Thank you for all your comments over the years

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I just wanted to let you all know that my son passed away very unexpectedly. We tried every drug possible, nitric oxide, HFOV all to no avail. His last chest x-rays had not one single drop of black (available air space in lungs).

Our son fought for life from the minute that his bio-father caused his massive brain injury. He put up a brave fight with this illness but he had so many complications from his brain injury and nearly a life-time on a vent. As much as we loved and adored him, he is finally free and at peace.

We declined an autopsy but he had Klebsiella pneumonia that appeared to be highly resistant to everything.

I thank you all for your support and comments over the years. Lots of tips/tricks/comforts I learned on here and incorporated so that I ended up being one of the favorite homes in my agency.

I have already started reading other posts and commenting and hope that I can still be of value to nurses in the future. I am going to try and start a program at our hospital for parents of newly trached children. I think that I have a lot of experience and can help other parents acclimate. Years ago, the hospital nurses were awesome but they didn't ever care for a child at home which is a hugely different experience.

I feel very strongly that every child deserves a loving family and hope that at some point in the future we can become family to another trach/vent child.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Been offline a few days, just came across this news. Condolences offered along with a big {{{ HUG }}.

Your care and concern and about your son along with wisdom gleemed for caring for a vent dependent child so eloquently posted here have helped improve the care provided by hundreds of RN's and LPN's over the past 2 years.

May the memories you shared and lessons learned be used to help even more persons in the future via support to local children's facility.

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What a tragic end to my day. I am so sorry to read this. Please accept my deepest condolences. Please do help out in the future. You have so much to offer and your son would want you to keep helping others like you helped him.

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Ventmommy. I am so very sorry to hear about your tragic loss. You are in my prayers. Please do stay here and help us all out with your words of wisdom. I have really appreciated all of your helpful comments and advice.

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Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I am glad that my experiences with my son have been able to help other nurses and patients.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

ventmommy,

I am so sorry for your loss. You were/are an asset to nurses. In fact, I thought that you were a nurse at one time.

What a positive contribution you are making for other parents. It would be scary when your child has a trach. And, it's great that you will be able to help these parents.

You have my deepest sympathy. May God bless you,

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

i just saw this post tonight - ventmommy i am so very sorry. . . .continued in a pm

thanks for helping us all be better caregivers. i learned so much from your posts.

❀❦❀❦❀*◦.¸

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"I have already started reading other posts and commenting and hope that I can still be of value to nurses in the future. I am going to try and start a program at our hospital for parents of newly trached children. I think that I have a lot of experience and can help other parents acclimate. Years ago, the hospital nurses were awesome but they didn't ever care for a child at home which is a hugely different experience.

I feel very strongly that every child deserves a loving family and hope that at some point in the future we can become family to another trach/vent child"

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So Sorry to hear about your loss! :( Thanks for sharing your story!

I go to parent sites too sometimes, such as Aaron's tracheostomy site. Some of those resources have been great to send the families to.

I KNOW that starting a program would be a wonderful thing for the other families! I hope you do it. I feel like the parents in my area would benefit from a monthly support group or something so that they could have other people who live closeby to befriend and so they don't feel like they are going through it alone. I think sometimes...Nurses and Dr's are great and all, but unless we actually have a child with a profound injury like that...we will NEVER quite know what it feels like to be in your place. And I think in the chaos of supplies and equipment and scheduling and medical appointments...the needs of the Parents often get neglected....even with nurses, you don't ever get to take a DAY OFF most of the time. Their are just no local resources like that (in my area anyway) Especially for the new parents..it would be helpful.

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I think your other idea would be awesome too...and great tribute to your son's memory.

I actually worked a case at a social worker's house. She took in all kinds of medically fragile foster kids, some for a few months, some she adopted...(Alot of times they have a VERY hard time finding placement for someone on a trach or vent). I think she adopted 6 total of varying developmental challenges..not all high tech. She had at least 3 last i was there that got a night nurse..and literally she had her den set up as a nurse's lounge and their would be 3 different nurses their every night, Lol. We referred to her as the Saint, lol. It was a neat place to go.

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