Carissa's Law

by Misty Boyd

  “Isaac, I’m so proud of the man you’ve become,” Betty told him, pride ringing in her voice, “and I have to say, that can’t all be my raisin’. Most of that is God’s hand. I can’t take credit.”

  “Well, you and God did a good enough job that I know better than to take from that girl what isn’t mine yet and, if that means we stay at her parents’ house, then that’s what we’ll do. I love you, Ma. Goodnight.”

  With that, Isaac was alone with his thoughts again. There wasn’t much left to do, except end the day in the bed he had brought with him from his mother’s house.

  Chapter 51

  It had been a whole month since John Walker had been in this cold office. He had taken some time off to be with his wife after the birth of their baby boy, and it was hard to come back. He’d been gone since November, and there were piles and more piles of paperwork and new emails to get through. He wondered if anyone had even been over to his desk to prevent this paper mountain he was staring at.

  Unlikely. No one around here did their own jobs, much less tried to help with the slack when someone was missing. The legislative session started again in January, and it might take him that long to sift through this mess.

  With a sigh and a cup of coffee, he faced the stack and got to work.

  It ended up taking him until his lunch break just to organize it into stacks he could deal with. He ripped open the lunch his wife packed and ate a turkey sandwich while he checked his emails.

  “Good grief…” he sighed, looking at the extensive list. There were hundreds. It was nearly impossible to organize them by priority, but he did. He organized them into things he had to get to today, things he had to get to before the next legislative session, and things that could wait until he could see above the papers on his desk. Just the “today” emails would take him until sometime next week, he thought, but he settled into his chair and started at the beginning. Some of the things in his “today” stack consisted of things that only required “yes” or “no” answers, and honestly would have only required a little help from Google if people had bothered. At least those would be out of the way quickly.

  About halfway through the pile, when his head was spinning, he ran across one from a woman named Carissa. It was clearly misfiled, and belonged in the “before the next legislative session” pile, but the subject line caught his eye. “Spina Bifida Law: Tell the Truth.”

  Spina bifida. They had tested his son for that, hadn’t they? Told his wife that, if he had it, he would be mentally retarded, that he’d never walk or talk, or even go to the bathroom on his own. He was sure they had tested for it. They didn’t find anything but, man, the wait was scary.

  Yes. This was the thing they had been testing for. He remembered, and he was curious enough to open this email now to see what this woman wanted with spina bifida. Surely she didn’t have it, or she wouldn’t be emailing him. She’d be a vegetable. And she couldn’t have a kid with it. Didn’t most of those babies get aborted?

  That’s what the doctor had said, that if their boy had this, they could just abort and try again. Luckily, they didn’t have to deal with that. Their boy was happy and healthy, just the way he was supposed to be.

  He skimmed through the email quickly, then went back to read it a second time, just to make sure he’d read it right. Pausing, resting his chin on his hands, he wasn’t sure what to think.

  Okay, so this woman claimed to actually have spina bifida, that wretched birth defect that the doctor had been so negative about. Right. And now she was typing him an email asking him to tell people it wasn’t as bad as that doctor said it was?

  How was he supposed to believe that? The doctor had been pretty plain. If their son had this, his life wouldn’t be worth living. If he even survived at all, he would be a vegetable. The only humane thing to do would be to abort. And here was this woman claiming she had spina bifida?

  No way. This had to be some kind of sick joke. “I’m not falling for that,” he said to himself, and closed out the email. This girl could find some other fool. He had work to do. John plowed through more emails and, by the end of the day, he was about a quarter done with the “today” emails. But it was time to shut it down and go home to that wife and new baby of his.

  “Tony, I’m out.” he said to the co-worker in the cubicle next to his.

  “Later, John, good to have you back!” Tony replied.

  When he got home, he found both his wife and baby asleep on the couch, baby formula spilled on the floor, and a rattle between his wife’s toes.

  “Must’ve been a rough one,” he thought as he reached down and picked his boy up off his wife’s chest. Somehow, between the time he’d left for work and the time he’d gotten home, the baby had traded in his sweet smell for a smell that was much less pleasant. “Let’s get you changed, boy! You stink!”

  John laid his son on a blanket on the floor and began the terrible process that was diaper changing. He didn’t know how his wife did this all day long. He could barely get through one diaper without gagging.

  “Burble, burble, gah!” his son cried out, with a half-grin that he hadn’t quite mastered yet.

  “I hear you talking. Don’t wake Mommy up. You wore her out,” he whispered back. Looking into his son’s eyes, it hit him. What if what this Carissa woman said was true? What if spina bifida wasn’t as bad as that doctor had made it sound? He and his wife had been terrified at the thought of their son turning out like that, but what if none of it was true?

  What if Carissa really did have spina bifida? She seemed fine. She was obviously capable of sending an email and standing up for herself. What else were these people capable of? And what did it matter?

  Looking into his son’s eyes, he realized it didn’t matter if his son never walked or talked, or did anything beyond what he was doing right now. He was still his son, and he deserved a fair chance to do everything he could do, no matter what that was. And, if what the doctor told him wasn’t even true, what better reason to help these other kids out?

  “Hey, Tony,” he said softly into his cell phone as he put the baby in his crib. “Are you still at the office? Great. Look, I need you to get on my computer. There’s an email there. I don’t think I deleted it. Carissa Schultz. I need that email, and I need you to see if she left a phone number or anything. If not, find me a phone number. I need to speak to her today. It’s important.”

  John Walker got off the phone armed with Carissa’s information, and went in the other room to make the call.

  Chapter 52

  It was Christmas Eve, and Carissa had so much to thank God for. She had been talking back and forth with Annabelle, Connie, and John Walker for some time, and it really looked as if things might go well in the next legislative session.

  Things were great with Isaac, even though they weren’t seeing much of each other lately with his school and work. It would be worth it, though, when he was a doctor. They just had to keep telling themselves it would all be worth it.

  Mom and Dad were good. Dad’s job was going well, and Mom was happy as long as her family was happy. Carissa didn’t understand how she could be so happy as a housewife, but she was.

  Carissa wanted a career. She wanted to be out in all the mess of the world, but Mom was content to change the world right from her own home, and that was good, too. It had certainly worked out for Carissa to have her there.

  Things were just really good, and going to church tonight with Isaac and Betty was the perfect way to thank God for it all. She took one last look in the mirror to make sure her dark blue sweater dress and her makeup were perfect.

  She heard Isaac pull up into the driveway and went out to meet him. She climbed into the passenger seat as Isaac put her chair in the back.

  “Merry Christmas!” he told her.

  “Merry Christmas. Where’s your mom?” she asked.

  He raised his voice so she could hear him as he closed the trunk. “She’ll meet us there. She was out and about with friends wh
en I called, so I couldn’t pick her up. She said the girls are coming with her.”

  Carissa smiled. “Oh, okay. Lady on the town.”

  “Yeah, that’s Ma for ya.”

  Isaac got in the car and they headed toward the church. When they got there, they found Betty sitting outside waiting for them, alone.

  “Hey, Ma, where’s the girls?” Isaac asked.

  Betty blushed. “Well, Isaac, there’s something I wasn’t really honest with you about.” Just then, a man, larger in build than Isaac, but not taller, walked around the corner. She put a hand on his arm. “This is Eric. We’ve been seeing each other for a little while now. I hope it’s okay that he brought me. The girls, obviously, are not coming. In fact, I may have told a white lie here and there about seeing the girls. I’m sorry. I just wasn’t ready for you to meet him.”

  Isaac eyed the other man for a moment, then nodded. “It’s cool, Ma. As long as he treats you well. Hello… Eric… Is there a last name I can call you by, sir?”

  “Eric is fine, young man. I’m not that formal,” Eric replied.

  They shook hands, and Isaac said, “Well, Eric, treat my mama well, and we’re all good. Let’s go to church.”

  They all went in and took their seats, Betty in the aisle, Eric beside her. Isaac made sure to sit by him, just to make a presence, and Carissa sat on the other side of Isaac.

  The service was enjoyable, and Carissa couldn’t help but count her blessings, Isaac and Betty being two of them. It looked as if Eric might squeeze his way in there, too, eventually.

  Chapter 53

  Annabelle, Connie, John and Carissa all met for coffee. It was early January, and the legislative session would be starting soon. They had to get their ducks in a row. John wanted to go over the bill with them and make sure it was everything they wanted it to be.

  Annabelle, Connie, and Carissa wanted to make sure they were doing everything they possibly could to make this thing pass.

  “Okay, so here’s what we have,” John said. “Look it over and make sure it’s right. If I’ve left anything important out, now’s the time to tell me.” He started passing papers around to each of the ladies. “I’ll want to change it before I present it. And you guys want to be there on the day we vote, right? I would think the three of you wouldn’t have it any other way.” When he was done passing out papers, he picked up his coffee cup to warm his hands.

  “Right,” they answered, almost in unison.

  They all looked over the bill as it was written, and everything looked good. Doctors would be required to find the most up-to-date information on spina bifida before handing out a diagnosis. They would be required to research treatment options, to let parents know that there were medical advancements that could help. They would be required to tell the whole truth to new and expecting parents before offering any “options.” And parents would be given hope, for once, that their babies with spina bifida could not only survive, but thrive, through their challenges.

  “I like it,” Carissa said, after taking a sip of her latte. “When do we do this thing?”

  “We meet on the second Tuesday in January, which is actually this coming Tuesday. Can you all make it?”

  “Absolutely,” Connie said. The others agreed and, after some chit-chat, the meeting broke up and they all went their separate ways.

  Carissa was an overflowing pot of nerves and excitement. She assumed the coffee wasn’t helping calm her any. On her way home, she called Sarah.

  “Mom, I have to go to Austin this Tuesday,” she said. “It’s happening!”

  “That’s great, hon. So you met with John? How did that go?” Sarah asked. “Well, I assume, considering you’re planning a road trip.”

  “The bill is perfect, Mom. I think we’ve really got something.”

  “Awesome, sweetie. I’m so proud of you.” Sarah paused, then said, “Let me go tell your dad.”

  Carissa waited while Sarah went to find Jim, but she came back to the phone without him. “I’ll tell him later,” she told Carissa. “He’s on a business call again, I guess. Those guys never give him a break. But we’re so proud of you. You really are a world changer.”

  “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  Carissa pressed END and then called Isaac, but he didn’t answer. He must have been on the other line, so she left a message for him to call back.

  Chapter 54

  “Hey, hon, Carissa called and had news, but you were on the phone,” Sarah told Jim as he walked into the kitchen to help her with the dishes. “She’s going to Austin this Tuesday for her bill. They’re going to try to get it passed this session. Isn’t that great? I think we should go with her. I’ll wait on the steps. I just want to be with her when she hears, don’t you?” Sarah practically bombarded Jim when he was off the phone.

  Jim held up his hands with a smile. “Slow down, woman. I think we should go. We need to be there, for a lot of reasons. We’ll go, for sure.” He wrapped one arm around her and rinsed off a plate with the other hand.

  Sarah grinned at him happily. “Good, we should be there. Who was on the phone? Work again? They drive me crazy. Can’t you ever just be home?”

  “It wasn’t work. It was Isaac, actually.” Jim grin widened. “He had a question about something.”

  Sarah perked up. “Is everything okay? What did he need?” She took the plate from his hand, dried it, and put it in the cabinet above her head.

  “Just man things. Everything is fine,” Jim said. “We worked it out. He’s a fine young man, and I’m glad Carissa picked him. I think you are, too.”

  “Yes, I’m proud of both of them.” She looked up at him and smiled, then her face turned more serious. “Do you think this bill will pass? What if it doesn’t? What’ll that do to Carissa?”

  Jim looked down toward her, grabbing another plate to rinse as he did. “I sure hope it does. Surely, people can see the value of just telling the truth. It’s not even like she’s asking to outlaw abortion entirely. She’s just asking for the truth to be told and for parents to be able to make a more educated decision. That certainly can’t be looked upon poorly.”

  “I sure hope you’re right. If she’s done all this and it doesn’t pass, well, I don’t even want to think how heartbroken she’ll be.” Sarah put a cup into the pantry.

  “Let’s hope we don’t even have to think that way. I just have a feeling we’ll have some things to celebrate.” He drained the water from the sink as he handed Sarah one last fork to put away.

  “I hope you’re right,” Sarah said, taking the fork and putting it in the drawer to her right. She dried out the sink and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “You want one?” she asked Jim, handing out the bottle. He took it from her, and she pulled out another for herself, opened it, and took a big gulp.

  “I’m right. When am I wrong?” Jim asked jokingly.

  “Ha! Never, oh wise one!” Sarah mocked.

  “See, that’s what a man needs, a woman who sees his wisdom.” Jim put his arm around Sarah and squeezed gently.

  “Sure. That’s what I was doing.” She took another drink of her water, and they headed toward the living room to catch some television. “Let’s go see what’s on before you get too full of yourself.”

  “Lead the way,” he replied lovingly.

  Chapter 55

  The day had come. Jim, Sarah, Carissa, Isaac, Annabelle, Connie, Betty, and Eric all arrived at the capitol building, one car behind the other. They parked, and everyone piled out of the vehicles and met in the middle of the parking lot. Carissa was so nervous her hands were shaking. She could barely push herself. Her dad stopped her when they had almost reached the others in the parking lot.

  “Carissa, I want you to know that, whatever happens today, we are so proud you are our daughter. We couldn’t ask for any more than what you’ve already accomplished. These babies didn’t have a voice, and you gave them one. You did this, and we are so overwhelmed a
t the young lady you’ve come to be.”

  “I love you, Dad,” Carissa replied, tears filling her eyes. “Now stop, I’m going to ruin my makeup and look crazy before I talk to these people.”

  Jim patted Carissa on the back, and they travelled the rest of the parking lot to meet up with the others.

  What they saw when they looked toward the building was more than Carissa ever could have imagined. There were people as far as she could see, holding signs that said, “Save the Babies” and “Tell the Truth” and all kinds of other slogans. They were chanting things, and waving their hands in the air. Carissa wasn’t even sure she could get to where she needed to be.

  “Wow,” Annabelle said. “I think we’re going to have to help clear the way.”

  They started up to the building, surrounding Carissa and her chair just so she could get through the crowd. When they reached the door to the building, Isaac bent down to Carissa, kissed her on the cheek, and told her he loved her, then Carissa went in alone to support her bill, her baby. The rest of them waited on the steps, where one woman started to pass around a microphone, so people could tell their stories of spina bifida and the untruths they were told.

  “My daughter was born with spina bifida thirty-four years ago. We didn’t know about the spina bifida beforehand, but the doctors told us we could still let her go if we wanted to. Today, she’s nothing like they said, and I’m glad we didn’t listen,” one woman said.

  “I was born with spina bifida. I’m not a vegetable. Ask my wife,” a man said.

  “My baby was diagnosed in-utero with spina bifida. Because of false information given to me upon diagnosis…” the young woman paused, tears streaming down her face, “I aborted. I regret it every day. There isn’t a day I don’t tell my child I’m sorry.” She paused for a moment, then went on. “This law has to pass so this never happens to another baby. I miss my baby.”