Chapter 6 - The Scramble
A primal scream tore through my throat, ripping through the quiet afternoon.
I scooped his limp, burning body into my arms and stumbled inside.
I dropped him onto the living room carpet and sprinted toward the kitchen.
I didn't grab a chair. I leaped, grabbing the edge of the refrigerator.
My knuckles scraped against the metal as my hand swept blindly across the top shelf.
My fingers hit the small red plastic tube, knocking it off the edge.
It hit the floor with a loud plastic click.
I dropped to my knees, grabbed the inhaler, and ran back to Leo.
I forced the mouthpiece between his purple lips and pressed the canister down hard.
A cloud of albuterol sprayed uselessly against his teeth.
I pressed it again. And again.
He wasn't inhaling. His lungs were completely locked shut.
The medicine just pooled in his mouth, useless and dry.
"Breathe!" I sobbed, pounding my fist against his chest.
"Leo, please! Breathe! Mommy's sorry!"
I grabbed my phone from the floor, my shaking fingers slipping on the screen.
I dialed 911.
"911, what is your emergency?"
"My son!" I screamed into the speaker. "He's not breathing! He's blue! He's dead!"
"Ma'am, calm down. What is your address?"
I yelled our location into the phone.
May you like
"Ambulance is dispatched," the operator said calmly. "Are you CPR certified?"
"Yes! Yes, please tell me what to do!"
