thirty-footlengthofoxygentubingtrailingafterher,had
leftherwinded.Shestoodrestingforamoment,herlips
pursed and her chest heaving.
CreedtookCox’sarmgentlyaswewalkedtothekitchen
tositdown,askingherhowshehadbeendoing.Thenshe
askedaseriesofquestions,targetingissuesthattendto
ariseinpatientswithterminalillness.DidCoxhavepain?
Howwasherappetite,thirst,sleeping?Anytroublewith
confusion,anxiety,orrestlessness?Hadhershortnessof
breath grown worse? Was there chest pain or heart
palpitations? Abdominal discomfort? Trouble with
constipation or urination or walking?
Shedidhavesomenewtroubles.Whenshewalkedfrom
thebedroomto thebathroom,shesaid, itnowtookat
leastfiveminutestocatchherbreath,andthatfrightened
her.Shewasalsogettingchestpain.Creedpulledablood
pressurecufffromhermedicalbag.Cox’sbloodpressure
was acceptable, but her heart rate was high. Creed
listenedtoherheart,whichhadanormalrhythm,andto
her lungs, hearing thefine crackles of her pulmonary
fibrosisbutalsoanewwheeze.Herankleswereswollen
withfluid,andwhenCreedaskedforherpillboxshesaw
thatCoxwasoutofherheartmedication.Sheaskedto
seeCox’soxygenequipment.Theliquid-oxygencylinder
atthefootofherneatlymadebedwasfilledandworking
properly. The nebulizer equipment for her inhaler
treatments, however, was broken.
Giventhelackofheartmedicationandinhalertreatments,
itwasnowonder thatshehad worsened.Creedcalled
Cox’s pharmacy. They said that her refills had been
waitingallalong.SoCreedcontactedCox’sniecetopick