood this well and went ahead to explain the details of the test result to her.

“I'm afraid if this goes on, little Rosie would have to get another surgery done before she grows up. Her heart problems are only going to get worse if she keeps fainting or crying so hard. Her heart is too weak for that.”

Izabelle’s eyes watered as she heard the doctor’s words. Her poor baby. Why does she have to suffer so much like this? Little Rosie had been diagnosed with a congenital atrial septal defect since she was born. Isabelle had known about it during her pregnancy that her child was going to have weak health.

Rosie’s first surgery was two years ago and since then her heart has been doing fine until a few weeks back when she dropped her at a friend's place and Rosie cried till she fainted when she didn't see her mother after many hours. Doctor Zach had told her that surgery might repair the heart completely but in some cases, it only gets to repair it for a while, and after some time, the heart problems would resume.

She had prayed and hoped that Rosie’s first surgery would repair her heart completely.

“Isn’t there any way to prevent this?” She asked, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.

“There is a way. If you can do this then, little Rosie won’t have another heart repair.”