Another Busy Day In Paradise

There is nothing more rewarding that seeing your acutely ill patient, improve in front of your very eyes
One of my patients did just that today
I stopped his sedation, and waited for him to wake up. If he woke appropriately and safely. I would be able to remove the horrendous endroteacheal tube from his throat ( the big tube connecting him to his life supporting ventilator) so that he could breath on his own.
My ill patient started to wake up.
I repeated his name and where he was to orientate him
" Steven, you are on intensive care, you have a tube in your throat helping you to breath, you are quite safe Steven...... When you wake up a little more , I will remove it."
The patient gestured to me
"Steven can you understand me? You are on intensive care...you' ve been poorly....I am here to help you....Steven nod if you understand me"
Steven nodded......he tried to speak but the tube prevented him
" Steven? Can you squeeze my hands?" I asked
And he squeezed my hands
The anaesthetist gave me the thumbs up and I  said
"Steven, let me remove this tube"
Seconds later I removed the tube from Steven's throat
And he took his first deep breath of room air
" are you ok? " I asked him gently
And he smiled weakly holding my hand

" yes..I'm ok...........but my name's Graham" he croaked with a smile........

52 comments:

  1. "but you can call me steven if you want" LOL

    amazing work you do, mister!

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  2. I bet even if he WAS called Steven, it would have been spelt with PH. You know what I mean. Those moments must be nice.

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  3. HA! He was just kidding, wasn't he?

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    1. No his name WAS Graham......I absolutely don't know why I called himsteven

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  4. Oh John, killer punch line! Love it!

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  5. I guess he had something to tell you.

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    1. Btw Joanne
      My sisters( who are experts ) adored your sis' item

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  6. Brilliant. I'd choose you more than anyone to tend to me if I was ill

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  7. I'm still laughing... BUT... so glad Steven/Graham is doing okay. What a hoot!

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  8. Must have been your training at NGH - every time Ive been in there they called me the wrong name. I remember waking up after a D&C with the nurse calling me Deborah, and thinking " I hope Deborah wasn't having her leg off!!!" xxxxxxxxx

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  9. Anonymous11:11 pm

    Love it...a good laugh and a happy ending!

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  10. Best story ever, love the ending what a hoot !

    cheers, parsnip

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  11. I almost feel bad that I laughed :)

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  12. Anonymous1:05 am

    He came too with a sense of humour....fantastic.

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  13. Well, he may not have known where he was, but at least he knew WHO he was!! And you know this would only happen to you!! :-)

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  14. Who's Steven? Is Chris worried?
    Jane x

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  15. This is why I follow your blog. Even on holiday in San Fransisco.

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  16. Wonderful news.

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  17. Great story, well told!

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  18. Wonderful moment; I imagine it makes all those long nights worth while.

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  19. I called one of my patients Terry three times yesterday despite him telling me twice his name was....

    Shit, I still can't remember his name.

    Person centred care at it's best.

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  20. As long as the tube was gone he couldn't care what you called him.......lovely tale John.

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  21. Love it! Must make it all worth while!

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  22. Even so (ha ha!), you must have felt pleased as Punch at the turn-around.

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  23. Thank goodness he didn't come to & say, " Actually my name is Gloria ! "

    Before an op once & very emotional as had young children, I asked the anaesthetist to make sure I came to.... alive ! ( visions of the film Coma in my head ! )

    Wonderful x

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  24. At that point I doubt he'd have cared if you'd called him Susan!

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  25. He was actually Graham - so how was Steven at this time? Was he in the next ICU bed? You should have gone to Specsavers!

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  26. Tears and laughter all at once...

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  27. OMW I was just welling up at the bravery of the nurse and the patient when I burst into laughter at his reply! Brilliant, John!

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  28. What a great story. Needed a laugh, given the current state of the States.

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  29. Classic! Diane's comment made me laugh too. I magine waking up and saying 'Where's me legs gone? I only came here to 'ave me Appendix out!'

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  30. That is truly a wonderful post, I shall chuckle to myself for the rest of the day now.

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  31. A "you can call me Al" moment...wonderful!

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  32. oops...wrong patient. hope steven improved too!

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  33. Anonymous12:46 pm

    He'll probably change his name to Steven. I call everyone "Hun" "Buddy" or "Trouble" since I forget names.

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  34. What a lovely anecdote! What a lucky man to have you and your ilk caring for him! Hope his recovery continues apace x Reminded me of my late Dad,(living with early onset Parkinsons)coming round after experimentary groundbreaking brain surgery in a v busy ward in Cardiff Heath hospital some years ago, and the nurse saying "do you know where you are Douglas?" to which he replied "paddington station". We had to explain he was coming round fine, wasnt confused, was just being facetious!

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  35. He hadn't had any body bits removed whilst being known as Steven then? That would wipe the smile off of his face........

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  36. Haha....I JUST knew that was coming :-)

    You do an amazing job, it must be the little moments like this that give you the good memories.

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  37. As you know my son is a charge nurse, there's a passage on my blog that applies to you and him, you do such a wonderful job.
    Briony
    xx

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  38. Now that brought a smile to my face!

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  39. Do you make these things up just to entertain your blog readers....or is this really you and your life????

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    Replies
    1. Yes Elizabeth.....it is a true story.....

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  40. I knew it had to be true, John - only you!!! Graham will be dining out on that story for some time. You can take care of me any time and, by the way, my name is Nancy!!!

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  41. It is a rare gift indeed to make someone laugh and cry almost at the same time. Just as my eyes were welling up, I nearly wet my pants!
    You never disappoint. Love your blog
    Sophie

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  42. Love this. I wonder if Graham knows people all over the world are smiling because of a moment in his life. And yours.

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  43. Excellent story! Steven, Graham, glad you were able to help...

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