Asthma (The Last Of Us)

Eggshells and inhalers

(Joel's P.O.V.)
"Alarm!" Sarah said banging on my bedroom door. I turn around to face my alarm clock and groan. Before getting out of bed and changing into my work clothes, then heading down. I walk into the kitchen and see Sarah making some scrambled eggs. "Where is the pancake mix?" She questions as she looks through a couple of cabinets. "Oh, was I?" I question but with one look I remember "yeah, I was. Sorry". I move to get myself a cup of coffee. "I was going to make you birthday pancakes" Sarah comments, "you know I don't really like pancakes" I tell her, "I know you don't like them. It was for mine and Tj's benefit" Sarah said and points to the 2 year old, that was sitting on the ground beside her legs. The youngest Miller family member, Taylor-Joy or Tj, just gave me a child-like grin. I lean forward and ruffle my hand through the few hairs on Tj's head, earning a loud giggle from her. I turn my attention back to Sarah.

Sarah doesn't answer and just laughs. Once the eggs were done cooking Sarah had placed three plates on the table. While I picked up Tj from the ground. I sat her down in her high chair that stood between mine and Sarah's chairs. Immediatly, she dug into the scrambled eggs with her hands and stuffed it into her mouth. Of course, making a mess. "How old are you again" Sarah questioned, "36" I answered while handing Tj a piece of egg. "You're going to be wearing diapers soon" Sarah chuckled, "who says I don't already? Maybe I want to be just like Tj" I said and made a face to my youngest, making her laugh. I took another bite before pulling something from my mouth "shell" I told my daughters. "Calcium" Sarah shrugged before smirking at me with her mouth full of eggs. Tj saw what her big sister was doing and tried copying her. But failing to keep the eggs in her mouth. "Lovely" I sighed shaking my head but then laughed. My ears pick up the sound of my brother Tommy's truck. "Is there enough for uncle Tommy?" I question "there was" Sarah tells me. Soon Tommy walk inside but before one of us could greet one another Tj began to wheeze and breathing shortly. My eyes widened as I realized what was happening. Tj was having an asthma attack. "Tommy!" I called to my brother and immediatly grabbing my kid from her high chair. Tommy ran to the kitchen and opened the drawer that held the child inhaler. Tj knew all to well what was going to happen and already was moving her head from side to side. She hated the mask from the inhaler. I carefully sushed her as I watched Tommy shake the inhaler as he made his way to us. He went down to his knee before placing the mask over Taylor-Joy's mouth. Eventhough she was having trouble breathing, Tj still squirmed in my grip. But it wasn't hard to actually hold her still. My brother pushed the button in from the inhaler, making it click. The sound of the inhaler giving the medicine, a type of drug called bronchodilator, that will open up her airways came through the room. Sarah kept count for us. Taylor needed to breath 4 times and then she should be fine. If not then we needed to take her to the hospital. But thankfully, after four breaths, she let out a giggle. Indicating that she could breath again. I let out a deep sigh of relief. Even after having to do this so often now, it was still horrible to do it. You know your child hates it, but without she cannot breath. But Tj was much worse as an infant when we first found out she had Asthma. During the treatment she would scratch herself. Sometimes even draw blood. She had to wear wool gloves to prevent that from happening. She would still try and scratch but she wouldn't be able to hurt herself. Now that Tj was able to breath normal again, she did not care for me and reached to her uncle. He laughed at mw enjoying it way to much as he took Taylor-Joy from me. "I knew I was her favorite". "Pfffttt not in a million years!" Sarah replied loudly. We finished our breakfast and soon had to leave. "Finish up your breakfast and we'll drop you off" I told Sarah and stood up to dump my remaining eggs and bacon in the trash. "Im still eating my eggshells" she said, "you've got 7 minutes" I replied. "Your T-shirts inside out". I looked down and groaned realizing the oldest of my two kids was right.

With Tj in my arms I walked outside. I re-checked her little bag that she had with her when she is at daycare. Just to make sure the inhaler was inside. Front pocket, always the front pocket. "Can't forget this" I said showing the smaller inhaler at her. Tj just fully ignored me as she played with the hem of my shirt. She did that so often that most of my shirts had been slightly stretched at the neckline. I opened the car door and put her into the car seat and fastening her, before pusbing in the carn horn "Sarah! Let's go!".

Published: 15th of June 2023

Note: I do not have asthma or know anyone that has it. But I am trying to research it to come as close as possible as it is in real life. (How the asthmatic person feels or how relatives feel during such an attack). But sometimes it won't be accurate just for story/plot purpose.