One of my dearest friends in the world is going through a terrible ordeal. She came home from work a few days ago and found her 16 year-old son unconscious. She rushed him to Children's hospital and he had emergency surgery for fluid on the brain and a collapsed lung.
Now he is on a ventilator and a feeding tube and he has had 2 MRI's showing severe brain damage. The family is devastated and being faced with horrible decisions regarding thier son. They still have no idea what happened or what is wrong with him. They have tried 2 times to take him off the ventilator but, so far not able to stay off. They think it was some type of virus but, they have not been able to identify it as of yet. They have sent his tests to Atlanta for analysis.
As a student nurse I know the ramifications of caring for a patient in his condition, but how different it feels when it is someone you have known for 11 years. At times the "nurse" in me takes over and then the "Mom" in me comes raging back.
I guess I am just asking everyone to say a prayer for Mark, and his family as they are making these huge decisions. Godspeed.
Still no word from the tests sent to Atlanta. The family is still waiting to find out, in case it is something the family needs to be tested for as well. Just got home from the funeral, it was a very sad occasion but the turn-out was remarkable. He touched many lives in his short time here. There were over 500 fellow high school students there for the services, it was a sight to see there were teenagers everywhere!!!!!!!! Unfortunately it is a sad fact of life that young people have to learn, that those we love may be gone before we have a chance to say what we want to say. Hug your kids, tell the people you love everyday that you love them, you never know when it will be too late. Peace.
Wow, that is just so... words fail. Prayers to you and to Mark and his family, for strength and, someday maybe not now, hope and some peace. I wish I could give you a great big hug.
Words cannot express how saddened I am upon reading this thread and learning the devastating outcome. My sincerest condolences to this young man's family and you...to everyone affected by this loss. I will definately add my prayers for God's comforting presence to be with everyone who knew and loved Mark and to bring healing to each and every broken heart.
I am so sorry! Perhaps, when you have been a nurse awhile, you will develop the coping mechanism we all seem to eventually have, which is to disassociate yourself from the person when you have to get in there and care for or code them. I know in the past when I had a patient code, even if I had just been talking to him or her, somehow he or she became just "the arm I had to start the iv in", just for the time I had to do what I had to do. I think it is a sort of defense mechanism that develops to protect the health worker....This young person is still there and still important so of course it is a difficult thing to be there with them as the care taker. Perhaps you might mention your closeness to the family and the tragic victim of such sad circumstances, that you have a conflict of interest, however, you may better suit yourself personally AND as a future medical professional, to face the hard stuff headon so you can deal with it personally AND as a learning experience.....Prayers to their family as well as yours..Take care and many hugs....
I am so sorry.... Reading this has upset me so... No parent should ever have to go through what Mark's parents are going through. They are in my prayers.
Rhoresmith
261 Posts
I am so sorry, the loss of a child is so devastating to all family and friends.
My families thoughts and prayers are with Marks family and with you in this loss
Rhonda