'as white as a sheet'

Pads is in a conference about what to do next, making all kinds of choking sounds having just brought up his tube. He'd been working with the play therapist and visiting nurse towards having finger-pricks for blood tests rather than via his port. He cant talk and is regularly in a lot of pain in the throat although there's nothing to see down there. But, just now, he brought the tube up, which was unusually unpleasant. Without wanting to swallow he's really getting nothing. He's quite pale - may need blood going in as well as taking out (for the tests)! So they're going to access the port and leave the needle in in case he needs an infusion.