Day Fifteen Sunday Sticky Notes

Today I planned to go in a little later since Ivy was there with Moma. I had a little break to lunch break with a group of friends at Chilis and went and did a little shopping. I was in hopes this would be a distraction, but Moma was still in the back of my mind the whole time. I got a message from the wound nurse and FNP that worked at the nursing home group Moma works for. They were wanting to go see Moma, I was all for it, maybe they could talk some sense into her. When I go to the hospital I saw two ladies talking, they both looked up at me and greeted me, I assumed it was them. They were both in the waiting area talking, I'm sure they were talking about how rough the situation looked. They both were appreciative of me allowing them to come see her. The wound nurse said she really appreciated my Moma and that she had prayed with her several times and got her through some rough times. She also said she had COVID and Moma was the one that helped take care of her. The FNP was a little flat but she was nice and said she had really learned a lot from Moma as her mentor she taught her the ropes well and reminded her of her mother. This was warming to see some of Moma's work. I told both the ladies to come back and visit and that I appreciated them. This made me feel better about my concern a few days ago where I was scared people were going to forget about Moma. I walk in and check on Moma she looks about the same as the day before, no significant visual changes. I was looking through the room to see what I could straighten out. Always have mess everywhere so every little bit helps. I also decided to take the sticky note of Jasons on our little appreciation wall down, he don’t deserve it anymore. I sit down with Moma and talked about random stuff for a while, was just a one sided conversation as unusual. The RT came in and talked for a long time, sounded like she must be the lead RT as she makes the schedule. She was talking about all sorts of stuff at one point she said she was going to send me a payment in the mail to give her therapy. I told her its all good I'm use to people laying it on me. I don’t mind listening. Helps me kind of know I aint the only one going through mess. Boy did she open up about EVERYTHING evening “spilling the tea” on a few coworkers. She was even telling me there was a traveler on shift tomorrow that would be taking care of Moma, she said she had been doing it for 20+ years so she knew what she was doing. On the way out I decided to grab up some daisy award brochures I was going to nominate Lauren and Christina for the daisy award, I wrote the hell out of that nomination, and they better get it!

Comments

The Advocate At The House

At The House Sunday January 30 th , 2022, around 130pm I found my mother in a chair laid back with agonal /gurgling respirations . I attempted to reposition her immediately and get a response from her. Unfortunately, I never could get her alert enough to talk to me. I called 9-1-1 and had them come emergency traffic to my home. This felt so weird to me I have only called 9-1-1 maybe two-three times in my life, but never for me or for my family. I was checking her oxygen saturation and it was 33 with a pulse of 122. I repositioned her again, at this point she was dead weight. Once I did this some vomit came out of her mouth. Instant panic thinking about aspiration with the gurgling sound and the vomit that came out of her mouth after repositioning. During this whole time her dog, Roxy a schnauzer was tore out the frame. Roxy knew something was wrong and she was not please. A brief time later EMS arrived (felt like an eternity at the time) out stepped my best fr...

Day Fourteen Saturday Wiping tears with a paper towel

Day Fourteen Saturday Wiping tears with a paper towel Today makes two weeks we have been in the hospital. This is the day my sister lost hope and was thinking it was over. I was eager that morning to make breakfast like what Moma and I usually do make breakfast, shoot the shit and do laundry. I heard from Ivy this morning and she had been talking to Jason, a nurse she had bonded with. The one that wasn’t my favorite. Ultimately, he is extra as hell and over exaggerates and makes a mountain out of a mole hill. Yes, Moma is not in beautiful shape, but he generally paints a worse picture. Ivy had me tore up absolutely holler crying at the house before I left. Was a bad scenario, the poor dogs. I got ready and headed to the hospital. Ivy had made the comment I wonder if I should cancel my patients for the day (thinking she was about to roll out this world). I get there and she looks about the same, not perfect. I felt like she was heavily sedated. They had added versed to th...

The Advocate Intro

Intro As I sit here in the ICU by my mother’s side, I wanted to type up my story to share my mother ’s journey during COVID. I am just going to write it like I talk, little rough around the edges and no filter. I also spell mom M-O-M-A and my Moma always said that is ok, so do not judge me. I am a Moma’s boy for sure. I am no means a writer or an English professor so do not judge my gramma r. I hold various titles and credentials in healthcare. I have worked in healthcare since I was 17 years old and have been exposed to it all my life. I have worked in various settings such as EMS, Acute Care Vent Unit, Urgent Care, and O utpatient C are. I have dealt with COVID outside of the hospital during the whole pandemic. I have always heard healthcare is different now, COVID is a monster, understaffed, bad patient ratios, and burnout but I have not seen it firsthand in the hospital system until now. It has been a difficult experience since I worked in healthcare and...

My Life

Search This Blog