Nurses

This morning a friend posted a homework question to Facebook: "What do Nurses do?". The immediate response of most people is, EVERYTHING! I agree completely with that, but it got me to thinking about all of the incredible nurses, CNAs and therapists we have encountered over the last year and everything they have done for us.

My nurses were my advocates when I could not speak, fiercely so.

• One of my ICU nurses almost physically removed a sono tech from my room because she was so unreasonable (she wanted me to roll over and could not understand why that was physically impossible). 
• One of my hospital nurses removed a teaching nurse and her student from my room because they were so involved in their instruction they forgot their patient was a human being. That was the last instructor/student to come into my room during my stay, I never had to say a thing.
• One of my nursing home nurses refused to remove my pick line a day before I was to have surgery because she knew I'd be getting an IV the next day and didn't want me to get stuck again.  She caught hell for that and never regretted her decision for a moment.
• The Physician's Assistants I had at the hospital listened to me carefully and with great respect and helped me manage my pain and sanity with grace and dignity.

My nurses made me feel human.

• One of my hospital nurses shaved my legs for me.  She did not ask someone else to do it for her, she did it herself.  As she was doing it she told me she'd never shaved anyone else's legs before.  She was very careful and did a great job.  She helped me to feel more like myself.
• Some of my nurses prayed for me, over me and with me.  One even called me on her day off to find out what time my surgery was set for so she could pray for me.
• One of my nursing home nurses helped me through several truly humiliating situations without batting an eye and without every making me feel embarrassed. Afterwards she would talk to me and tell me it was already forgotten and that I had nothing to feel embarrassed about (oh, but I did, any self respecting person would).  She downplayed it so much I felt better immediately.  I never worried that she ever said a word to anyone. She is amazing.
• I had a patient advocate who worked with the hospital to coordinate my transfers back and forth to the nursing home.  I mentioned that I wished I could wash my hair.  She found an inflatable tub designed to wash a patients hair while they are in bed, got shampoo and washed my hair herself.  This woman's main job was paperwork and she took the time to do that for me! 
• My CNAs at the nursing home, there simply aren't words!  They washed me, shaved me, wiped me, showered me, clothed me and fed me.  They transferred me from my bed by physically lifting me, used a hoyer lift or helped me slide over when I was strong enough.  They listened to me, respected me and treated me as their friend or family.  
• At first, transfers were very difficult and painful.  I remember one young woman who cried when she thought she caused me pain during a transfer.  I wanted to hug her.  I told her I knew she would never intentionally cause me pain and that I knew how much she cared for me.

They cared for my family

• At the nursing home they brought a cot into my room so that my daughter could spend the night with me whenever she wanted.  The nurses made her bed, fed her and made her feel at home.
• They all asked about my family, kept my husband up to date and accommodated us in every way possible.
• At the nursing home they even cared about my dogs and were thrilled when they would come to visit. By the way, I have two German Shepherds.
• They transported me to the High School so that I could see my son run the last cross country meet of his high school career.  They stayed with me to make sure I was safe and cheered him on.
• They took pictures of my daughter when she came with her school to sing for us and play Christmas Carols.

My Therapists

• Had more faith in me than I had in myself.
• They prepared me for my future.  They made it possible for me to sit, shower, stand and walk.
• They were always positive but tough, were always thinking about what I needed to do next and how they could get me there. 
• Helped to heal my mind and soul as much as my body and spirit.

The day I had my fixator removed, the therapists at the hospital came in to see how I was doing. They first had me sit up on the side of the bed.  This was something I had been doing with the help of my Therapists at the nursing home.  I was able to do that so well, they decided to see if I could stand.  I could, for the first time in 4 months.  Then, she told me to take a step. I did.  I looked up and everyone in the room was crying.  I had never met these women before and they were crying for me.  My nurse had to leave the room before she had a breakdown. 

 

I owe it all to the constant and dedicated work of my entire support team: from, God, to my family, to the doctors and surgeons to all of the nurses, therapists and CNAs to the Paramedics to transported me first to the hospital and then back and forth to my many appointments to all of my friends and my community, I say Thank You and again, Thank You!

I could write about this forever.  These people cheered for me, cried with me and held me up when I could not walk.  They are the reason I am here today.  I will never be able to thank them enough.

Miracle or Luck? You Be the Judge

• I survived a terrible accident

• My husband was there to comfort me.

• The first person on the scene was a nurse from my church.

• The ambulance arrived within moments of the call (we heard the sirens as soon as the 911 dispatcher said they had called for an ambulance).

• One of the responding paramedics is the most experienced and respected paramedic in Central Illinois.

• That same paramedic was one of the ones who transported me out of the hospital and to the nursing home. I got to thank him. It was his birthday.

• I had a 16mm tear in my aorta and didn't bleed out.

• I survived a surgery that has less than a 10% survival rate. 

• I got the best cardiac and orthopedic trauma surgeons in the area, and didn't get to choose any of them.

• I have no brain damage whatsoever.

• I wore all of my motorcycle gear because the weather in August was cool.

• I got to attend my son's Senior Night for Fall Sports - even though I later had to have the fixator put back on.

• I can walk. In fact, I walked the very day they removed my fixator for good.

• My family is totally amazing!

• My community and friends came together to support my family in ways we will never be able to repay.

• There were close to 30 people in the ER waiting room to support my family.

• I never had to worry about my job.

• We received almost the exact amount of money we needed to get through this adventure so far. 

• I was able to stay in a nursing home that was just down the street from my house.  My family, and dogs, could visit whenever they wanted.

• I was home and strong enough to see my son graduate from High School and my daughter graduate from 8th grade.

• To this day, I meet people I never knew before who have been praying for me all this time.

• I never felt like I was going to die.

These are the things I can remember.  It doesn't include all of the amazing support I got from nurses and therapists that helped to make all of this possible. If you know of something I missed, please add it.  I'd like to remember as much as possible.

The Day My Life Changed

It's been almost a year, in fact it's been 363 days. I think it's time to start writing about it.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 - A beautiful summer day.  It was a bit cool, odd for August in Illinois.  Deane had to stay in town late that day to attend his gaming session so we could not drive to work together.  It was a perfect day to ride my motorcycle.  As I was getting ready to leave, something made me decide to wear my full face helmet instead of the snazzy new half-helm I had just bought.  I was already wearing jeans and my harness boots, I pretty much always ware those when I ride.  I put on my leather jacket and decided to wear my gloves too, as I said, it was a chilly morning.

We headed out the door at about 7am.  Deane was driving our Vibe and I was following him on my bike.  We took I-57.  As we approached Rantoul, traffic picked up and we both moved to the left lane to avoid the merging traffic from 136.  Suddenly, Deane pulled over to the left shoulder, I looked up and realized that the construction truck in front of me was not moving.  I had a moment of clarity when I knew I was going to hit the truck.  I was totally calm.

I heard my helmet hit the windshield of my bike.
I was on my back on the back of the truck.
I moved my fingers and my toes.
I never lost consciousness.
I was still calm.
I heard someone running around screaming "Oh my God!" over and over again.
I wondered what was taking Deane so long to get to me.
I heard the driver of the truck get out and say "Did you hit me?" to Deane.
Deane was there, standing over me and telling me not to move.
I begged him to get me down off the truck.  I felt like a bug stuck on my back.
He moved me to the ground.

I could feel the cars in the right lane speeding past us.  Deane was running around frantic.  I was afraid he was going to get hit.  I reached up with my left hand and grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him down to me.  I couldn't really speak, but I looked him in the eyes.  He calmed down and called 911.

Someone had stopped and she came over to help.  She said she was a nurse, then she recognized us.  She told me she went to church with me.  She helped get my helmet off. I remember she said she had small hands and that might make it easier to get it off. It was a huge relief to get it off.

The ambulance was there.  They were cutting off my clothes and asking me where I hurt. Just my lower back.  I wanted to roll onto my stomach, but that wasn't going to happen. One of the paramedics told me his name was Howard.  He held my hand all the way to the hospital.

Deane couldn't ride with me. I told him I loved him, to take care of the kids and call work to tell them I wouldn't be in.

I was still calm.

I don't remember much about the ER. I know my Pastor was there with Deane and our dear friend Dave B.
I remember getting very cold and knowing that meant I was going into shock. My back really hurt. I remember going in for a CT scan, then nothing.

I woke up in ICU. Deane was there, that meant I was ok.  I couldn't talk, there was a tube in my throat. I don't know what time or day it was. I was on my back and I couldn't move, but I wasn't in pain.
I woke again later and the kids were there. I was so glad to see them, but I didn't want them to be scared.
The next time I woke up they took the tube out of my throat.  I could talk. The nurses left us alone and I could finally ask Deane what was wrong with me.