The doctor sat and pulled out Mahi's chart before speaking.
"Unfortunately, Mahi has pertussis or what you might know as the whopping cough," Dr. Ryan said.
"A cough…she's admitted to the PICU because of a cough," Maan asked, suddenly angered that he'd been panicking because of a little cough.
"It's not just a regular cough, it's the whopping cough," Dr. Ryan said.
"What's the difference?" Geet asked.
"Whopping cough is caused by a bacteria that effects the respiratory system. It usually starts looking like the common cold including things like a runny nose, mild fevers and mild coughing, which I know Mahi has had for the past week or so," Dr. Ryan began.
Dr. Ryan explained that the whopping chough is highly contagious, which is why they are putting Mahi into an isolation room. He said that while this disease isn't common in children of her age, it wasn't completely unheard of. There is an immunization shot for it that comes as part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) shots but those are given in a round of five doses over the first six years of a child's life. Because Mahi was so young, she hadn't completed the rounds yet.
"We've already started Mahi on antibiotics but you will have to go on them as well," Dr. Ryan said.
"Why?" Maan asked.
"Because of its highly contagious nature, and a two week incubation period, we just want to be on the safe side to make sure that neither of you come down with it," he explained.
"If she's had it for two weeks how come you are only seeing it now?" Maan asked as his voice rose.
"Maan please…" Geet said as she put a hand on his arm to try and calm him.
"No," Maan said looking at Geet. "You took her to him yesterday, why didn't he see it then?"
"Mr. Khurana I can understand you worry and concern but unfortunately, with children Mahi's age its literally not there one day and there the next," Dr. Ryan said. "She has been coughing but we can't be sure what she has until tests are done. The lab work I ordered yesterday found B. Pertussis, the bacteria that causes this. The minute I saw the results I called Mrs. Khurana."
"What are you going to do to treat her?" Maan asked.
"Like I said, we've already got her on antibiotics for the next two weeks to fight the infection," the doctor said. "We admitted her because when children are sick like this there are changes of dehydration and other complications."
Just then there was a knock on the door and a young man came in wearing a lab coat that read 'Radiology'. He handed over a large envelop to the doctor. Taking it, the doctor got up, turned on the x-ray light and put the film up to the light. He remained silent as he studied the x-ray. A minute or so later, he turned off the light, but the film back in the envelope and joined Maan and Geet.
"One of the complications that could arise is pneumonia and unfortunately Mahi has that as well," Dr. Ryan said.
"Pneumonia?" Maan and Geet both asked shocked.
"Yes. It is usually more common in children under the age of 1, but not uncommon for children Mahi's age," Dr. Ryan told them.
"She's so small…what's going to happen to her?" Geet asked, as her voice cracked.
Maan reached over and put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
"We are going to monitor her closely and make sure that the antibiotics are working," Dr. Ryan said, "But it is a long process so don't expect it to clear up right away."
"And you'll keep us updated?" Maan asked.
"Of course," Dr. Ryan said, "Every step of the way. We just started the treatment so right now I don't have much to tell you but any changes, hopefully all good, I'll keep you posted on."
"Thank you doctor," Geet said.
"Let's go see her," Maan said as he stood up.
"Just a minute Mr. Khurana, I'd like to warn you before you go see her," Dr. Ryan said.
"Warn us? About what?" Maan asked as he sat back down.
He felt Geet tighten her hold on his hand as she feared, much like he did, what the doctor would say next.
"Soon, Mahi is going to have what we call coughing spells where once she starts coughing it could last up to a minute," Dr. Ryan said.
"What?" Maan asked.
"How will she breathe?" Geet asked concerned.
"During the spells breathing becomes difficult. Often times the children turn red or purple and gasp for air. And unfortunately, sometimes they do stop breathing for a few seconds during particularly bad spells," Dr. Ryan explained.
"Oh my God," Geet said as tears fell from her eyes and landed on Maan's hand.
"That can't be good for her," Maan said.
"It's not but because of the nature of this disease and the path that it takes, unfortunately there isn't much we can do to stop it. We will have oxygen on hand and she will be monitored closely when she has the spells so that intervention can be provided as needed," Dr. Ryan said informing them. "That's why we have her in the PICU."
"My poor baby," Geet said.
"My poor girl," Maan said quietly.
"Also, sometimes, depending on the severity of the case, the child may require suctioning for respiratory secretions to clear their air ways," Dr. Ryan said.
"Suction?" Maan asked, "As in sticking something in her throat to clear out her lungs."
"Unfortunately, yes," Dr. Ryan said. "I'm not saying that it will happen but I just want you to know what you might have to expect."
Just then Dr. Ryan's pager went off causing both Maan and Geet to become alert in worry that something was wrong with Mahi. Dr. Ryan looked at the page and then back to them.
"If you'll excuse me I'm need for a consultation," Dr. Ryan said. "Please, feel free to take your time here in my office and call me with any questions. And I'll keep you updated accordingly."
"Thank you doctor," Maan said.
Dr. Ryan gave them a little nod and left.
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Twenty minutes later Maan and Geet entered the isolation room where Mahi was assigned to. The two of them were dressed in yellow gowns that covered past their knees and tied in the back, and they also had on blue surgical masks. The nurses said that they could hold Mahi but to make sure they were covered properly
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Usually, when he came home, he was greeted by Geet and their 15 month old angel, Mahi. Every day it was the same routine. He would come to where Mahi was playing and ask the same question.
'Where's my girl?'
Immediately, Mahi would break into a grin showing her four teeth. She would put her hands up because she wanted to be picked up and would call to him.
'Baba.'
Maan would pick her up and throw her in the air making her squeal with delight. Upon catching her back in his arms he'd sit down with her on the bed where she'd been playing with her toys, and he'd play with her. He would make funny sounds, tickle her and just completely be a kid with her. Eventually he'd get up to go get changed but he always left the bathroom door open because that too was a game they played. When Maan would go into the bathroom to change and wash up, he would leave the door open and play a form of peek-a-boo with Mahi.
Once inside, he'd wait for a few seconds before sticking his head out and yelling 'peek-a-boo' at her which would make her smile. Then once he was changed out of his clothing, he'd pop his head out again and say the same thing making her grin. Since it took him longer to wash up, when he would come to do peek-a-boo for the third time, Mahi would usually be leaning over trying to get a sneak peek inside the bathroom. So when Maan came out, it usually startled her just a bit but she always broke into the cutest laughter.
Maan would join her back on the bed and begin tickling her stomach before beginning to play with her. By then Geet would have the food warmed up and would call out for them, so Maan would lift Mahi into his arms and carry her downstairs to the kitchen. One of Geet's quirks was that whenever she was in the kitchen, she had music going. So Maan would come with Mahi in his arms and then pretend to dance around the kitchen with her. He would sway with her, he would dip her, and even spin with her. It was the best thing and the highlight of his day.
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It was the second day at the hospital when Mahi's coughing spells had begun but were relatively mild. She would cough, just like she'd been coughing at home, but they would last longer than usual. Either Maan or Geet would hold her and pat her back until the coughs subsided. After she stopped coughing she would cry out of discomfort which took some time to subside.
Maan hadn't been going to work leaving Adi to handle everything in his absence because he knew Adi was the best employee he had. Everyone once in a while Maan would call to check in or Adi would call to update Maan, so Maan would take the call outside.
On the fifth day that Mahi was hospital, Maan received a similar call from Adi updating him on the progress of the project. When he returned to the PICU he saw Geet looking horrified as she held a coughing Mahi in her arms. As Maan got closer, he saw that Mahi's face was a deep red color and slowly turning purple. Maan felt the life drain out of him while he stood by terrified as his baby girl fought to take in air.
"Geet what happened?" Maan asked as he finally joined her.
"She just started coughing and didn't stop…it's been going on forever," Geet cried as she held onto Mahi.
"Where's the doctor and nurse?" Maan questioned.
"She went to get a smaller oxygen mask for Mahi because the one they have is too big for her," Geet replied.
Just then, on cue, a nurse dressed in pink scrubs walked in with a small oxygen mask which she quickly attached to the oxygen tank.
Mahi's coughs began to subside and the color returned to her face. The nurse took Mahi from Geet's arms and put her in the crib before placing the mask over her mouth and nose. She turned the oxygen pump on and put a plastic looking thing over Mahi's finger. Maan didn't know what it was called but he knew that it monitored Mahi's oxygen levels.
Maan put his arms around Geet as they both watched their daughter simply lie on the bed hooked up to the oxygen tank. Had this been any other time she would have been screaming to get out of the crib and back into her mother's arms. Had this been any other time and she would have already ripped off the mask that covered her face. Had this been any other time she would have been investigating the funny looking apparatus that was attached to her finger. However, she did nothing. Mahi simply lay on the bed unmoving as if too tired to fight.
After that time, Mahi had a handful more coughing spells that left her turning purple and every time Maan's heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing. It was like he couldn't breathe until he knew his girl could too.
In the midst of it all, the doctor had some good news. The antibiotics were working. He had listened to Mahi's chest and could tell that the mucus was being loosened up by the medicines which would eventually clear out of her lungs. The only downside to that was the fact that when Mahi coughed the mucus would dislodge and could get stuck in Mahi's throat.
That's exactly what happened one day. Another of Mahi's coughing spells started but this time they could hear the mucus in her chest. The nurse knew that the mucus had to be taken out or else Mahi could choke on it. Maan and Geet stood in the background as two nurses surrounded their baby girl. One nurse used her arms to hold down Mahi so she couldn't move while another nurse took out a long, plastic nozzle that was part of the suctioning machine. Using her free hand she held Mahi's mouth and forcefully inserted the device into it.
Maan's heart shattered as his baby girl screamed and cried to the best of her ability at the intrusion. His blood ran cold knowing that he couldn't take away her pain. His heart shattered to see his baby girl squirm to get away from the nurses that were torturing her. His blood ran cold knowing that there was nothing he could do to help her.
Thankfully, she had only needed one other suctioning treatment after that, because she was finally beginning to recover. Her coughs began to die down as the antibiotics cleaned her system of the disease. She was starting to get back to her old self which meant a lot of crying when the nurses or doctors were around. But she was still quiet, cranky and not the same happy baby she used to be.
Maan had gone back to work because he couldn't stay away any longer since the project couldn't progress any further without him. He'd come to the hospital many times during the day. Every time he'd ask the same question – where's my girl – and every time he would get a blank stare, maybe a soft smile if he was lucky.
At one point the project had started taking up more time than he'd expected so he missed Mahi being awake. He would always get the hospital too late and she'd already be sleeping. Three days had passed since he'd see his baby girl with her eyes open.
But finally – finally – the day came when Mahi was Mahi again.
Maan had left work early that day because he couldn't let another day pass where all he got to do was say good night to his sleeping daughter. It was still early in the evening when he arrived at the hospital. He went to the PICU but was informed that Mahi had been shifted to the regular pediatrics ward on the other side of that floor. He quickly made his way down the hall. As he entered the unit and went to the nurses station to figure out where Mahi was, he saw Geet coming out of a room.
"They moved Mahi?" he asked.
"Yes…she didn't need the PICU any more so they moved her here," Geet said.
"Are you going to make a call?" Maan asked as he saw the phone in her hand.
"Yeah, Pinky called earlier to see how Mahi was doing but I couldn't talk to her. I figured that since Mahi was sleeping now I'd get it done," said Geet.
"Ok, you go…I'll stay with her," Maan offered.
Geet leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Room 21…fourth door on the left," Geet said as she walked off.
Maan walked down the corridor and entered the dark room quietly not wanting to wake Mahi from her nap. He was surprised when he saw her small body sitting up in the crib, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her tiny fists.
"Where's my girl?" Maan said just loud enough so that she heard him.
The sound of her his voice made her stop what she was doing and turn her head slightly to face him. Instantly her lips formed a smile.
"Baba," she said as she held her arms out to him.
The sense of relief, love and pride that washed over Maan at that moment was incredible. After weeks, his baby girl was finally back to her old self.
Maan lowered the side of the crib and took his daughter into his arms. Immediately she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.
"Baba," Mahi repeated.
"I've missed you baby girl," Maan said as he ran his hand over her back.
She pulled back from the hug and held out her arm for him to see.
"Baba…oowie," she said.
Maan looked to where she pointed and realized it was the place in her arm where her IV had been attached. Maan leaned in and kissed the tiny red dot gently.
"All better," he said.
Mahi giggled.
"Baba…" she said as she stretched and placed a kiss on his cheek.
Maan was grinning from ear to ear.
"Where's my girl?" he asked again, this time closing his eyes.
He felt Mahi touch his cheeks with her tiny hands.
"Baba…" she called.
Maan opened his eyes and was greeted by her sweet baby smile.
"There she is…there's my girl," he said.
The End