*******************Nurse's notes**********************
Yesterday was one of the toughest in my nursing career. Tough because of the sheer amount of equipment and procedures, as well as the sadness! Warning! this is a sad tale...warning, don't read if you don't want to!! The gentleman had a heart attack, and suffered through two days of horrid chest pain, then finally texted all his kids that he loved them and good bye. They called 911!!! and got him to the hospital via ambulance. Right coronary artery was totally occluded. He coded in the ER, and again in the emergency cath lab. Long codes...and those kind are no good for brain function.
So we got him...and he had an impella, a balloon pump, a swan ganz catheter, three sheaths, central line, trans venous pacemaker, ventilator, catheter (with no urine out whatsoever), arms covered with peripheral IV's and all ports in use!!! He had 17 drips, no kidding. And then!! since his kidneys had shut down, the doc put in a dialysis catheter and I had to start dialysis on him, too. He was maxed out on every drip we have in medical science to get his blood pressure up.
To no avail. He drifted away, despite all we could possibly do. What a darling family...daughter was a nurse practitioner, son was a marine, other son a policeman. Heart wrenching.
No breakfast, lunch or dinner, no potty breaks, nothing I could do but hustle as hard as I have every worked for 14 straight hours (and I can hustle, believe me), to save his life. He was my age....but I did sneak a cup of coffee in there.
He must have been a darling in life, because the room, hallway and waiting room was jammed with people trying to see him, touch his hand, and let him know he was loved. Never woke up...pupils were fixed and dilated, no neuro response.
I felt so bad for the family...and I am still have PTSD today, honestly...I will never forget him or that day. I sang Amazing Grace at the end, and all the family and visitors joined in as we mourned together.
This is kind of a record for me to remember, so skip the nurse's notes if you are here for strictly quilting content.
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Julie
17 comments:
Really nice quilts--glad you found that Halloween one as it is just lovely hugs, Julierose
From the looks of all of your projects, it appears you CAN do it all!
Oh, Julie, what an experience you had! Those kinds of things change us. I'll bet the family appreciated your dedication and your caring. I feel like I can hear you all singing at the end.
Lovely piecing time in your quilty pleasure!
Such a desperate effort for a life, so sad it was all efforts for naught. Sad for you and all who were involved for so many hours, and for the family who waited to learn his fate.
what a blessing you were to this family....that could have been me...these situations always make me thankful for my caregivers and the Great Physician...blessings to you as you decompress...
❤️💔 for you and the family and your quilts are gorgeous!
UUGGHHHH! Maybe he should've written his kids notes telling them how much he loved them! What a HORRIBLE experience for him, his last couple of days on earth. That's terrible and so sad. You earned far more than your pay those 14 hours. Hopefully you'll get some down time to recuperate.
How heartbreaking for this family and for you! Still so young and loved. If he'd only called for help earlier! These are pieces of life that are so hard to comprehend and accept.
I pray you can find rest knowing every last thing possible was done for him. The joy and the anguish of being there helping...
Julie my heart goes out to you and all of the family and friiends. You were a blessing to them and will live in your heart forever. Bless you all with the amazing grace of the Lord.
Bless you and the doctors for doing everything you could for your patient. I think it could be that he just wanted to go. I see you are keeping busy with your projects - as always. Nice to see.
So happy to see Dear Jane out again. Also happy you found your little quilt. It would have been a great lost because it is so cute.
Nurse note: I'm with Dolores. He wasn't putting up a fight I think. I understand your work and your mind set but I'll be the itch with a B and say it out loud: we are all going one day. No doctors or nurses can save us all the time. He's in a better place where he needs none of those drips. I know you did your best to save him. But today, you were working against the plan of the Master. Hugs. ;^)
I'm so sorry to hear of your difficult day my friend.
I believe in cases like these that the patient had already decided to go, so no intervention can bring them back.
Bless you for all your valiant efforts... I'm sure the family appreciated every single thing you tried. You are a super hero of the highest order!
I wish I could meet with you today and do some EMDR with you to make that PTSD go away so you won't suffer for one more minute.
Maybe some hand stitching will also be soothing?
I wish I had sent you the plaids, but a) it wasn't me, and b) I am coveting the pretty colours, especially the green plaids as they are hard to find.
Bless you for you kindness!
I love your quilt projects! Your Jane is coming along nicely!!
He likely would have lived had he went to the ER right away, you think? I'm sorry it was so hard on you and the staff. I feel like maybe he made the choice by not going in. So hard to know.
So sorry for your recent experience.
Why not try to tea dye that bright block and see if it tones it down enough to use?
You are obviously a extremely good nurse. My niece works at Harris and recently had the sad duty to respond to a Code and eventually pronounce a beloved co-worker who had been admitted as a patient. Her heart was very heavy for several days. I admire you and other caring nurses.
So sorry for your experience and God bless you for your care! Dear Jane is looking great!
At least you got the chance to show his family some love (and that you were really trying to help him). Too bad he waited 2 days to contact anyone. Those 2 days might have made a big difference (or not).
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