1D | I'm Right Here

Niall Cluster Seizures

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Niall's POV
I moved and coughed. The world seemed far away and muted, and I was lying on the ground. My eyes were closed and I didn't want to move. My head was resting at an awkward angle, and breathing was taking up a lot of energy. Had I had a seizure?

The world then went black.

~

I woke up struggling to breathe. I was choking, coughing and gagging, and something was running down my face.
"Ha... gu... ur..." My body struggled as it tried to draw in air. "Mur... gah..." I gagged before there was a loud sound and footsteps.
"Shit. Niall, Niall," Came a voice before my body was moved and there were fingers in my mouth.
"What is it?"
"It's soap."
"Soap?"
"Yeah," They said before something was taken out and I felt air rush into my lungs. I gasped loudly before I coughed.
"Oh Niall. Breathe mate, breathe," One of the others said before I felt hands on my body.
"We need to get the soap fully out of his mouth," A third person said before there was a hammering sound and I felt water heavily cascading down my face.
"Angle it a bit more Harry. That's it," The first... was it Liam?
"Niall, woah, we've got you," Louis said as he took my hand as I coughed and choked. I then squeezed it hard as my breathing stopped. "Ni? Oh shit, he can't breathe. Stop. Stop," Louis said before the water stopped and I gasped and coughed.
"Shit. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry Niall," Liam said, but I still couldn't quite breathe. I struggled and gasped before I felt hands turning me.
"We have to. He can’t breathe," I heard Harry say before the water came back and I felt Louis brushing his fingers over my own. I wasn't breathing, but I think they were trying to help me.

Soon, the water stopped and I felt someone's hair brush against my cheek.
“He’s breathing.”
"Is his airway completely clear Liam?"
"I don’t know, but he can breathe.”
“I’ll get Paul.”
“Thanks Zayn,” Liam said before I heard him leave. My hand was still in Louis’s and he squeezed it.
“Niall, can you hear me mate?” Louis asked me gently.
“Is he awake Louis?”
“He squeezed my hand before, when he couldn't breathe.”
“Niall? Can you hear us? It’s Liam.”
“Niall?” They asked, before they paused, but I was too exhausted to move or form any words. “He’s probably passed out.”
“I’ll get some towels to dry him off.”
“Good idea Harry.”
“Can you lift his head up Liam?"
“Yeah, hold on,” Liam said and he gently lifted my head up before a fluffy towel was placed underneath it. Another towel was placed over my body and I heard footsteps coming into the room.
“Has he started to come round yet?” Paul asked.
“Not yet Paul.”
“How’s his breathing?”
“A little ragged, but it’s alright,” Harry said and I felt Paul’s press his fingers into my neck to take my pulse.
“Why did this happen? He had his medication earlier, we all made sure that he had taken it.”
“I don’t know.”
“His pulse is alright, and he’s not sweating. Keep him on his side and I’ll find the medic to check his throat, any soap that he swallowed could cause further problems.”
“Alright Paul,” Louis said, and I heard him leave. The boy's voices then became muffled and the world slipped away from me.

~

As I woke up, there was a beeping sound by my head. I was warm, lying on my back, and I was feeling better.
"Hey. Niall, can you hear me?"
"Louis?" I asked as I recognised his voice.
"Yeah, it's me. How are you feeling?"
"Better. Where... am I?"
"You're in hospital. You had a cluster seizures, four close together. We heard you grunting in the bathroom, so we rushed in and found you mid-seizure, choking on soap.”
“The boy’s actions saved your life Niall.”
“Dad?” I asked as I instantly recognised his voice.
“Yes, hi son. Liam called me when you were in the ambulance and I came straight here. You’re in Dublin Infirmary.”
“You called, for an ambulance?”
“Yeah. You were seizing Niall, and we couldn’t do anything to stop the seizures.”
“Thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better."
"That's really good."
"How long have I been here?"
“You were admitted late last night.”
“Liam stayed with you until we switched. Him and the other boys are getting some sleep at the hotel."
"Not… you, Louis?"
"Someone had to keep an eye on you. And Liam made us promise that one of us would always be with you."
"But my dad's... here."
"Alright. Just tell me if you want me to leave lad," Louis said in his sassy voice, and it made me smile.
"There's my lad. The doctor said that once you come round, he wants to run a few tests, then you should be good to be discharged."
"Why did I... have so many seizures?"
“You had low sodium levels in your blood. The doctor’s got you on a drip to bring them back up.”
“Why?”
“That’s what they’re investigating now.”
“Oh,” I said, before I reached my hand over to scratch my elbow.
“Careful. Don't touch that Niall," Dad said as he took hold of my hand. "You've got a cannula.”
“For the medicine?”
“Exactly,” Dad said and he rested my hand back down by my side.
"Paul's outside," Louis said as my dad took my hand. "I still need to work today Niall, but myself and the boys will visit you later to see how you're doing."
"Sounds good, Louis. Thank you for… saving me."
"Of course. I’ll let the others know that you’re awake and that you're doing well,” Louis said and I felt him touch my leg.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Get some rest and I’ll see you later.”
“Ok,” I said, and Louis left.
"Dad..."
"I'm here Niall."
“I want to… go back to sleep.”
“Get as much rest as you need. I’ll have a chat with the doctor when he comes round.”
“Thank you,” I said, and I fell back asleep.

~

Later on, when I was properly awake, the boys came round to visit me.
“Niall. Hey, it’s so good to see you awake.”
“How are you feeling?” Liam asked as he sat on the bed beside me.
“A lot better. The doctor’s just gone to get my discharge papers.”
“Wow. That’s great news Niall.”
“Yeah.”
“Do they know why your sodium levels dropped so low?”
“I’ve been drinking too much water apparently.”
“Too much?”
“Yeah. So I need to drink less.”
“At least it’s an easy fix.”
“How was your day at the studio?”
“We got ‘Never Enough’ finished.”
“Finally. We’ve been working on that for ages.”
“We have.”
“Where’s your dad Niall?”
“Has he been with you all day?”
“All day and all night. He’s gone to get some dinner then he’s going to drive me home. Paul told me that I can have a few days at home to rest before I can fly over and join you in New York ahead of our next concert.”
“That will be really good Niall.”
“Time to rest in your own bed.”
“I’m looking forward to it, and I am still really tired. I want to thank you all for saving my life last night.”
“You don't need to thank us. It was horrible seeing you like that Niall.”
“I had to stop you breathing in order to help you Niall, it was awful.”
“You were doing it to help me Harry.”
“Were you awake Niall? I felt you squeezing my hand,” Louis asked me.
“I was. I couldn’t move, but I was conscious. I heard you all talking as you were helping me."
"That must have terrible Niall. Struggling, but unable to do anything about it," Liam said as he took my hand.
"It wasn’t good," I said as I felt tears filling my eyes. "But I have... you."
"You do. I love you so much Niall," Liam said before he hugged me. "I love you so much."
"We all love you Niall," Harry said as I buried my head into Liam's shoulder.
"I'm so glad that you're ok."
"I could have died," I whispered.
"But you didn't lad."
"Tell us if you're not feeling well Niall. We had to break down the door to get to you," Zayn told me, and I let go of Liam.
"I will. I only had a headache yesterday. Just a little one, then..."
"Come here lad," Louis said before I could cry once more, and all the boys hugged me. I was squished in the middle of them all, but it felt really nice.
“We love you Niall.”
"So much."
“Don’t drink too much water.”
“I’ll try not to,” I replied to Zayn, and we all laughed as Louis ruffled my hair.

15 minutes later, my doctor came back and he discharged me. When dad arrived, I said a final goodbye to the boys before he took me home for some much needed rest. They had definitely been my worst seizures to date, but my 1D family had been there to keep me safe and alive ❤️.