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It only took one look at Emma to know that Julie’s concerns were serious. She was much paler than the last time I saw her, and it was easy to see that she was wheezing with each breath she took.
“Hey, Emma,” I said as I knelt down at the side of the couch where she lay. “I’m going to listen to your lungs, okay honey?”
I pulled out my stethoscope and gave a listen. It only verified what I suspected. The severe cold had caused a build up in her lungs. I finished my exam and took her temperature. My brow creased with worry when I read the reading, 104.3.
I told myself that most cases of pneumonia were not life-threatening. My logical brain even reminded me that Emma’s case was probably caught as early as possible.
The irrational part of my mind, however, was screaming that my baby girl was sick and in need of treatment. It took all my strength to push the irrational aside and keep a level head for them both.
“Jules, why don’t you go get change. I’ll stay with Emma.”
“What’s wrong?” Julie asked in a panicked voice.
“Everything will be fine. It sounds like Emma’s cold has traveled down to her lungs.”
“What does that mean?”
“Pneumonia most likely. It’s not serious though,” I said resting my hand on her arm. “You caught it very early. The high fever tells me she may be very dehydrated. We need to get her to the hospital so that we can get some fluid in her.”
“Okay,” Julie said looking back at our little girl. The fear was etched all over her face.
“It’s going to be okay, Jules,” I did my best to reassure her. “Go get changed, and I’ll drive you both to the hospital. I’ll make sure she is seen right away.”
Julie nodded and disappeared down the hall. I turned back to Emma who was looking up at me lethargically.
“We are going to go for a ride to the hospital, okay?” I said down to her as I wiped a stray lock off her face. “Do you want to pick a toy to bring with you?”
I didn’t have a ton of experience treating kids, but I did know that a little thing like a favorite toy might make the whole ordeal a little less scary.
Emma lifted up her hand with her pink bear in it.
“Mrs. Bear,” she said softly.
“Is that her name?”
Emma nodded slowly.
Julie came back out into the living room. She was wearing another pair of leggings a t-shirt, and her hair was thrown up in a messy bun.
“Is it okay if I carry you?” I asked Emma.
My arms itched to pick her up and hold her to me as if that would keep her safe and healthy. I realized that to her, however, I was just a doctor that she had seen a few times.
Even with our little interaction she still reached her hands out to me. I scooped her little body up into my arms and carried her out the door with Julie on my heels.
“Take my car,” Julie said pointing to a little SUV in the parking lot. “It has her car seat in it.”
I set Emma in her set and stepped back to let Julie buckle her in. Julie passed me the keys and moved around to sit next to Emma in the back seat. I could see she was still beside herself.
The sooner I got Emma to the hospital the better. We speed along the streets and freeways in silence. Only the sound of Emma’s occasional cough penetrated my concentration on the road. With every cough, I looked back in the rearview mirror and then increased my speed.
I knew it was illogical of me, but I didn’t care. Emma was my little girl, and I was going to do everything in my power to get her what she needed as soon as I could.
An hour later, I walked into Emma’s hospital room. She had been admitted immediately and given an IV. After a round medication on the nebulizer, she already was breathing with more ease.
I watched Emma’s angelic face as she dozed in her hospital bed. I came to sit by Julie who was leaning forward to hold Emma’s hand in her own.
I rubbed my hand up and down her back trying to ease her worry.
