Thes Story of.....Snap, Crackle, Pop, and Fred

[elizabeth8503RN, MSN, EMT-B, NP]

A slightly funny story....

For the last three and a half months I have been taking care of a vent dependent quad (C3 break). He was in a car accident at the age of 3 years old and has been this way sence. He lives at home, again, vent dependent, with the help of in home care, and his parents. He is now 28 yrs old. He is an amazing person to be as humorous as he is and have such a great out look as he does every single day.

You would think that being on a vent he would have alot of respiratory problems, he doesnt. His main issue is a skin problem that causes, I don't want to call them bed sores, but thats kind of what they are. He has had thes problems for years.

But thats not what I want to go into.

Every day that I take care of him, we have a routine, as I work night shift, I come in, he has been up most of the day working on his computer with a mouth stick, and when he is ready for bed, I brush his teeth, I straight cath him, we change his wound dressings, and we do passive range of motion on his extremites....

Here comes the entertaining story....

He has spasms all the time, but its very rare that his limbs "pop" like you crack your knuckles....

We start on his right arm...we do our usual exercises....and his right shoulder pops...we laugh...and say thats kind of weird...because that usually doesnt happen....

So I go on to his right leg.....I barely start in with the exercises and his right knee pops.....that is a little less out of the ordinary...because that knee has been operated on a few times...

I tell him if it keeps it up and all of his limbs pop like they have been I'm gonna name them Snap, Crackle, Pop, and Crackles.

He already has named his limbs as he has no control of them....

Right arm-Righty

Right leg-Ralphy

Left arm-Lefty

Left leg-Louie

So...on we go to left leg,....aka Louie...who I have never heard pop once in my working with him...I am just about to call it quits and head on to work with Lefty when all of a sudden...his ankle pops...

I tell him...that's it...we are renaming your limbs...

I head up to work on Lefty....at that time he turns his head and says...."Don't do it Lefty, stay strong and don't pop."

I laugh...then he asks..."If Lefty doesn't pop then what are you going to name him?"

"I say the first name that pops into my head....FRED!"

We complete the PROMs...and no popping.

"Thats a way to stay strong Lefty." says my quad...

I laugh....

So...there is my story of SNAP CRACKLE POP and FRED

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

THANK YOU for this...

You made me smile.

And brought a tear to my eye.

You are a good team... bless you BOTH ! :)

[elizabeth8503RN, MSN, EMT-B, NP]

bringing this back to the front.

[nursel56]

That does sound like a fun moment! I really do believe that working with homecare patients for many hours is a profound learning experience. Things I thought I knew, I didn't-- in so many ways. Your guy sounds like a hoot! Thanks for sharing!