Sorry for the delay in posting I had jury duty last week and got put on a trial. Updates may be slow for a while as work is about to get crazy but I will try and post as often as possible. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
CHAPTER 7- ER & TESTS
By the time Kirsten, Ryan and Dr. Peters pulled up to the ER there was a medical team waiting for them. One of the orderly's with a wheel chair met them at the car.
"Ryan Atwood?" He questioned at the window.
"Yes." Kirsten replied for them.
Hearing the affirmative response the orderly opened the passenger door and went to grab Ryan's arm and assist him into the car. At the touch from the orderly Ryan flinched away violently confused by the sudden contact and momentarily unaware of his circumstances. By that time Kirsten had made it around to the passenger side as well.
"Let me do it." She said firmly pushing the orderly away despite his glare at the interruption, but no one messes with the Kirsten in mother hen mode.
"It's okay Ryan. It's just me- Kirsten. We're at the hospital. Remember Doctor Peter's sent us here." Kirsten whispered gently to the disoriented boy.
For a moment Ryan said nothing but then a spark of understanding lit his features and he stopped backing away.
"That's good Ryan now let me help you into the wheel chair." Kirsten continued and this time the boy gave no resistance and rather leaned heavily upon her. Soon Kirsten had him settled and allowed the orderly to push him into the ER.
"If that is the possible meningitis case than he's over here- isolation room 3." A man in blue scrubs ordered.
The orderly soon had Ryan in room 3 and once more with Kirsten's help Ryan was quickly transferred to the exam bed. Moments after his arrival Seth and Cohen were also in the room along with Dr. Peter's.
The man in scrubs from earlier spoke up next. "Is this everyone who has had contact with Ryan today?"
"Yes. He did go to school yesterday though." Kirsten spoke up.
"What school?" The man asked a hint of concern in his voice.
"Harbor."
"Alright we'll run some tests and go from there. If they come back positive we will notify the school of needed precautions though I'll have our community rep give them a heads up now also."
Dr. Peter's nodded from the corner and Kirsten assumed from this that he agreed with the ER doc's protocol.
"What kind of tests?" Sandy spoke up.
"For Ryan, blood work and a spinal tap. We will also get some blood from the rest of you as a precaution also. Anyone else having any cold symptoms?" The doctor asked.
Negative head shakes were soon seen from everyone.
"Good. Okay then I am going to send you folks next door for blood draws and we will get started on Ryan here. There's some paperwork you need to fill out first too. Permission to treat forms and the like."
Nodding his head Sandy quickly took the paperwork from a nearby nurse and signed the initial forms knowing there would be more to fill out soon and this was just enough to get things started. Soon the Cohen's were ushered into another room and Ryan was left with the doctor and a few nurses.
"Alright Ryan, we are going to do blood draw first. Any arm preferences."
"Left." The sick boy whispered indicating his non dominant hand. "Can you dim the lights?" He pleaded as his head throbbed.
"Sorry kid. I know they hurt but we need them to see. We'll try to be quick so hopefully we can get some meds in you soon and get you feeling better."
The nurse made quick work of drawing blood and establishing an I.V.
"Alright kid, this next part isn't too fun but it's necessary. Have you ever had a spinal tap?"
"No." Ryan replied his body tensing in fear at the mention of the test. He might not have ever had one but he certainly knew what it was and he wasn't looking forward to any long needles being jammed in his back.
"Alright well this is how it works. We are going to lay you on your right side with your knees bent. We are then going to give you a shot in your lower spine to numb the area some. We will wait a few minutes to let it start working. Then I will take the other needle and insert it into your spine to get some spinal fluid and check it for infection. You shouldn't fill a whole lot of pain but you will feel pressure. It will also most likely increase your headache and you will have to lie really still afterwards. I notice you are allergic to codeine so we will keep that in mind when it comes to pain later."
"Great." Ryan mumbled the doctor's words doing nothing to ease his fear. A few tears leaked out the corner of his eye and he wished he could hide the evidence of his fear, but the truth was he was in a significant amount of pain and had just been told it would probably get worse. Secretly he wished for unconsciousness so he could have a brief escape.
The doctor wasted no time starting the procedure and soon the pressure of the spinal tap was being felt by Ryan. Pressure yeah right. Feels like pain to me. Ryan thought to himself as tears came with abandon.
The procedure took only a few minutes total, but the experience was one Ryan would not soon forget and hoped to never have to repeat. Soon he was lying on his back his eyes tightly closed.
"Alright Ryan I'll be back in a minute I am going to see if your blood work is back. Nurse Cathy here will be back with something for you to drink- do you want tea, coffee or soda. The caffeine sometimes helps with your headache."
"Tea." The hurting teen whispered feeling it was the only option that would not irate his already sore throat.
"On it." The nurse replied with a sympathetic smile to the sick boy.
It wasn't the nurse; however, who returned with the tea but Kirsten.
"Here is the tea Ryan. Let me help you with it." She said entering the room softly. When she had finished helping him take a few sips she gently began stroking his arm to let him know she was there.
"Rest your eyes and rest. I'll let you know if you need to wake up." She gently urged knowing only sleep could truly ease his pain at this point.
A few minutes later a nurse appeared.
"Alright Ryan. I am here to start you on some meds. This is vancomycin have you ever had it? "
"No."
"That's fine. I know you are allergic to penicillin so don't worry this is a different family of drugs. We will run it four times a day an hour each time to start. Once I get you hooked up we are moving you upstairs so your family can actually head up to floor four now. In about 30 minutes you can ring the intercom at ICU and let them know you are Ryan's family and they will let you sit with him."
"Alright." Sandy said and then leaned to give Ryan's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We'll see you soon kiddo."
"Yeah don't pull any funny business." Seth joined in.
"Try and rest we'll be with you soon." Kirsten also affirmed as she gently kissed his head.
Ryan waved his hand in a tired wave to indicate his understanding and watched the Cohen's leave through hooded eyelids. He couldn't believe how fast things had come apart and now he prayed that the medicine would kick in quickly and the nightmare would end.