5. A call for help

Cora and Lisa forgot about Zachary King in the meantime and went about the day's business. After her meetings, she visited her new branch building to check the work in progress. When she entered and saw how far they've gone with what used to be an old abandoned warehouse, She was proud of what they have achieved so far. The work on the building was almost done. Hopefully, they might be able to open for business by the end of the month. 

It was getting late in the afternoon when the two women finally decided to take a break and go for lunch, after which they can go shop for the baking and kitchen wares she would be using for her business. While shopping for the kitchen wares, Cora decided to call the babysitter so she could speak with Isabella. She knew they would be at the park right now and she wanted to be sure Isabella was having a great time at the park.

However, she couldn't get the babysitter on the phone. So Cora left a message on her answering machine, asking the babysitter to call her back as soon as she gets her message. 

Thirty minutes later, after buying some instrument that would be delivered to her later, Cora couldn't concentrate on shopping anymore. 

"Why can't I get Ana on the phone?" She asked Lisa with a frown of concern on her face. "I've been trying her number but keep getting her answering machine. She knows I always speak with Isabella by this time of the day. I don't understand!"

"Maybe she misplaced her phone!" Lisa said and brought out her own phone to call the babysitter. "She must have misplaced her phone." She assured Cora when she also got the babysitter's answering machine.

"Why don't we stop for the day and check on them? We can continue our shopping on another day" 

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly," Cora said and hugged her arms closer to herself as if she was feeling cold. "I'm having goosebumps!... Why am I having goosebumps!?" 

"I'm sure she's fine okay, don't think about it too much" Lisa smiled in assurance at her as they walked out of the store.

They arrived at the store's parking lot when Cora's phone started ringing.

"Oh, thank God, it's Ana," She said with relief when she saw her babysitter's number

"Ana I've been calling you and..." 

"Miss Ruiz, I'm sorry!..." Cora and the babysitter said to each other at the same time.

Cora immediately stiffened when she became conscious of what the babysitter said. She could tell from the gruffy voice coming from the other of the phone that she has been crying  

"Sorry?... What are you sorry for?... Where's my daughter Ana!? Why are you crying?" Cora rapidly fired with a shaky voice. Her body was awash with fear. 

"She collapsed! I-I don't know what happened! One moment she was playing and then suddenly she collapsed! The ambulance brought us to St. Bernard hospital. I don't know what's happening. I've not seen any doctor and..."

"I'm on my way!" Cora said and disconnected the phone. "Let's go to St. Bernard hospital. Ana said Isabella collapsed while playing!" She told Lisa as she opened the car door.

"What? Oh my god! What happened? How did that happen" Lisa continuously exclaimed as she hurriedly opened the driver's side of the car and entered. 

'What could make a healthy child to suddenly collapse while playing?' Cora asked herself but nothing came to mind. She was scared and frustrated that the babysitter couldn't give her any definite news about her daughter's condition.

While driving, Lisa kept cursing at motorists that crossed her path and dare to delay even for a second. She was as frustrated as Cora and wished she could fly since it seemed as if the car wasn't going fast enough. Lisa thought of Isabella as if she was her own. She was with Cora all through the bad and good days of her pregnancy and was also there when Isabella was born, 

She glanced briefly towards Cora and saw how tense she was. Sitting at the edge of the car seat, fingers clutching at each other while a foot was nervously tapping on the floor. With one hand in the steering, she reached over with the other hand and placed it over Cora's own, squeezing tightly in assurance that everything will be okay.

Cora was not assured. Instead, she suddenly burst out crying.

"I'm scared, Lisa!... God, I'm so scared!  What could make a healthy six-year-old to suddenly collapse while playing?" She asked Lisa the question that has been troubling her mind ever since the babysitter called her. But Lisa couldn't give her the answer that she wanted. She just silently prayed in her heart for Isabella's safety

They soon arrived at the hospital and rushed towards the reception area where a nurse was typing on a computer...

"Hello, I just got a call that my daughter was brought in here in an emergency. She collapsed while playing at the park. Her name is..."

"Yeah, the children's clinic is on the third floor," The nurse said without looking away from what she was doing

"Thank you," Lisa said and they both run towards the elevator. They came out of the elevator and was about to go to the floor's nurse's station when they saw Ana pacing in a corridor nearby

"Ana!..." They both called out as they rushed towards where the babysitter was pacing. When the babysitter heard her name, she started walking towards them and met them halfway.

"I'm sorry Miss Ruiz!... I swear I don't know what happened. She was happy and energetic as she played and then, suddenly fell down" Ana said sniffling. A crumpled tissue paper clutched in her hand.

"What about the doctor?"

"I've not seen any doctor come out ever since she was wheeled into that room." Ana pointed to a room that had emergency written on the door.

"Oh, God!" Cora said and plopped into a chair, tears falling from her eyes uncontrollably.

"Let's hear from the doctor first Cora common! Stop crying please!" Lisa consoled Cora, patting her on the back

After about five minutes, a doctor and two nurses came out of the ward. The nurses continued in a hurry down the passageway while the doctor stopped in front of them

"Who is her parent or guardian?" He  asked the three women

"I'm her mother! Doctor, please tell me, is she going to be okay?" Cora asked nervously

,

"She's stable for now. If you're her biological mother then we need to test your blood to see if you can donate for her..."

"No, no! Don't bother about testing me, I'm not her match... But why does she need blood?... She was a healthy child..."

"Miss... That child is severely Anemic and needs a transfusion within the hour. If you're not a match with her then I would suggest we skip the explanations till later and find her a donor as soon as possible. Since you know you're not a match then I'm guessing you already know her blood type is very rare. What about her father?" 

Cora shrank back into herself at the mention of Isabella's father. The doctor noticed her reaction but continued with what he was saying anyway. The child shouldn't be made to suffer because of the bad relationship between her parents. He thought 

"Miss, for the sake of that child, If her father is in the city then get him here as soon as possible while we check the state's blood bank database for a match for her. So if I were you I would be dialing his number right now..." The doctor said and walked away from them

"B-but I-I don't have his number!... Lisa!" Cora helplessly looked towards Lisa who was typing on her phone. Something she has been doing since when she heard the doctor talk about blood matches. She already knew Isabella's blood group is rare

"Here it's ringing!" Cora said and handed the phone to Isabella who now  looked surprised

"How did you?..." 

"G****e!... Not his personal number mind you. His company's number. We might be lucky and..."

Before Lisa could finish her sentence a pleasant female voice answered the phone

"Platinum & Silver Conglomerate, how may we help?"

"Yes, good evening... I would like to speak with the CEO please?"

"As regards to what ma'am?"

"Just tell him, Cora Ruiz, he will understand"

"Ma'am I'm sorry the CEO is in a meeting. He can't come to the phone right now. If it's about business then you can drop a message for him, if not, then I'd suggest you call his personal number. Have a nice day" She promptly said and disconnected the phone, not giving Cora the opportunity to reply her. 

Cora became dejected. She tried calling the number again but kept getting a busy tone

"This is a waste of time, I'll go and find him myself..." Cora said and immediately turned to leave, closely followed by Lisa.