CHAPTER 18 "SO MUCH
TROUBLE JUST TO GET A TEMPERATURE"
I woke up with a start.
The dream had only seemed to have lasted for only a few minutes but
I found out it was actually a few hours as I scrambled
offmy bed
the time. It was 6AM. Somewhat panicked, I ran as quietly as I
could to Elizabeth's room. She looked so peaceful but that
thought soon broke.
She might as well have been covered by a white sheet. She was chalk
white and beads of sweat began to form. I shook her. She only
stirred. I shook her a little more urgently. She moaned. I ran to
get the axillary (armpit area) thermometer from the bathroom and
ran back.
By the time I got back, Lizzy's eyes squeezed together and then
fluttered open. I knelt next to her. "You okay?" I asked
her. She said in a raspy voice,"Bathroom." I understood
this time. I slipped the thermometer into my pocket and I ran to
the bathroom with Lizzy on my back. I was about to set her down in
front of the toilet but I was too late. She began to throw up. She
aimed it at the floor instead of at me but it still got on me
but I didn't care at the moment.
I saw my chance when I say Lizzy take a breath. I slightly moved
her position towards the toilet and continued. I got her water,
gum, and candy like the last time but the only thing different was
when she ate the candy and water, it came back up only a few
moments later. Soon later, we decided gum was safe and it
was.
After the toilet flushed, I said to her in the calmest voice I
could let out, "Let's go back to your room and talk about
this." I carried her to her room as smooth as possible. I set
her on the bed and wrapped her in a blanket. I took out the
thermometer from my pocket. "I'm going to take your
temperature again. Is that alright with you?"
"Don't tell mommy. Don't take my
temperature."
"I have to Elizabeth, if this is bad, then we're going to
have to take you to the doctors." Her eyes were wide open. I
shouldn't have mentioned the doctors.
"Don't take it. Don't take it!" Her voice getting
louder, you gum flew out of her mouth. I didn't really care
about the gum and didn't even think about it. "Don't
tell mommy! I don't want to go to the doctors! I took out the
thermometer after you left. It's my fault but don't tell
Mommy!" She was almost yelling now.
Elizabeth hadn't had a fit in a really long time but she
started having a fit. She started crying but as much as I
didn't want her to cry, I jumped onto the bed right next to her
and held her muttering calm, safe words. When Lizzy almost stopped
crying, I found a chance and took it.
It took Elizabeth a few moments to register what was happening and
pulled away crying again yelling, "Don't tell Mommy!
Don't tell her! Please!?" With gasps in between. I checked
the thermometer. My mouth must've been wide open and
must've looked really shocked because even Elizabeth stopped
and stared at me like I was crazy. It was 104.2F.
I was angry at myself for never thinking about it. I checked her
forehead. My hand probably was about to catch fire. I was about to
compare it to mine but Lizzy had pulled back and my hand stung a
little. "Please don't... don't... tell mo...
mommy." Then she was outcold. Her body went limp and looked
like a rag doll.
I went to go get my mom and dad. I told them everything from the
beginning to the end. They were angry, well looked angry but they
didn't say anything. Dad got Elizabeth and we went in the car
about to go to the hospital. The hospital where I was only a few
days ago. My surgery was tomorrow.
We were in the car almost there when Elizabeth woke
up.
