“My mom… she’s asleep. She’s sick again. My dad… he’s at work,” the girl admitted. There was a pause. “I think… I think the food and water… they made me sick after my dad and his friend gave it to me.”
Nina’s brow furrowed. “Okay, Lucia. I want you to stay calm. I’m sending help right now. Can you tell me exactly what happened?”
She hesitated, trembling, before describing the pain that had taken over her body, how her stomach felt swollen and heavy, and the nausea that had left her weak and scared. Nina signaled to her supervisor while keeping her voice gentle, coaxing the little girl to explain more.
Within minutes, an ambulance was dispatched to the small apartment complex in Willow Creek Heights, a modest neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. Dr. Mateo Lin, a pediatrician with the Cedarwood Medical Center, arrived with paramedics and quickly assessed the situation. He examined Lucia’s chart, listened to her heart, and palpated her abdomen carefully. “She’s in pain, but we’ll get her stable,” he said quietly.