I had to do this.
Wendy connected the chemo to my IV and called another nurse over to check. They reviewed my name, date of birth, the drug, and infusion rate. She programmed everything into the machine. “Okay, we are all set. I’m going to stay here as it gets started just to make sure everything goes well.”
Liam squeezed my hand and I tried to relax as I watched the red line of chemo advance through my IV until it hit my arm. My chest instantly tightened, and I tried to breathe through what I assumed was anxiety, but after a few moments, it just got worse.
“I can’t breathe,” I gasped. My vision turned dark as the room spun around me.
Wendy instantly disconnected the chemo from my IV. “Lie back for me,” she said. “Someone press the call button now.”
And then the room went black.
“Westin, how’re you feeling?”
I opened my eyes, scrunching my nose in confusion when I saw a group of about eight nurses crowded around my bed.
What was happening? Why were there so many people in my bedroom?
“Is she okay?” Liam snarled.
“Sir, step back,” a nurse said.
I looked around, trying to find my guys. A whimper slipped through my lips when I couldn’t see them. The room spun around me and I took slow, deep breaths to steady myself.
“Westin,” a nurse with two French braids said. “How’re you feeling, honey?”
“I’m fine?”
Why did she keep asking me that?
I lifted my arm and saw the IV and it all came back to me.
Hospital.
Chemo.
I must have passed out.
“How’s your breathing?” she asked.
“It’s okay.” The tightness in my chest from the drug was gone, but now anxiety was taking hold. Then my guys pushed their way to the side of the bed and relief washed through me. Liam was closest to my head, and he brushed a few strands of hair from my face.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“You had an infusion reaction and passed out,” he said, jaw tight as he gripped my hand.
“Do you feel itchy, Westin?” another nurse asked.
“No,” I said. Why was she asking that?
“Good,” she responded.
She kept lifting my blanket and another nurse was checking under the cuff of my sweatpants. I looked down to see my entire arm covered in a red rash.
I whimpered and Liam leaned down to kiss my forehead. “You’re okay. It’s just an allergic reaction to the medication, but you’re alright.”
I wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince.
My guys’ scents were all burned and acidic from anxiety, and I could even catch some of the beta nurses’ stressed scents.
