Oh Happy Day. Saw a former patient last night. I can't tell you her name without breaching confidentiality, but I can share some of the info that makes her special to me.
She had entered another hospital for a simple procedure and been through every complication that could happen. Her overnight stay had lasted six weeks and she was sent to us when there was no longer any hope for survival. We started caring for this woman (I'll call her Nancy) when she was not expected to live more than a few days to weeks. She needed additional surgery, but the surgeons believed she would die on the table if ANY surgery was attempted. They refused to operate.
I have seen this before and we spent more time with the family. Their need for emotional support almost overwhelming. We tried to be honest with them since the outcome was unknown. Nancy did not have a terminal illness. There was not a terminal disease causing the end of her life. There WERE many serious problems that made each other worse. The doctors could not treat one without making another worse. We believed that no human had the physical reserves to survive and she was very close to death.
We prepared her daughter and her husband for her impending death. We allowed them to cry on our shoulders as we cried with them. We listened to her daughter speak of how she learned to be a mother by remembering the way Nancy raised her. We encouraged the family to spend time with Nancy and we ignored the visitation hours. We all accepted that Nancy was going to pass away.
Medical care and nursing care continued even though we did not expect more than life to be prolonged for a few weeks. Nancy had "the look" of deathly illness that so many Nurses and Doctors have come to recognize. "The Look" makes healthcare professionals feel helpless. We know our patient is critically ill and there is so little we can do to help. We also know that we are not Gods and do not really know the outcomes. We do the best we can as we fumble in the dark trying to help others.
For seven weeks we continued to follow the treatment with very slow and very slight improvement in Nancy's condition. Her husband spent less and less time with her as we watched his grief increase. Her daughter tried to remain hopeful but, I knew she was struggling as she brough Nancy's grandchildren in and pretended there would always be time to see "Nanna" when she was better.
The family and the staff became rundown from the stress. Yes, the staff becomes attached and the stress builds for them. They will not feel the same loss as the family, but the stress of a dozen episodes a year takes a large toll for the caring staff involved.
Monday morning of Nancy's eighth week with us and her fourteenth week in the hospital I noticed an difference in her attitude and appearance. Her skin was not as grey and lifeless as on Friday. She smiled at me and stated she felt better for the first time. She could stand with help for the first time and her voice was soft but not a whisper. I worried that this was the "Rally before the End."
Tuesday she walked to the bathroom alone.
Wednesday a stomach X-ray showed that she was getting better rapidly.
Friday she went to Rehab to get her strength back.
That was three Months ago.
Now this strange woman walks up to me and gives me a big hug and says thank you!! This woman recognized me but, I was unable to remember her. Then I saw Nancy's daughter. I was soooo embarrassed!! I know she looked different but it was still embarrassing.
How could I forget Nancy!!
I cried again. With joy and with Nancy. This is why we do all that we do.
She had entered another hospital for a simple procedure and been through every complication that could happen. Her overnight stay had lasted six weeks and she was sent to us when there was no longer any hope for survival. We started caring for this woman (I'll call her Nancy) when she was not expected to live more than a few days to weeks. She needed additional surgery, but the surgeons believed she would die on the table if ANY surgery was attempted. They refused to operate.
I have seen this before and we spent more time with the family. Their need for emotional support almost overwhelming. We tried to be honest with them since the outcome was unknown. Nancy did not have a terminal illness. There was not a terminal disease causing the end of her life. There WERE many serious problems that made each other worse. The doctors could not treat one without making another worse. We believed that no human had the physical reserves to survive and she was very close to death.
We prepared her daughter and her husband for her impending death. We allowed them to cry on our shoulders as we cried with them. We listened to her daughter speak of how she learned to be a mother by remembering the way Nancy raised her. We encouraged the family to spend time with Nancy and we ignored the visitation hours. We all accepted that Nancy was going to pass away.
Medical care and nursing care continued even though we did not expect more than life to be prolonged for a few weeks. Nancy had "the look" of deathly illness that so many Nurses and Doctors have come to recognize. "The Look" makes healthcare professionals feel helpless. We know our patient is critically ill and there is so little we can do to help. We also know that we are not Gods and do not really know the outcomes. We do the best we can as we fumble in the dark trying to help others.
For seven weeks we continued to follow the treatment with very slow and very slight improvement in Nancy's condition. Her husband spent less and less time with her as we watched his grief increase. Her daughter tried to remain hopeful but, I knew she was struggling as she brough Nancy's grandchildren in and pretended there would always be time to see "Nanna" when she was better.
The family and the staff became rundown from the stress. Yes, the staff becomes attached and the stress builds for them. They will not feel the same loss as the family, but the stress of a dozen episodes a year takes a large toll for the caring staff involved.
Monday morning of Nancy's eighth week with us and her fourteenth week in the hospital I noticed an difference in her attitude and appearance. Her skin was not as grey and lifeless as on Friday. She smiled at me and stated she felt better for the first time. She could stand with help for the first time and her voice was soft but not a whisper. I worried that this was the "Rally before the End."
Tuesday she walked to the bathroom alone.
Wednesday a stomach X-ray showed that she was getting better rapidly.
Friday she went to Rehab to get her strength back.
That was three Months ago.
Now this strange woman walks up to me and gives me a big hug and says thank you!! This woman recognized me but, I was unable to remember her. Then I saw Nancy's daughter. I was soooo embarrassed!! I know she looked different but it was still embarrassing.
How could I forget Nancy!!
I cried again. With joy and with Nancy. This is why we do all that we do.
1 comment:
Glad she got better - keep up the good work! :)
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