Chapter 13- Making Progress
At 1 the respiratory therapist returned and this time she woke Ryan up.
"Sorry kid, but I let you sleep last time, but now we need to get the meds on board so that we can get you one step closer to going home."
"Alright…" Ryan croaked out. His throat felt like it was on fire and he really wasn't looking forward to the breathing treatments because they would most likely make him cough more which would simply irritate his throat further.
The therapist was quick about her job and soon Ryan was breathing in the medicated vapors allowing them to slowly start to ease the strain on his breathing.
Sandy watched as Ryan breathed through the treatments and pulled out a deck of cards.
"want to play a game of Gin Rummy while you do the treatment? Might take your mind of things."
Ryan nodded his acceptance of the idea and soon the two boys were playing the game.
When the therapist came back to stop the meds, Ryan was in the process of losing for the second time.
"I thought you were supposed to take it easy on the invalids?" He croaked once the breathing mask was removed and replaced with a nasal cannula.
"No way- you usually destroy me at these kinds of games I plan to use any advantage I can get." Sandy retorted.
Ryan rolled his eyes but accepted the light teasing. It was nice to be teased like that- growing up he had never had that. The only teasing he got was from his big brother and even at that it often had a cruel undertone to it more like being picked on then the gentle teasing he was now receiving. Mostly humor just wasn't present in his home. Instead of laughter and jokes there was yelling and fists. For a moment Ryan felt a bit overwhelmed as he realized he felt more comfortable now in a hospital being teased by Sandy then he ever had in his home when he was healthy. His sudden reflective demeanor must have caught Sandy's attention because soon His foster dad was interjecting into his brooding in concern.
"You okay Ryan? You got lost on me for a minute there- and well you have been trying to decide what to play for five minutes somehow I don't think the cards are that interesting."
"Umm yeah…sorry just thinking."
"Anything I can help you out with?"
A gentle shake of Ryan's head was his answer. "No you sort of already are."
"Ok kiddo." Sandy said a look of confusion on his face. "If you change your mind and want to talk you know I'm here."
"Thanks…" Ryan begin but then trailed off into a fit of coughing.
Sandy gently helped him sit up and rubbed his back in gentle circles as he coughed.
When he was finished he leaned back into his pillows exhausted a slight wheeze puncturing some of his breaths and his brows furrowed in pain as he rubbed his throat. "I hate this…" He mumbled.
"I know son, I know. It will pass though. Why don't you try and get a little more sleep that is the best thing for you."
"K…was tired of losing anyway."
Sandy chuckled and tucked Ryan in a little tighter as the boy settled in to get some more sleep.
Unfortunately Ryan's rest wasn't very comfortable for long. After about thirty minutes of sleeping Sandy noticed the boy getting more and more restless. A light sweat had broken out on his brow and Sandy released his temperature must be on the rise again. Sighing in frustration for the boy he quietly hit the nurse call button.
The nurse came to the door fairly quickly.
"May I help you?"
"Yeah, I think my son's temperature is going up again is it time for his next set of meds yet?"
"Yes I was actually just getting them ready. Give me a second and I'll be back with the IV antibiotic and a shot for reducing his fever. Why don't you wake him up so I can get a temp on him too?"
"Alright." Sandy replied and then went on doing just what he was asked. He gently nudged the sleeping teen calling out his name quietly.
Ryan stirred and awoke to a coughing fit. Once again Sandy helped ease the teen into a sitting position and rubbed his back through the fit.
"Sorry kiddo but you were starting to look uncomfortable in your sleep and it is time for your next meds. The nurse is on his way back."
"K." Ryan mumbled.
Sure enough at that moment the nurse walked back in.
"Hello Ryan. My name is Sean and I'll be your nurse this afternoon till 11pm. I want to get a quick temp and blood pressure on you if that's okay?"
Ryan merely nodded and extended his arm in reply. Sean was efficient and soon had the needed data.
"Looks like your dad is right- your temp is definitely up. You're at 103. Not exactly the way we want you to go but let's see if the meds I have her for you can help get it down. I am just going to inject it into your port here and then I am also connecting your next round of antibiotics. I'll give you a shot of Compazine too so we can avoid complications."
"Thanks." Ryan replied as the nurse followed through on his comments.
"All set. Let me know if you need anything else."
"Thank you." Sandy replied as Sean once more left the room.
"Would you like something to drink Ryan? There is an ice machine downstairs in the cafeteria if you want something cool on your throat. I need to make a restroom run so I could grab one for you in the meantime."
"Yeah that would be good." Ryan said softly.
"Alright kiddo I'll be back in a second. Seth should be here soon with Kirsten too since school got out about twenty minutes ago."
"K" Ryan replied allowing his eyes to drift back shut as Sandy went out to get the drinks and relieve himself.
By the time Seth and Kirsten arrived ten minutes later Ryan was back asleep- resting more comfortably now that the meds were kicking in. He still coughed occasionally, but he was less restless over all.
When Sandy noticed the boy sleeping when he arrived back with the drinks he merely stepped to the family room a few doors down and put the ice in their refrigerator for later when Ryan awoke again. Kirsten went with him and left Seth playing on his phone quietly in the chair by Ryan's bed.
"How is he doing Sandy?"
"Alright. His temp is up some, but they don't seem too concerned yet. Mostly he's just miserable- tired, achy. The coughing is hurting his throat and irritating his breathing but the meds seem to be managing things. I think He's getting better, it is just a slow process."
"I feel for him. It is never fun to be sick and it is so frustrating he had to get this infection on top of the asthma problems. I really wish I could strangle that girl for coming to visit sick." Kirsten replied.
"I know, but there is no use beating a dead horse. It is what it is and you know she didn't mean it. Ryan was at risk for an infection anyways and he had probably already been exposed at school."
"Your right I just wish he could catch a break."
"He will."
"Yeah I guess I need to put my faith into practice and remember God is still at work and still has a plan even though I don't particularly like the timing of it at the moment." Kirsten said with a grin.
"Yeah patience never was a virtue of our family." Sandy chuckled in response.
"let's get back to the boys and get Seth to put down his phone and start talking with us. I fear the cell phone bill this month. Thank God for unlimited texting."
Kirsten laughed as she followed her husband back to her sons. It wasn't an ideal situation, but they were together and things were getting better slowly but surely. Healing took time but God was at work.