Thankfully, when the Zeddmores arrived at the emergency room, there was only two people ahead of them.
A boy about 15, with a possible broken wrist, and a woman in her 20's, who judging by the clothes she was wearing was a waitress from one of the local diners, with a blood-soaked towel wrapped around her hand.
As Winston tried to calm down and comfort Gerald, who was still coughing terribly, Grace was able to get in touch with Jessica and Christopher to let them know what was going on and to meet her and Winston at the hospital.
All the while, Rhonda, who wasn't sure what to do, just sat in one of the waiting room chairs, and watched over her parents and brother.
Once the teenage boy and young woman were taken care, an orderly appeared for Gerald.
Winston walked with the orderly to the back, while still holding Gerald, who due to his coughing was in no condition to walk, after giving Grace the information of what area they will be in, so she could meet them later.
Rhonda got up from her seat and followed them.
Grace though stopped her.
"I'm sorry honey, but you can't go with papa and Gerald," she said.
"But I want to be with Gerald, he needs me," said Rhonda.
"He'll be fine baby.
He's in good hands with the doctor."
Meanwhile in the back, Winston and Gerald were greeted by a man in his mid 40's, wearing a white lab coat, on top of dark blue scrubs.
"Mr. Winston Zeddmore, I'm Dr. Alex Temple, I'll be examining your son," said the gentleman.
"Thank you doctor," spoke Winston, as the two shook hands.
"And you must be Gerald, it's nice to meet you to."
While he was normally, Gerald, who was still coughing was rather scared.
"It's OK Gerald.
I'm going to help you feel better."
Winston placed Gerald onto the examining table.
Dr. Temple then handed a small plastic object to the child.
"OK now Gerald, I want you to breath into this very slowly.
Can you do that for me?" the doctor asked.
Still coughing, Gerald nodded to answer.
He took the item from the Dr. Temple and began to breathe into it.
Although Gerald was breathing slowly, he still sputtered and coughed.
Let me try this," said Dr. Temple.
He then wheeled over an oxygen tank and hooked a small sized breathing mask to it.
Gerald started to cry, all while coughing when the doctor tried to put the mask over his face.
"I'm sorry doctor, he's not use to all this," said Winston.
"That's OK, the masks can be quite terrifying to children.
Winston held Gerald, so that the doctor was able to put the mask on.
"Don't worry buddy, the doctor's not going to hurt you.
Once the doctor was able to secure the mask on, he spoke to Gerald.
"Now Gerald, can you take a few breaths for me?" Dr. Temple asked.
A slightly upset and still coughing Gerald nodded.
The child began to breathe slowly into the mask, and within a few seconds, the coughing began to decrease.
After a few more minutes passed of Gerald breathing into the mask, the coughing completely stopped.
"My coughing's gone," said Gerald, who was actually smiling, even with the mask on.
"Wonderful.
That's exactly what we wanted," spoke Dr. Temple, who then removed the mask.
"I'm not coughing anymore papa," said Gerald.
"That's great," said Winston.
"Now Gerald, I want you to breath into the nebulizer again," said the doctor, indicating the plastic object.
"OK Dr. Temple," said Gerald.
Since breathing into the mask with oxygen, Gerald's breathing with the nebulizer improved a great deal.
Meanwhile, back in the waiting room, Grace was still sitting with Rhonda, when Jessica and Christopher showed up.
"We're here Auntie Grace," said Christopher.
"Any word on how Gerald is doing?" asked Jessica.
"He's still in the back with Uncle Winston and the doctor.
Since you two are here, can you sit with Rhonda, while I meet up with them?" asked Grace.
"But Mama, I want to be with Gerald," said Rhonda.
"I know honey, but he's with the doctor now.
You can spend time with him after his exam."
Grace knelt down to the child's height to give her a quick hug, then gave one to her niece and nephew.
"He's going to be OK Auntie Grace," said Jessica.
"He's a tough little guy," Christopher added.
Just as Grace was about to make her way to the back, Winston showed up with Gerald and Dr. Temple.
"Gerald!" said a now very happy Rhonda.
As she and her cousins was about to make her way over to her twin brother, her father stopped her.
"Take it easy everyone.
We don't want Gerald to get over excited," said Winston.
"Winston, is everything alright?" asked Grace.
"Grace, this is Dr. Temple."
"Very nice to meet you Doctor.
And thank you for taking care of our son.
My pleasure," spoke the doctor.
"And this is Rhonda, Gerald's twin sister and cousins Christopher and Jessica.
"How's Gerald doing?" asked Jessica.
"Are you OK there buddy?" Christopher asked his cousin.
"I'm better, thanks to Dr. Temple.
"After running a few tests and a chest x-ray, I was able to find out why Gerald had that terrible coughing spell.
He has asthma," said Dr. Temple.
"My poor little boy," said Grace, as she took Gerald in her arms.
"It's OK mama, Dr. Temple helped me," said Gerald.
"Does this have anything to do with the case of bronchitis he had a few months back?"
"As I explained to your husband, it's highly possible that since the bronchitis had a lasting effect on Gerald.
Also, the bronchitis could had triggered inflammation in the lungs.
Fortuntly, judging by the x-rays, Gerald appears to have a mild form of asthma, which could be kept under control with proper medication.
It's also best that he sees a pediatric plumanory specialist as well," said Dr. Temple.
"Is there anything we can do in the meanwhile?" asked Grace.
"Keep Gerald at a calming level.
Too much excitement may set off an attack, as well as exact dust, pollen, and certain pet dander.
"We actually have a dog."
"What kind do you have?"
"A Lopsa Apsa."
"No need to worry.
They're allergy and asthma friendly dogs.
What's most important is that Gerald keeps up his strengths and keep him healthy.
Many asthma patients have weak immune systems, which make it difficult to fight off viruses, and infections."
Dr. Temple handed a notice to Winston, which had the prescription for Gerald's medication inhaler, and gave Gerald a sticker for being such a brave patient.
While she was glad to see her brother, Rhonda did feel a bit left out that only Gerald had gotten a sticker and not her.
Grace and Winston thanked Dr. Temple for his help once more and left the emergency room.