My patient's passing.

     I have been a nurse for over 5 years now and just yesterday I had my first patient die on my watch.  I have always felt that if in my hands, I can save you.  However, my first was a man who decided to take his own life by refusing treatment.  I spent three twelve hour days trying to fight to save this man's life.  I had no breaks or lunches.  At times I popped candy in my mouth so my blood sugar didn't drop, there was no time to eat.  

Flashback: December 8, 2008 I recovered this patient after open heart surgery.  He did well, but had what we call a failure to thrive.  He was depressed and didn't want to do the work to get better.  With encouragement and 2 weeks time he was well enough to go to rehab.  I developed a re pore with him and his two sisters.  

Now, three days ago he was admitted to me.  We talked and I got what I needed to keep him going that day.  The second day his spirit was good, but his labs told us otherwise.  The infection was taking over.  I was thinking ahead and got everything ready for his downward spiral.  If you are in medicine you know when it will happen and thinking ahead makes your life a little easier.  Therefore, we got lines in him to manage his pressures, started medications to keep him alive, and placed a tube in his throat to keep him breathing.  On the third day I knew we were going to code him.  However, he didn't let that happen.  We were unable to keep his blood pressure up with multiple drips. We called the power of attorney which stated to stop everything.  So, we stopped everything and low and behold he held his pressures and woke up.  He even talked and drank water from a straw after the tube in his throat was removed.  Amazed be, but the sad part is to follow.  Now that he was awake he said he wanted everything done, so we started everything back up.  He talked to his daughter and not even 5 minutes after starting things, he said he didn't want anything done.  We asked him 3 times and got the same answer.  So treatment was stopped yet again.  He wanted his daughter and sisters to talk to him and he made me promise to tell them his request for his obituary.  I watched as he spoke to his daughter and sister.  His blood pressure continued to drop as the conversation went on and his respiration's got shallow.  It seemed he got better so he could say goodbye.  It is hard to watch someone die when you are there to save them.  This man was dealt a hard hand but could have fought through it.  However, he opted to refuse treatment and die.  It's sounds weird to say this but after this, I believe that you can sometimes fight to stay alive and when you are ready you allow yourself to go.  If you were there, you would have seen what I did and probably thought that yourself.

In spite of it all, the sisters were thanking me where I was like I didn't save him........  

They thought I deserved a raise, but I didn't save him..........

They thought I worked hard, but I thought I could have worked harder............

It's the way things go sometimes.  I hope and pray that I go another 5 years without a death on my watch.

This is our home currently.

Sneak peek in the Master bedroom

Master bathroom

Living Room

Kitchen

The Front

We live on Cancun Street.  Love the name! :-)

     A lot of my friends have never been to our home and I thought this would give them a little insight.  We are currently looking for renters to move in to our home.  We hope and pray that nice and nondestructive people will move in.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we attempt to take a risk in becoming a landlord and make another investment.  We put a lot of thought into our decision.  We have some critics, but most encourage us in our new venture.  

   I hope all of my friends and family are enjoying the fruits of this new year!  

Out with the old and in with the new.

 

Ok, so after I came up with my poll question, I did a little research and found out that Sesame Street has changed the names of some of the characters that started the show like 30 years ago. Sesame street was "The Show" when I was a toddler.  It is frustrating now to hear that they changed things.  I guess they are trying to keep up with "The Jones's" of TV.  They now call Snuffleupagus "Snuffy".  What kind of name is that? They call Cookie Monster "Veggie Monster".  What happened to the basic concept of the show that children fell in love with so many years ago.   They have cut down air time for those of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie and many others to bring in new muppets, such as certain character's siblings.  How can they have a sibling without a parent on the show?  You try to figure it out. 

Hence, I started thinking some more.  Most likely what has happened is the people that played the character either died or retired, so the show had to come up with a new name for the character since the voice is different.  

I think I have spent way to much time on this issue as it really doesn't affect my standard of daily living activities, but I found it very interesting.  If anyone has comments please share.