Makes Me Feel Like Crying

[Accolay]

Second patient I've had in the last 6-8 months that is probably a new para. Not their fault but both involved in spinal injury. I'm not able to state how, but I assure you the injuries have nothing to do with the patients- they were completely innocent of the circumstances leading to their injuries.)

We're at the stage where we're asking questions: Ever going to walk again? How am I going to take care of my kids? How am I going to live my life? Will I be in a wheel chair?

You know... it's sad. Thanks for listening.

[JKL33]

Why is the fact that they are "innocent" relevant? Even if they had some kind of personal responsibility for what happened, is that less sad?

I guess if the patient suffered the injuries while committing a murder or other very serious crime, it might make finding compassion a little harder, but in general, I am not understanding the need to state twice that these injuries were not their fault.

Well, all of these situations benefit from our compassion, but I don't think there's anything particularly wrong/immoral about the idea that some of them may hit closer to home - - which would possibly make someone feel more strongly about them (with regard to personal sadness).

It's no secret that some traumas may have involved very dangerous activities from the outset, and sometimes very poor choices. These are sad, indeed, for the losses incurred - but they might not evoke as much of that visceral "it could've been any one of us" reaction. Which...like it or not, is kinda human nature.

[Oldmahubbard]

I have been a nurse for almost 30 years, and I have cared for dozens of spinal cord injuries.

In all that time, I have only ever had one "guilty" quadriplegic.

He was committing a crime when it happened.

So I find this thread odd.

[Accolay]

Why is the fact that they are "innocent" relevant? Even if they had some kind of personal responsibility for what happened, is that less sad?

I guess if the patient suffered the injuries while committing a murder or other very serious crime, it might make finding compassion a little harder, but in general, I am not understanding the need to state twice that these injuries were not their fault.

Well, I don't know... I might feel slightly less compassion for someone who has become a para after crashing their a motorcycle drunk or other such nonsense. Either way, it was the 3am dispair that really brings you down sometimes.

[Accolay]

I have been a nurse for almost 30 years, and I have cared for dozens of spinal cord injuries.

In all that time, I have only ever had one "guilty" quadriplegic.

He was committing a crime when it happened.

So I find this thread odd.

Feeling are odd too.

But to explain, these patients circumstances were pretty similar. Not that all new paras aren't sad, just these two were particularly yucky. I can't share more about them than that so you'll just have to take my word for it.

[Oldmahubbard]

We really deal with some deep "poop" in nursing, don't we?