JANE
Ben and Sophie have been gone about a month now, and you've been off of your IV's for two weeks.
Already you were feeling run down. Having to take frequent breaks, even just during everyday tasks, taking lots of naps and asking Tom to do more for you. And a dull ache in your chest has started.
You were laying on the couch, your head in Toms lap. He was stroking your hair while you both watched Beauty And The Beast. One of your favorite things to do was watch old Disney movies with each other.
"Hey Tom?"
"Yes my love?"
"I've been thinking, I should go in the hospital in the next week. I haven't felt well at all and I want to go before it gets out of hand."
"I agree."
"But, when I get home... I had an idea."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"We should go to London. I miss Ben and Sophie and we still never went after our anniversary cancellation."
"Mmmmm. That's true. Well, I don't have any kind of promotions or anything for awhile yet. As long as Dr. S okays it and you feel well, I'd love to go. I do miss it, and Ben and Sophie of course."
You turn and sit up to give him a kiss.
"Yay!"
He giggles at you and gives you another kiss. This time longer and stronger.
His hands slide up and down your back, you're breathing gets heavier and heavier.
You quickly sit up and turn away with a thick cough.
He rubs little circles on your back and waits for you to finish.
The coughing stops and you struggle a bit to catch your breath.
"Well that sure killed the mood, eh? Nothing says sexy quite like mucus."
He laughs and kisses your cheek.
"I love you."
Once you get control of your breathing he swoops you up and carries you to the bedroom. Ready to pick up where you left off.
TOM
You were packing for Jane's hospital admission that was scheduled for this afternoon while she napped.
She had started packing but you came in to find her asleep amongst her suitcase and scattered pairs of pajama pants.
You tucked her in and got to work.
It was hard to watch her be this exhausted from normal tasks. Shopping of any kind was proving to be most frustrating for her as she couldn't walk for long periods of time without struggling to breathe or needing to rest.
You were curious how she planned to walk around London. Perhaps she would agree to a wheelchair. You weren't counting on it though.
You finished packing and went to make her some lunch before you both hit the road.
Just as you were finishing you hear her tiny footsteps from down the hall.
"Well hello there sleeping beauty."
She wraps a sweater tightly around herself. She looked like she may have a fever.
"I'm sorry, honey."
"Quite alright, love. Here, sit down, I made some lunch. Everything is packed so once we finish eating we'll head out."
She nods and takes a bite of her sandwich.
"Thank you. For everything. You're too good to me."
"Darling, nothing is too good for you."
The rest of the meal was quiet and then Jane went to double check her suitcase to make sure she had everything she needed.
"Ok, load er' up and let's go."
You go and grab the suitcase and load up the car. You open Jane's door and let her in before heading to your side of the car to drive.
You look over and she has her head back against the seat and her eyes shut. Taking slow and steady breaths. She looked terribly pale.
"Jane? Are you alright?"
She nods weakly but you didn't buy it. You decide instead of asking again to just head towards the hospital.
Halfway there you notice Jane has fallen asleep, it wasn't a far car ride. Only about forty minutes or so.
Once you arrive you gently shake Jane's shoulder.
She stirs a bit and then turns to you, eyes still heavy with sleep.
"I'm sorry Jane, but we're here."
She nods and turns to get out of the car.
You grab her suitcase and then wrap an arm around her waist as she looked a bit unsteady.
You check in at the counter for her room number and then head upstairs to her room.
Once there the normal routine begins.
Nurses ask question and access her port before she heads down for x-ray and lung function tests.
She agrees to the wheelchair which is a little surprising.
While she's doing all that you go and get you each a coffee from the cafeteria for when she gets back upstairs.
Once down there you see their out of coffee so you decide to go to Starbucks across the street. Willing to wait in line to get Jane her favorite vanilla latte.
The barista recognizes you and you pose for a quick picture. It always made you happy to meet such ind fans.
Once you have your beverages you head back upstairs to see Jane laying in bed with oxygen on and two nurses and Dr. S huddled around.
You run in and set the coffees on the table.
"Jane? What's going on?"
Jane goes to speak but Dr. S pulls me aside before she can say anything.
"Tom, it looks like she's collapsed a lung. We're prepping her to be sent down for a chest tube placement to re-inflate it. She's in alot of pain and is scared. See if you can help us calm her down."
You nod and walk past him and the nurses and straight to Jane. Crouching down to her eye level and taking her hand.
"Jane? I need you to take some nice breaths and try to relax alright? I'm right here and everything is going to be fine."
She nods and closes her eyes. Focusing on her breathing.
You stay like that for a few minutes before someone comes up to take her down for the procedure.
You don't let go of her hand the whole way. She seems to have eased up a little bit.
Once they take her back you text Chris and call Ben.
"Hello?"
"Ben, it looks like Jane has a collapsed lung. She's having a procedure done now to place a tube to re-inflate it."
There was only a moment of silence.
"Oh my gosh, Tom. W-what happened?"
"I don't know. She went to have her x-ray so I went to get us some coffee and when I came back her lung had collapsed."
"Jesus. When will you hear anything?"
"I don't know. They said it shouldn't be too long."
Just then Dr. S comes down the hall, walking towards you.
"Ben, I see her doctor. I'll call you when I know more."
You hang up before he can respond and rush towards Dr. S.
"Ok, the tube has been placed and she's stabilizing. She will be out and back up to her room in the next half hour or so."
You let out a long breath.
"What happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure. The nurse was taking her down and all of a sudden she just coughed real hard and then screamed out and said she couldn't breathe. Has she been struggling at all this past week?"
"Yes, she has been struggling more than usual. The car ride here exhausted her and she looked uncomfortable. I knew something was wrong but she denied it."
"Something tells me it was partially collapsed and then that cough collapsed it the rest of the way. This happens to CF patients often. Especially the sicker they get."
You nod.
"I have a few other patients to go see. I will come up again once she's back in her room and settled."
"Thank you."
He pats your shoulder and heads back down the hall.
You get out your phone to text Ben and Chris and then head to the nurses station to ask when you can go see Jane.
She goes checks the computer for an update.
"It looks like she's ready for you. Follow me."
You follow the nurse down the familiar hallways. Your pocket buzzes a few times but you ignore it, assuming it is just Ben and Chris.
She pulls back the curtain to Jane's room and you walk straight over to her bed.
The nurse beside her speaks to you.
"I was just about to come get you. She's been asking about you. We're almost ready to take her back upstairs."
"Thank you." You nod and then turn your attention back to Jane.
She was still on oxygen and looked pale and in pain, but she didn't seem to be struggling like she was before.
Her eyes began to flutter when you grabbed her hand.
"Tom?"
"Ssshhh I'm here, love. Just rest."
She does as she's told and doesn't wake again until we are back up in her room and have to move her to a regular bed. It had to be done very carefully so as to not cause pain to her new chest tube that had been inserted on her right side inbetween two ribs.
Jane winced much during the process, but never shed a tear. After the move was done, she just laid back as two nurses began hooking her up to monitors and making sure her pain was under control.
"Jane? Do you have a number for your pain?"
"Well it was a five before the move.. probably a seven I suppose. It's very sore."
"I can imagine. I'm sorry, hon. I'll up your morphine."
After she was settled and the nurses left, you resumed your position by her bedside and held her hand. The morphine had knocked her out.
Dr. S came in shortly afterwards.
"How's she doin'?"
"She's hanging in there. She's tough. She doesn't seem to be struggling anymore."
"Good. We'll keep her pain under control. Those tubes can be pretty uncomfortable."
You nod. "What does this mean long term?"
Dr. S sighs as if he were dreading that question.
"I think it may be time to start talking about lung transplant."