Chapter 11- Breathing Treatments

About the same time Kirsten walked into the hospital room so did the respiratory therapist.

"Hello Ryan, my name is Jenny and I am from respiratory. We are going to get you set with a breathing treatment to help ease things up a bit for you. Does that sound good?"

"Please." Ryan whispered back the labor in his breathing evident with the minimal use of words.

"Ok well let me take a listen real quick to your lungs before we get started. Just breathe normally for now."

Ryan patiently underwent the short exam. Breathing as normally as possible and attempting a few deep breaths when prompted. He was relieved when Jenny told him to rest back against his pillows again.

"Alright now have you had breathing treatments before?"

"Yeah… when I was little…not since I was 7." Ryan managed to puff out between wheezes.

"Alright well just to remind you I am going to switch out your mask here with this one that has a compartment for meds. We are using albuterol at the moment. Then I'll give you the mask back and it will run for about 10 minutes then we will switch you back to full oxygen."

"K" Ryan whispered.

As the respiratory therapist set about doing her job Dr. Peter's spoke up.

"My friends it seems you are in wonderful hands right now. I am going to take my leave though I will be checking in regularly. And young sir I expect to her that you are making strides in recovery quite soon- no detours please."

Ryan gave shaky thumbs up in agreement and Kirsten and Sandy smiled and thanked the kind physician as he took his leave.

Soon the only noise in the room was the sound of the meds being administered to Ryan and His rugged breathing as he tried to take them all in. Kirsten had moved to gently stroking the ill boys' forehead in hopes of helping relieve some of his lingering pain. She could still feel the heat readily on his brow though it didn't seem quite as bad as earlier. The respiratory therapist stepped out once she had seen Ryan doing okay on the meds for a few minutes with a promise to return when they were done.

Sandy watched on for a minute before speaking up.

"How was Seth this morning?"

"Alright…worried about Ryan. Had to fight him about going to school, but I reminded him he would not be able to spend much time in here with Ryan anyway since we are limited to two visitors at a time. Plus I told him he needed to report in to the worried friends about Ryan's condition or risk facing one of summer's rage black outs. That threat seemed to work."

"I bet it did, I wonder how long before those two actually try dating."

"Who knows?"

Ryan suddenly pulled at his mask a little so he could speak. "There's a bet going- current odds have it at 3 months."

"Put that mask back on Ryan." Kirsten gently scolded.

"3 months huh… maybe I should get in on that action." Sandy said with a grin.

"Sandy!" Kirsten objected lightly slapping him on the arm.

"What? You know you want in on it." He merely grinned back.

Soon the breathing treatment was done and Jenny was back.

"How you feeling now Ryan?" She asked as she removed the medicated mask and replaced the oxygen.

"Bit better- still tight though."

"Alright-well we will keep an eye on things your O2 stats are at 91 let's try and keep them there or raise them a bit if we can."

"I'll try." Ryan replied with a shrug.

"I know kid, just try and rest now. Your doctor will probably be in to see you in a bit and he'll make more decisions from there."

As she left the room, Ryan allowed his eyes to drift shut once more trusting that the Cohen's had his back.