His three-year-old sister, Elsie, lay quietly on the unmade mattress beside him.
I immediately knelt next to her.
Her skin felt unusually warm, and she barely responded when I gently touched her shoulder. Her breathing was uneven, and her small body appeared exhausted after several difficult days.
Her lips were dry, and she seemed unable to remain fully awake.
“I tried giving her water, Dad, but she couldn’t keep it down. Then she stopped opening her eyes when I talked to her.” Fatherhoodadvice blog
Micah began crying as I carefully lifted Elsie into my arms. He leaned against my shoulder, holding tightly to my jacket while I tried to reassure him.
“You did exactly what you were supposed to do, Micah. I’m so proud of you for calling me. You’re incredibly brave, buddy. We’re going to get help now.”
Fifteen minutes later, the flashing hazard lights of my SUV reflected across the entrance of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
I hurried through the automatic doors with Elsie resting against my chest and Micah following closely, his small hand gripping the fabric of my coat.
“Please, we need someone to help her! She’s barely responding!”
