Driving Can Be Dangerous to Your Health by Phil Stephens

Part II—That Night

“I’m glad they went to bed early,” said Dave. “They look really tired.”

“Yes,” agreed, Jen. “They really shouldn’t have done the entire trip in one day. Florida to New Jersey in 19 hours; must be a record.”

“Poor Muffy,” said Jen as she looked down at the old cat curled up in her lap. ”He’s lost his favorite sleeping spot on the spare bed. He’ll have to camp out in our room while your parents are here.”

“He smells like tuna. I caught him in the recycling again, and I think he cut his nose on an aluminum can.”

Jen smiled. She had been given Muffy as a kitten, long before she knew her husband.

Upstairs, Dave’s parents, tired from the long day, were sleeping.

Hours later, Dave’s father woke from a deep sleep. His wife’s breathing was labored, and she was wheezing.

“Are you okay, Barb?” He knew that his wife was awake, but he did not wait for an answer. He opened the bedroom door and turned the light on in the bathroom. He set up the nebulizer, carried it into the bedroom, and gave the mask to his wife as he plugged it into the outlet. Her breathing became more regular, but it was fast; she was wheezing and seemed anxious. Even in the dim light, Barb looked pale.

“I have this pain in my chest and neck, John, and it’s making its way down my left arm.”

He reached for her hand and it felt cold and sticky. He placed his finger on the inside of her wrist and felt her pulse racing.

“I think we need to go to the hospital, Barb.”

“I know, but the pain gets worse when I move. It was just an ache before you went to the bathroom, but now it really hurts and I feel like I am going to pass out.”

Dave knocked on the open bedroom door and entered his parents’ room. His father was dressed and his mother was clearly distressed.

“I heard Mom coughing. Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure. This is the worst attack she’s ever had. I think we need to get her to the hospital.”

Dave pulled on some clothes and in no time he and his father had his mother in the backseat of the car. The hospital was only a few miles away.

“Do you have any tissues, Dad?”

John passed a box of tissues to his son. He could hear Barbara coughing, and pushed down on the gas peddle.

Questions

1. Do you think that this episode is simply a bad asthmatic attack?
2. What could have brought on this episode?
3. What symptoms indicate that this may be something else?
4. With the above symptoms in mind, do you wish to speculate about Barbara’s condition?

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