Joel eyed Blair's haggard face worriedly. "I really don't think this is a good
idea Blair. You don't look ready to check out of the hospital just yet."
"I'm fine Joel, just a little shaky." Blair managed a wry grin.
"I think I should call Jim in New York and let him know what happened."
"Don't you dare! Jim and Simon have been looking forward to this conference for
months now. You're not going to ruin it for them just cause I got a little
sick."
"You had pneumonia Blair. That's not just a little sick. You still look like a
good wind would knock you over."
Blair stifled a cough as Joel looked at him disapprovingly. They both looked up
as the doctor entered the room.
"Ok Blair, I just signed the discharge papers. Now I want you to get these
prescriptions filled and get lots of rest over the next few days."
"Prescriptions?" Joel demanded "What prescriptions?"
"Just his antibiotics and a combivent inhaler. I want him to use it regularly
for the next week or so."
"Oh he'll use it alright." Joel growled as Blair took the papers meekly from
the doctor. "I'll see to it that he does."
"I promise I'll go to the loft and behave myself." Blair smiled winningly.
"Not quite. You're staying with me until Jim gets back."
"Just what I need," Blair groused "Another mother hen."
"At least until Jim gets back" Joel grinned as he snatched the paper from Blair.
"We'll just call these in and get you to my place."
"Time for your medications" Joel called cheerfully. Blair groaned and sat up on
the edge of the bed.
"You're killing me here man." He moaned.
"Come on Kid. Jim would have my hide if he knew I wasn't taking care of you."
Blair took the proffered pill from Joel's hand and the glass of water from the
bedside table. He quickly downed the pill and started to lie back.
"Not so fast Blair. You need to use the inhaler too."
"Awww man, I hate that thing. It tastes nasty." He quickly used the offending
inhaler and handed it back to Joel.
"Get some rest Kid." Joel encouraged as he started to turn away. He heard Blair
cough sharply then heard a strangled gasp. He turned back to see Blair clutching
at his throat, his face rapidly turning a bright shade of red. "Oh God, what's
wrong Blair?"
Blair tried to answer, but could only manage a high pitched wheeze.Joel quickly
dialed 911. He caught Blair as he collapsed to the floor. Immediately noting
that Blair's coloring was rapidly changing to a dusky blue, he tilted his
friends head back to open his airway.
"come on kid, breath" he pleaded. It seemed like forever before he heard the
wail of an ambulance outside.
"What happened here?" the paramedic demanded as he pushed past Joel.
"He was just released from the hospital a few hours ago, he had had pneumonia. I
gave him his medication then he collapsed."
"What meds?"
Joel handed him the pills and the inhaler.
"John" called the other paramedic "He's not breathing." An ambu bag was placed
over Blair's face and was squeezed gently. "I can't get any air in. Give me a
laryngascope."
"What's wrong?" Joel demanded, "is he choking?"
"No" the paramedic answered. "his airway is swelling. Let's tube him before it
closes off entirely." The other man handed him a clear plastic tube. Joel winced
as the paramedic tried to insert it in Blair's throat. "Damn, I can't get it in,
he's swelling shut. Give me a pedi tube, smallest one we've got." He tried again
and gave a triumphant yell.
"Got it, now lets get him to the hospital."
Joel paced the waiting room frantically. It had seemed like hours but was
actually only a few minutes before a doctor came out.
"Detective Taggart, can you tell me if Mr. Sandburg has any allergies?"
"I...I don't know of any medical allergies, only that he's allergic to peanuts."
"That explains it then." the doctor sighed. "He's having a severe allergic
reaction."
"But he hasn't eaten anything."
"Actually it wasn't caused by food. It was caused by the inhaler." he patted
Joel reassuringly. "We've got him stabilized right now and he's asking for you."
"Wait a minute, how could his inhaler have caused this?"
"Well, both Atrovent and Combivent contain soya lecithin which can cause
reactions in people with peanut or soy allergies. It's very rare, but it does
happen. Blair didn't tell the staff about his peanut allergy when we checked in
so the doctor didn't know not to order that type of inhaler."
"But Blair had breathing treatments in the hospital."
"Yes, but they were nebulizer treatments, not inhalers. Only the inhalers cause
the problems."
"So how can we prevent future problems?"
"Well, Blair should carry an Epi-pen with him at all times, and I recommend a
medic alert bracelet. Unfortunately this is a little known allergy that can
cause big problems for the patient."
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Most people haven't, it's very rare. But Blair will have to be a bit more
careful in the future."
"When can I see him?"
"Right now if you'd like. He's still a bit groggy and very tired, but I'm sure
he'll be glad to see you."
Joel watched his friend sleeping peacefully. He shook his head in amazement.
"I never quite believed Jim when he told me that his hardest job was simply
taking care of Sandburg. Now I understand why."
The End
