Comments on: Hoping This Won’t Be A Mistake

By: Da Goddess

Da Goddess — Thu, 04 Dec 2003 05:32:17 +0000

I can understand the struggle, Geena. There are so many people out surfing around, you never know what “information” they’ll find online and take in to the doctor.

It’s one reason I couldn’t let that one person go on writing about his miraculous 2 month recovery with ALL, pancreatic and CNS cancer.

The difference is: you’re reporting what happened and you’re honest about the odds of these kinds of recovery happening. When they do occur, it’s like winning the biggest lottery ever!

I’m glad your patients had such great outcomes.

By: Carla

Carla — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 20:51:22 +0000

I posted this one up on the notice board at my Uni so that the other student nurses could read it. Its great to read a post thats really positive.

By: Doc

Doc — Mon, 27 Oct 2003 11:21:48 +0000

Its always nice to hear the good stories. As a Paramedic, I rarely get to see how Cardiac Arrests, et al turn out. I know that almost none of them ever leave the hospital, but its nice to know some do from time to time.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:48:37 +0000

This is a great story. Thanks so much for sharing. This is a part of why we just cannot assume too much about these patients. To be blunt, it is impressive to see an ICU nurse able to maintain this ability to get “ecstatically happy.” Don’t be semi-apologetic about this post, you should be proud that you’re clinging so tightly to your humanity.

By: Kathleen Weaver

Kathleen Weaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2003 01:39:17 +0000

First, I’ve been enjoying your blog for a long time.

Second, I’ve got cool one of my own.

For about 8 years, I did pet therapy at Baylor Rehab, here in Dallas. We worked with head injury and stroke patients. In addition, we also did visitation at their long term care center.

Many of the patients there were in some form of persistant vegative state.

I will never forget one. We had been visiting him for several years, every weekend. Every time we were there, his whole family was there. His young sons, elementary age, wife, and other members of the extended family. I have no idea if they were ever there any time but on Saturday afternoon but they were there.

One of the reasons I remember him, is that he used to grab a hold of my dog’s leash. He never responded to the dogs — in fact, when we got to his room, my dogs entered the boys. But he would grab on the leash and wouldn’t let go. He’d hold onto it 5 to 10 minutes. He wasn’t agitated, that’s just what he did. And we couldn’t get him to let go. He just would.

So here’s the point. After YEARS, and I don’t remember how many but I think it was over 5, one morning he woke up when they brought him, his breakfast, and he was awake and aware! He had no clue where he was at, but came to the conclusion he must be in prison — which in a way he was. The staff told me that he remembered everything before the event but not what put him in the hospital or what happened after.

The family came and took him home and I have no idea what became of him after that. It was pretty cool though.

By: geena

geena — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 17:38:26 +0000

I know it wasn’t Guillian Barre… was not a progressive weakening so much as a all-of-a-sudden unresponsiveness.

The neurologist told me the name, but I don’t remember. At the time we figured on some sort of encephalopathy.

I’ve posted before on resuscitation and how I feel about it. It does have its’ place, but I agree that it can do more harm than good.

By: inspire

inspire — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 13:23:47 +0000

The demyelinating disease sounds like Guillian Barre Syndrome.

The victories are the reason med people go to such lengths to resuscitate. Sure, it’s futile in probably 90% of people who will end up comatose and dependant, but there’s always hope.

Acutally, this raises an interesting medico-legal question about resuscitation and whether it’s kinder to let the patient expire to save on probably what will be horrendus medical expenses down the line.

I hope I never have to make that call.