Can She Be Cured? II
10-year-old Gosalyn Mallard sat at her desk, trying to do her math assignment. Once again she felt hot and sweaty. Her hand was shaking. She let out a cough, which caused everyone to look at her.
"Gosalyn, are you all right?" asked her teacher, Mrs. Belle.
Gosalyn nodded and let out another small cough.
All her classmates figured that Gosalyn didn't sound so good. "Gos, I think you should go to the clinic" said her friend, Caitlin Turner.
Gosalyn shook her head and waved her friend's worries aside as she let out another small cough. As she put her pencil down to write an answer on her paper, her eyes rolled back and she fell to the floor. The entire class gasped. "Gosalyn!" Caitlin called her friend's name but there was no answer or movement.
Mrs. Belle sprang from her desk. "Move all your desks out of the way. Give her some room" she directed. The students did what they were told. "Caitlin, go get Ms. Larson. Tell her to call an ambulance" Mrs. Belle instructed. Caitlin ran out of the room and Mrs. Belle began to perform CPR on the unconscious child.
Caitlin ran into the office looking for the secretary. When she found her she caught her breath and told Ms. Larson what was going on and that they needed an ambulance. Ms. Larson reacted quickly, picked up the phone and called 911.
When Caitlin had returned to the room, Gosalyn still had not moved or regained consciousness. She was still sweating and her breathing was slowing down. Mrs. Belle continued with the CPR, while the other students urged Gosalyn to wake up. Caitlin didn't want to lose one of her best friends.
Gosalyn's father, Drake was called and he hurried to her school. The paramedics were already there. He rushed into the classroom. The paramedics were already lifting Gosalyn, who had a oxygen mask over her mouth, onto the stretcher. When Drake saw that she was sweating, he thought, Oh no, not again. He rushed out the school with the paramedics. Launchpad, his roommate and best friend, was waiting in the car. "Launchpad, you can go on home. I'm going with them" he said. Launchpad nodded and Drake hurried to the ambulance and got in.
On the way to the hospital, a paramedic, Jennifer, started an IV through Gosalyn's arm and drew some blood the doctors could take to the lab. The hooked her up to a clear liquid for medicine. "Is she going to be all right?" Drake wanted to know.
"I don't know. Has this happened to her before?" said Jennifer.
"Yes, about a month ago" Drake answered.
"During flu season, correct?" asked Jennifer.
"Yes" Drake answered.
"Well, flu season is over. I think this more serious than that" said Jennifer.
"Will she be OK?" Drake asked a second time.
"Once again, sir I don't know. You'll have to wait until the doctors have the reults" anwered Jennifer.