a verb which means speaking with difficulty

[alpacinou]

Is there a verb which means speaking with difficulty? I want to say someone is on a hospital bed, they are in a lot of pain and they speak with difficulty.

What can I use here instead of "said" which would mean speaking with difficulty.

Jack lay motionless on bed. When Lisa arrived, he tried to raise himself but failed. He lifted his hand and felt the weight of the intravenous tube. Lisa squeezed his hand. He opened his mouth but words wouldn't form. He struggled a bit. "Please tell our daughter I love her," he said.

 

[teechar]

Jack lay motionless on bed.

That's wrong. You can say "in bed", or "on the bed" if you're referring to a particular bed.

 

[alpacinou]

Jack lay motionless on the bed. When Lisa arrived, he tried to raise himself but failed. He lifted his hand and felt the weight of the intravenous tube. Lisa squeezed his hand. He opened his mouth but words wouldn't form. He struggled a bit. "Please tell our daughter I love her," he said.

 

[teechar]

Yes, that works.

 

[alpacinou]

But I'm looking for a verb to replace "said" with. A verb that would mean "said with difficulty." I want to see if there's such a verb that I can use in case I don't want to use an adverb.

 

[kilroy65]

Maybe gasped out?

 

[Tarheel]

The word 'croaked' might work.

 

[5jj]

Mumbled.