Patients that Have Surprised you

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I have been told that I'm a woman with nine lives. I believe that God definitely has a special mission for me, and He isn't done with me yet. Why? Because:

1. I was born in 1943 weighing only 3 lbs 11 ozs. Back then babies that small were buried and not named. Mine would have been baby girl Worden.

However, my grandmother named me, and although very anemic, my grandmother also cared for me during the first few weeks of my life until I got stronger.

2.Nearly died with Bronchial Pneumonia when I was 2. My grandmother nursed me to health.

3. I had viral encephalomengitis when I was in my late teens, which gave me status epilepticus.

4. I suffered a PE while in the hospital as the result of massive doses of Solu-Medrol. Nothing was done about it until the next day, and I remained in acute care. By the time the PE was found, I was having Cheynes-Stokes respirations, and felt like I was going to die. I did suffer an out of body experience then.

5. Pneumonia that put me into respiratory failure. I was intubated, and remained in the hospital 5 weeks due to my suffering a CVA from a nurse decreasing my level of oxygen after I was placed in acute care. I wasn't even able to read my menu.

6. Same year, 3 months later pneumonia accompanied by sepsis,& CHF with cardiomegaly. I again crashed in the ER, and a central line was placed in my jugular vein, and was again intubated.

7.Hypoxemia with emisis of about 2 1/2 litres of partially digested blood, learned I have pulmonary hypertension, and my kidneys failed.

But now here I am, 57 pounds lighter and back in action.

[medsurgnurse, RN]

I am happy to have you back on allnurses. I am glad your health is stabilizing. Sounds like you do have nine lives. Just be careful, take care of your health and don't use up any more of your nine lives.

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

Fran, I have been with allnurses about 3 years and I remember you fondly. So glad to hear you are still kickin' it with allnurses!!!

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Thank you sweetums. But when I started this thread, I only used myself as an example to get the rest of you nurses to think about any patient/s you have had that has/have amazed you. I know there must be some some of you have experienced.