I awoke to my mother’s smiling face. She told me that I had been asleep for quite a while. She explained that I had been so dehydrated that I did not know that she was even in the room. She informed me that the dehydration and a very high fever had caused me to have a seizure. She said she had not left my side since she had picked me up from school yesterday. The word yesterday traveled through my mind. My first thought was I had missed going over to Sammie’s house. I asked Mom if she had called Sammie to tell her I was in the hospital. She said she had called Sammie’s house while we were heading to the hospital.  

After about ten minutes, the nurse came in and took my temperature. It had dropped 5.3 degrees since the school nurse had taken it at school yesterday. My temperature was now at 100°F. I was only 0.5 degrees from my normal rate of 99.5°F. Next, my endocrinologist came into the room. He said he liked that my temperature had dropped. He also said I was recovering nicely from my adrenal crisis. He said my body had not created enough cortisol so my body did not produce and use sugar efficiently. This low blood sugar caused drowsiness and high fever. In addition, I did not have enough salt during my crisis. The imbalance caused nausea, dehydration, extreme muscle weakness and weakness of the heart muscle. He asked if I had been able to eat anything. I said I had eaten some apple sauce, chicken noodle soup and crackers. I told him I was finishing a popsicle as he had entered my hospital room. Dr Hinckley said he felt I was recovering nicely. Therefore, he said I was able to go home and that he wanted to see me in his office in a week.  

Mom started to prepare for us to go home. After she had packed up my things, she went to the nurse’s station to sign the hospital release forms. As I sipped on the straw in my Sprite, there was a light knock on the door. I said, “Come in.” As I looked up from my cup, I saw that it was Sammie. I was overjoyed to see Sammie and wondered if she was upset that I had missed our Friday night fun.  

When she entered the room, she handed me a gray stuffed kitty cat that looked exactly like my pet, Buddy. She had flowers and a card that said “HOPE YOU GET WELL SOON”. I said I was glad to see her and thanked her for my gifts. Then I asked her to sit down, so that we could talk. She said her dad was in the parking lot waiting for her, so she did not have much time. As she pulled a chair close to my bed, I thought I could never find a friend like her for we had so much in common. She seemed to understand me.  

She was the first to speak. “Since you have been in the hospital, I have been thinking about our friendship.”  

My heart dropped to my toes. “Was our friendship going to end?” I thought. I could not speak. I just listened to what she would say next.  

She continued by saying, “We share many things that could make us very close. I hesitate to tell you what I am thinking for it may break the bond between us.” At this point in the conversation, I was ready to scream “JUST SAY IT … MY FEELINGS ARE ALWAYS BEING HURT! WHY WOULD IT MATTER NOW?” She did exactly what I was thinking. Just like when the doors are unlocked and a prisoner is released, these exact words were spoken.  

“I have CAH just like you. I’m sorry to have kept it a secret and I hope you can forgive me? As you spoke about your condition, I should have told you I had it also. As time passed, I was afraid you would be angry because I hadn’t told you sooner. I always went to the nurse after you to take my medicine. She wanted to let you know you were not alone. But I asked her not to tell you there was another student in the school with the same condition. I wear a necklace instead of a bracelet and keep it under my shirt so no one can see it. Now that you know, will you ever forgive me?”  

I could not be angry for I was delighted that Sammie and I were even more alike that I had originally thought. I looked her right in the eyes and repeated what she had said once to me. “There is really nothing to forgive. Forget about it. I’m glad you told me. I have always wanted a friend like Ann Shirley found in Diana Harris. I think we are “kindred spirits” like in the book, Anne of Green Gables.” As soon as I spoke, she gave me a giant hug. We then vowed to be best friend forever. I had finally found a true friend.