Worst thing you have seen

Hi all,

Burn unit is another one of my intersts.

I was just wondering, what is the worst thing you have seen?(most disgusting, saddest ect...)

The child abuse. I remember one 3-year old who was immersed by his mother into hot water. He underwent multiple surgical debridements, for he kept getting infections, and he was bandaged all the way up to his neck. His arms had to be kept in restraints so he didn't pick at the bandages. He had post-traumatic syndrome - he needed someone to be with him at all times just to reassure him that he was OK. He would awake from naps screaming and crying. He was a twin (brother not burned) -- they were dark skinned (African-American), but the burned child lost most of his pigment from the neck down due to the burns. His dad was in jail, and mother investigated for child abuse. The social worker told us that most likely the kid would be returned to the abusive mother -- the system is so screwed up.

The child abuse. I remember one 3-year old who was immersed by his mother into hot water. He underwent multiple surgical debridements, for he kept getting infections, and he was bandaged all the way up to his neck. His arms had to be kept in restraints so he didn't pick at the bandages. He had post-traumatic syndrome - he needed someone to be with him at all times just to reassure him that he was OK. He would awake from naps screaming and crying. He was a twin (brother not burned) -- they were dark skinned (African-American), but the burned child lost most of his pigment from the neck down due to the burns. His dad was in jail, and mother investigated for child abuse. The social worker told us that most likely the kid would be returned to the abusive mother -- the system is so screwed up.

No matter where anyone else works, it takes someone superhuman to work in burns.

It's something I could never do; I know that in my soul.

Best wishes to those of you who are able to do so, day in and day out. I'll take my looking-for-the-valium-lick-in-triage goofy ED patients with a smile on my face and a song in my heart after seeing some of your posts.

You have my utmost respect.

The child abuse. I remember one 3-year old who was immersed by his mother into hot water. He underwent multiple surgical debridements, for he kept getting infections, and he was bandaged all the way up to his neck. His arms had to be kept in restraints so he didn't pick at the bandages. He had post-traumatic syndrome - he needed someone to be with him at all times just to reassure him that he was OK. He would awake from naps screaming and crying. He was a twin (brother not burned) -- they were dark skinned (African-American), but the burned child lost most of his pigment from the neck down due to the burns. His dad was in jail, and mother investigated for child abuse. The social worker told us that most likely the kid would be returned to the abusive mother -- the system is so screwed up.