Ruthie's Story

By: Tammy Kaiser

Based on Characters by Brenda Hampton

Chapter 1: Rushing To The Hospital

"Ruthie, time to get a move on!" called 23 year old Lucy Kinkirk to her 15 year old sister as she climbed the stairs to the attic bedroom she had once shared with both of her sisters.

All proof that Mary and Lucy once lived in this room was now gone. Posters of pop stars and horses covered the wall. Crammed into one corner of the room was a brand new 2005 Dell desktop computer which her parents had surprised her with for Christmas. On the back of the chair hung her pink jacket and backpack. On the wall above the computer hung a picture of her family. In the middle of the picture were the unmistakable smiles of the head of the entire Camden universe, Reverend Eric and Annie Camden. In front of their parents sat her six year old twin brothers, Sam and David. In back of their parents stood the five older Camden children. On the left was 28 year old Dr. Matt Camden. Next to him was 24 year old Mary Rivera. Next came 23 year old Lucy Kinkirk who was Ruthie's favorite sister. Next was 21 year old Simon Camden, Ruthie's favorite brother. Finally came Ruthie. A spunky 15 year old high school freshman with brown hair and brown eyes. On the desk was a picture of her niece, Savannah and her nephew, Charlie. Over on her bedside table were pictures of she and her best friend Yasmine, she and Simon, and she and her sister-in-law Sarah and her horse Ed. Next to the door on separate hooks hung a bridal, a riding crop and a riding helmet. Ruthie loved her family and she did not mean to turn it upside down with fear and worry for her life.

"Ruthie," said Lucy once again when she was just outside the door. But as she entered the room she saw something that scared her to death.

Lying in the bed was not the Ruthie she had said good night to the night before. She looked gray and not only was she not moving but she was not breathing. Lucy screamed and immediately started CPR. Pounding footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Annie and Eric came running into the room with Lucy's husband, Kevin right behind them.

"Help me Kevin, we have to save her."

"Lucy, I'll take over. Dad, call 911."

Eric picked up the phone and dialed 911.

"911, state your emergency." said the lady on the other end.

"We came to wake my daughter for school and she's not breathing. Yes, my son-in-law is doing CPR. The address is 2021 Liberty Street, and please hurry."

"Eric, Could you please take the boys to school? I don't want them to see this." said Annie. "Just tell them Ruthie isn't going to school today because she is sick. Lucy, I want you to ride in the ambulance with me. Kevin call Matt, Mary and Simon. The numbers are by the phone. Oh and call Robbie. He and Ruthie were very close. His number is in the address book in the drawer by the phone."

"Thank God. I got her breathing." said Kevin with a sigh of relief as Ruthie began to cough up about a pound and a half of phlegm.

Ten Minutes later the paramedics were loading Ruthie into the ambulance. Within five minutes they were pulling into Glenoak Hospital's ambulance bay.

"Mr. and Mrs. Camden?" A young doctor about 27 said.

"Yes."

"My name is Dr. Aiken, I examined Ruthie. She is going to be fine. There is only one thing that is bothering me. Did any of you know she was sick?"

"She had a small cold, but we didn't think it was serious."

"Mr. and Mrs. Camden, Ruthie has pneumonia which has gone untreated for at least a week. There was so much excess mucus and puss that it was cutting of her oxygen and she began to have a hard time breathing until finally she just stopped breathing. Mrs. Kinkirk if you had waited any longer you would have lost her.

"Can we see her?"

"Yes. She's in room 304."

"Thanks" said Annie. As they began to leave the waiting room Simon ran in.

"Mom! What happened? I was about to go to class when I got this 911 call from Martin saying Ruthie was being taken to the hospital."

"She has pneumonia and she's having trouble breathing but she is going to be okay."

The Camdens walked into room 304.

"Hey sweetheart how are you feeling?"

"Like I got the wind knocked out of me. I am not breathing very well."

The doctor had hooked her up to an oxygen tank that was hooked to a nasal cannula that he had put on Ruthie.

"Ruthie hun, next time you don't feel well please let us know."

"I will."

"Ruthie Angela Camden." said Simon. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"I'm sorry everyone. I thought that if I ignored it that it would go away."

"Well it didn't so the next time you are sick, tell us." "I will I promise."