Chapter 2

Harsh coughing fills the air as he starts to stir, "mm ow, I can't breathe"he says, "shh Rome I know, follow my breathing, in and out,that's it"I say as his breathing starts even out. It's been an hour now and the doctor still hasn't arrived, his mom has come in and out of the room some,but no doctor. The door creaks open as his mother comes in ,this time with a doctor in tow, and I get up off of the bed so the doctor can do his job. "shh how you doing darling"she asks laying a pale palm against his forehead, "not good momma, it hurts"he says quietly as he starts to cough again, "shh baby I know, try to relax alright the doctor is going to get you better,OK"she asks, "yeah"he responds. I stand in the doorway and watch as the doctor starts his work. The doctor first takes his blood pressure and then his temperature but because of the coughing Roman can't handle a thermometer in his mouth.

The doctor gently rolls him on his side and then put's the sheet across him for privacy. I see his mom holding his hand as his temperature is taken and then he's rolled back onto his back. "Roman can you sit up for me, I want to listen to your heart and lungs OK"the doctor asks, "yeah"he says. I go over to the bed and help him sit up against his pillows, and I stay by the bed to keep him steady. The doctor first puts his stethoscope against his chest and listens to his heart, then we lean him forward as the doctor puts it against his back. "breathe"the doctor says, and he does, "again"the doctor asks again. We lay him back against the pillows as he starts coughing again, "well there's good news and bad news"the doctor says, "k what is it"his mother asks, "well he's in pretty rough shape, and from the sound of his lungs he has pneumonia and really should be in a hospital,but because of this storm the best we can do is get him there in the morning and try to treat him in the mean time"the doctor says.

"what does that entail"his mother asks sitting down on the bed beside him stroking his hair, "right now I can start giving him fluids and put him on oxygen, I'm also going to try a cooling blanket because his fevers too high"the doctor says, "OK"she says. Very gently the doctor rubs an alcohol wipe against his forearm and slips in a needle, and then puts the bag on a pole by the bed. Then the doctor connects him to the oxygen and then with one more glance he leaves the room. "Peter you should go to bed, it's late,you can sleep in the guest room"his mom says wearily, "are you sure,i can stay in here with him,you look like you need the sleep"I say,"go I got it,I'll sleep in here"she says. I lean down and press my hand to his cheek and then I leave the room without a word.