Baran is meticulous about taking her medication on time but gets stuck somewhere without them and is lowkey freaking out (despite her logical brain telling her it's fine and she will take them as soon as she is able)
Baran and [character of your choice] are supervising her son's field trip because she doesn't trust herself to do it alone
Baran has a surprise visit from a sibling and immediately has a seizure and is so ashamed because she feels like she has once again ruined everything
I love that there's three choices. I'm going to start with number 3.
DING
Baran's phone chimed. She looks at the screen and sees a message from her sister Sareh.
>> Hey Baran, sorry for the late notice but I'm coming to Pittsburgh tomorrow. My husband and the kids are with his family for a few days so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and come for a punk show while seeing my little sister. Would it be possible for you to pick me up at the airport?
-- Good to hear from you again. What time does your flight get in?
>> It gets in at 12 PM Friday afternoon.
-- Okay. I think I can take off. I'll just tell work that my family is coming in for a visit.
Dr. Shen would be happy to cover for me she thinks.
>> Great! I can't wait to see my sister.
Baran is waiting at the arrivals section of the airport. She's in her car and watching to see her sister come out one of the entrances. To her surprise she finds that her sister, father, and older brother walk out together. They wave to her.
She is shocked. She hasn't seen her brother or father in YEARS. She wasn't on good terms with them before she ceased contact until Amir had reached out to her. She gets out of her car to help them with their bags. "You know, I don't have room for all of you in my house but I guess we can make something work."
"I can take the couch" said Amir.
"Baba can sleep in my room" Baran says. "I'll sleep with Kamran tonight."
"I'll sleep downstairs with Amir on the air mattress" says Sarah.
They all get into the car and drive back to Baran's place.
"Where's Kamran?" her sister asks.
"He's with Asef. I am supposed to pick him up later today" Baran responds.
It happens when Baran is taking her Baba's things up to his (her) room. She freezes, makes an involuntary noise then falls backwards down the stairs. Her body starts convulsing, her head bashes into the railing. Amir quickly jumps into action and grabs her and moves her to the ground, rolls her onto her side, and lets the episode pass. It lasts exactly two minutes and 30 seconds.
"Welp, it wouldn't be a family gathering without a medical emergency ammirite?" he quips to his father and Sareh. Amir takes out his phone and dials 911.
"Hello, my sister had a seizure. She fell down the stairs and hit her head against the railing. She has a history epilepsy."
10 minutes later the ambulance arrives. Baran is still out of it when the EMTs come. They look her over and see she has a big gash on her forehead and a few bruises from the fall.
"Hey, habibti everything is going to be okay. You hit your head pretty hard" Amir tries to reassure her. He looks over at Sareh, "Can you call Asef and let him know what happened? See if you can pick up and watch Kamran. Her keys are over in the bowl by the door." Even though he knows the ins and outs of her disorder given his subspecialty of seizure disorders, it’s no less scary witnessing her like this than when she was a kid.
His youngest sister makes some noises. Her father and brother ride along in the ambulance. Muhammad remains silent for the duration of the trip.
"We have a 40 year old woman who hit her head during a seizure, has a history of epilepsy. She has a laceration on her forehead from the fall." one of the paramedics tells Robby as they wheel her in.
"Dr Al-Hashimi?" Robby says with surprise in his voice.
Amir and Muhammad whip their heads around, "Yes?"
"Oh, looks like there's a few doctors in the family" the chief attending chuckles.
"Wait you know her?" asks Muhammad.
"Yes, she works with me" replies Robby. "I'm Dr. Michael Robinavitch, you can call me Dr. Robby. I am the Chief attending of the PTMC ED. And yourself, Doctor?" he looks at Baran's father.
"My name is Muhammad Al-Hashimi. You can call me Dr. Al-Hashimi. I did not know my daughter worked here." He has a bit of a commanding presence.
Baran starts to regain consciousness and looks around at Robby, Mohan, her brother and father. Her head really hurts. "W-w-what's going on?"
"You had a seizure and hit your head" Robby answers. "Your family called 911 and brought you here."
She feels mortified that Robby is the one attending to her. And that everyone else on shift can see her in such a state. Dr. Shen walks by and sees her. "Fancy seeing you here. Can’t get enough huh?" he says lightly.
Baran weakly nods. She appreciates his attempt at humor.
"Let's bring her to a room" says Robby. "What's open?"
"North 3 is open" says Dana.
“We’re going to have to do a CT scan since you hit your head” Robby tells Baran. “I’ll be back soon but first let’s patch up that wound.” Princess comes in with the necessary supplies and gets to work. The wound isn’t too deep but it looks gnarly from the outside.
She nods. She’s been through this before. But she’s incredibly embarrassed that her colleagues, family, and residents are caring for her. She feels helpless. She hates being the one in the hospital bed. And she hates that she feels like Robby is proven right given her current condition.
“Hey, everything is going to be alright habibti” says Amir. His voice was kind, something that she wasn’t used to at all. There were very few moments where he was genuinely nice to her growing up. “I know it’s a little awkward to shit where you eat but at least you know you’re getting quality care.”
Mo is standing there in the corner of the room he doesn’t say anything. He has a look of disapproval on his face. Baran sees him over there. She knows that look. It’s really his default look when he’s around her. She knows she has disappointed him once again.
“Sorry” she murmurs. “This is no different from when I was a child, huh.” She looks sad. “You guys wanted a nice visit and what do you know, I ruin it again.” She looks down and her hands.
“Baran I am glad you are alive” says Amir as he holds out his hand.
She’s a bit teary eyed. But she can’t cry because her father is there. And he would disapprove.
“Amir?” she softly asks, “Can you ask Dr. Robby if he can hand my case off to Shen?” Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi hasn’t gotten over July Fourth’s interaction screaming match. He acted just like her father. Doubting her capabilities and undermining her confidence. She feels uneasy as Muhammad and Michael watch her.
“Yeah, sure. No problem” Amir goes off to find Robby.
There’s a knock at the door. It’s Dr. Shen. “Hey, Dr. Al-Hashimi?”
Three voices respond back, “Yes?”
“Yeah John?” she responds.
“We’re ready to take you for your CT now”
One of the nurses comes to get her and brings her up. The CT is relatively quick. While she’s up there, a few of the residents; Mohan, King, McKay, as well as Javadi pop in to check in on her. When she comes back down her father is the only one in the room.
“He went to get something to eat. That boy loves hospital food.”
Baran chuckles softly. He did always like food. He wasn’t a picky eater at all.
There’s a period of silence between Baran and her father. Until he breaks it.
“So this is where you work?” he says.
“Yes, this is my workplace”
He has been observing the going ons of the hospital through the windows. “It’s a bit understaffed.”
“I know Baba, we try our best”
“Your residents seem to like you” he nods in approval. “Several of them came by to make sure you’re okay.” It’s subtle and small but the affirming head nod from her father feels like winning the lottery.
Dr. Santos comes by and pokes her head in the room, “Dr Al-Hashimi?”
Both Baran and her father respond.
“I’m talking to my attending” Santos says. “Dr. Shen is busy right now. Your CT results are back. You have a minor concussion. Looks like you’ll have to take it easy for a few days. I can get you some acetaminophen and an ice pack in the meantime. Also, while I’m here: Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
Baran looks over at Mo, “Want anything?”
“I’ll take some water and a turkey sandwich” she says.
Trinity gets the food and drink and brings it back.
“Thank you Dr. Santos” Baran says.
Baran and her father eat their food in silence.
Just like old times she thinks. The shame she feels still lingers. But she notices a slight shift in her father. Maybe he finally is starting to see her. Mo looks back at her, a slight almost smile creeps across his face.