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“It worked. That’s it. You’re safe. Take deep breaths. The ambulance will be here soon.” He kept repeating the words in a soothing deep voice.
I withdrew the needle, the sharp point retracting safely, my hands trembling.
Someone yelled “One minute!” but the sirens could be heard in the distance.
“Tell them the patient is now breathing and has had one child’s dose and additional adult dose of epinephrine.”
I managed to open the first aid kit and find a gauze patch to cover
The small crowd at the restaurant cheered. Someone was filming us on their phone. Phone cameras flashed.
“Ep-pin-what?”
“Adrenaline. Tell them it was administered by the doctor and the nurse in attendance.”
I laid the used needle on the ground and took one of Brayden’s mum’s hands from Harry, holding my fingers to her wrist to count her heartbeat. Moments ago, my only focus had been to run. Now noise and voices blasted all around me.
“You were amazing,” Harry said in a low voice, his gaze full of awe. “That slide across the floor ...”
“Pity I never used that move for our softball final in high school.” I flashed a brief smile. “Lost the game because I didn’t take the slide to home base.”
Harry chuckled as the ambulance came to a sudden halt, sirens blaring. The paramedics jumped out, one older and the other a young graduate, and headed straight to us, asking questions about her vital signs. I relayed her now-rapid heart rate, the dosages she’d been given and handed them the capped needle, vial and EpiPen.
Harry gave them further details about CPR he administered, and the waiter gave the order slip as well to confirm their meals for a very likely peanut allergy.
Brayden’s mum startled, croaking something. Harry soothed her again with his deep voice. Brayden hovered as they moved his mum onto a stretcher, thanking Harry repeatedly.
“Are you coming with the patient, Dr Cain?” asked the younger paramedic.
“Her son is here.” Harry waved to Brayden who slowly stepped forward.
“What is the patient’s name?” The older paramedic had a pen poised over a tablet taking details. “And yours?”
“Lesley,” he muttered. “I’m Brayden.”
Once the details were entered, she gestured for Brayden to come with them in the back of the ambulance.
The paramedics shook our hands, thanking us for our response. Harry promised to visit Lesley in hospital in the morning.
I exhaled slowly, my hands still shaking. A woman appeared at my side. “Can I get a photo of you both, please?” She bounced with nervous energy. “I’m Hayley, new journalist for the Stanmore Star and it would be great to have a photo for the front page.”
I pushed my unruly hair out of my eyes.
“Um, I guess?”
“Dr Cain, if you could get closer to Stacey, please.”
The journalist took many rapid photos, with the ambulance behind us pulling out into the street.
“Great, thank you.” She walked off and the crowd closed in, everyone wanting to shake our hands to congratulate us on our response.
It was too much. My breath hitched. Harry gently took me by the elbow. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Dr Cain, your food.” The waiter held out a packed bag full of containers.
“We ordered?” I asked.
Harry shook his head as the waiter pressed the bag into his hands. “On the house. No charge. No charge.”
