NM just emailed me... one of our patients didn't show for tx. yesterday, her DH called and said she wasn't feeling too well and didn't think she would make it in ... would be back Monday.
But she died at home before he could get her to the ER.
Oh, how sad it is. What a neat little woman she was ! I had tremendous respect and admiration for her... have known her now 6+ years... she had some other issues going on with her these past 2 years, and began developing some serious ascites... had to have fluid removed every few weeks...
No matter how sick she was, she always had a smile, always managed to find something to laugh about...
Now I'll miss her so..... and all the "little things"... her funny little knitted winter sox she used to pull on after removing her shoes... her little brown lace-up shoes... how I used to put them on for her at the end of tx., and tie them up for her... her yellow blanket... just her funny, sweet little ways.........
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
((((jnette)))) So sorry for your loss. You helped provide warmth, love, smiles and acceptance at her home-away-from-home. What gwenith said is SO TRUE. Bless you, and the woman's family/friends too.
it really hurts to lose one of your "special" ones... happened three weeks ago to me and you all were so supportive and it is still hard now... will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. know that your compassion and sweetness probably made such a difference to this lady and to her husband. take care jnette, we love you.
I know this will happen time and again, yet it is so good to have a place to come to and share... with ppl who have "been there" and can understand and relate. It feels good to release it and know it is going out to other compassionate hearts and not just lost in space somewhere.
Tomorrow morning will be difficult.. she was always one of the very first patients to arrive. Her chair will be so obviously empty...
she should BE there... but she won't. While she had other comorbidities, this was NOT expected... makes it so much harder.
Then comes the task of sharing the sad news with her fellow "dialysismates"..... always a sad time for all. Not only in grieving the loss of a friend but in having to confront their own vulnerability each time... as they silently wonder "will I be next" ?
On a more hopeful note, we do have a young gentleman who has been with us 8 mos. and has been arranging for a transplant. A woman in his church has a match, and all is now ready for the big day. He goes for his transplant on the 16th (day after tomorrow), so if any of you feel moved to lift him up in prayer, I know he would greatly appreciate it.
I would also add that he is a fellow RN. He had been doing PD for several years, but would always end up with peritonitis due to infections from the PD catheter and ended up having to come to us for hemo instead. He is very active, works out at the gym regularly and has everything yet to live for.
He would love to go back to bedside nursing, but due to his PD and then hemodialysis schedule, it was difficult for him to maintain his position at the hospital and went to work for a PT clininc in town which was more flexible.
So here's to HOPE and wishing him well !
Thanx again to all for listening... and caring. :kiss
Having worked an outpatient cardiac rehab program I can relate...we also became quite close...staff, patients, and family members. It was hard to lose one...hard for everybody in our little 'family'.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
(((((((((((((Jnette)))))))))))))))
sad sad sad. I am sorry!