Things that leave you stunned.

travel50 · Jul 5, 2009

My son, when he was 11...I thought he had the measles. His MMR had been ineffective. He'd had the mumps after the shot, which is how we knew. I failed to revaccinate. So I thought the rash, the fever, eye pain, etc was measles. Then his little butt turned solid red from bleeding under the skin. I rushed him to the closest doctor. She insisted it was measles. I insisted it was not. She called the pediatrician. (an hour away). He knew me. Said if I was worried, then there was a serious problem, and for me to bring him in. I did. He turned the child's hands over. Then I saw it. The rash of rocky mountain spotted fever. Why hadn't I seen it? Got him to Vanderbilt per ambulance. (over 2 hrs away) The doctors were very kind, but not hopeful. He became grossly edematous. He became delirious and combative. Then he developed ARDS. They put him on a vent. He developed DIC. The doctors told me he would die, there was nothing else they could do. The students (it is a university hospital) stayed away out of respect. Only family was allowed in. I am white...they let my best friends in...they are black...the doctor pointed out to a questioning nurse that they were "obviously" family. I was grateful. A pastor came in to perform an annointing ceremony. All the family came in, even from overseas. And then...the boy made a response...a single solitary tear. Then I saw his finger touch the ventilator tubing. Another tear. I told him the tube was not forever, just until he got better. I promised we'd take it out then. The doctor was called. Slowly, as the day progressed, he improved. The doctor became hopeful. Every day he was better. The students started coming to see the child who had cheated death. 10 days later, he came home. It was the most amazing recovery I've ever seen. And I know it is so to me b/c it was my child. He completely recovered, is now grown and in the air force.

kanzi monkey · Jul 5, 2009

I posted this on another thread, but had so much impact on me, I'll share it again.

Pt dx with HIV in early 90s, obviously life-changing diagnosis. Currently homeless, smokes a lot of crack, spends quite a bit of time in prison. Really nice, really smart guy (poor choices, obviously). Anyway, looking at lab trends from last few years, it's noted that his CD4 is always normal, and he's never had a viral count. 2 HIV tests later--he's negative. A life-altering false positive.

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2009

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* >90% burn patient (high 2nd and 3rd) stay alert long enough to use a cell to call his wife one last time

* toddler with herpes from nipple line down and across perineum up to the scapula. mom left her with family that abused her as well.

* guy went thru guardrail and it entered the cab split it - cleanly severed his leg at the knee. The guy self extricated and dragged himself to the road (50 yards) to get help. He stayed alert - a police office brought me the leg after beating on the ambo door and handed it to me (sandal still on foot!). Patient asked if I would be able to put it back on? Not right now.

* A female late 30's with a hemoglobin of 1.3 - history of non-specific vag bleeding over months. Lot's of family, drama and in the midst of squealing and all the "BS" stuff that was going on it was getting out of hand. I made patient stand & participate in the move to get her over. Vitals were ok - she was black so hard to get a real fix on color - MM were a bit pale.

* c-section under - no drugs. Severe distress and the baby needed out. Infiltration of lido in incision line. The baby out - mom was screaming so much she that could be heard in the adjacent building

* Flew a patient that had been in hospital for 3 days with CP, heparin gtt, on tele. Patient kept having CP and she was sent for a CT that had her disecting from the carotid to renal junction - with diminished pules on the effected side

I'm sure I'll think of more. I have some I need to think about to post of not. :bugeyes:

Practice SAFE!

NurseKitten, MSN, RN · Jul 5, 2009

.
* >90% burn patient (high 2nd and 3rd) stay alert long enough to use a cell to call his wife one last time
* toddler with herpes from nipple line down and across perineum up to the scapula. mom left her with family that abused her as well.
* guy went thru guardrail and it entered the cab split it - cleanly severed his leg at the knee. The guy self extricated and dragged himself to the road (50 yards) to get help. He stayed alert - a police office brought me the leg after beating on the ambo door and handed it to me (sandal still on foot!). Patient asked if I would be able to put it back on? Not right now.
* A female late 30's with a hemoglobin of 1.3 - history of non-specific vag bleeding over months. Lot's of family, drama and in the midst of squealing and all the "BS" stuff that was going on it was getting out of hand. I made patient stand & participate in the move to get her over. Vitals were ok - she was black so hard to get a real fix on color - MM were a bit pale.
* c-section under - no drugs. Severe distress and the baby needed out. Infiltration of lido in incision line. The baby out - mom was screaming so much she that could be heard in the adjacent building
* Flew a patient that had been in hospital for 3 days with CP, heparin gtt, on tele. Patient kept having CP and she was sent for a CT that had her disecting from the carotid to renal junction - with diminished pules on the effected side
I'm sure I'll think of more. I have some I need to think about to post of not.
Practice SAFE!

You wouldn't happen to practice at a large regional medical center in Florida, would you? LOL! That sounds like my place! :lol2:

rph3664 · Jul 5, 2009

I posted this on another thread, but had so much impact on me, I'll share it again.
Pt dx with HIV in early 90s, obviously life-changing diagnosis. Currently homeless, smokes a lot of crack, spends quite a bit of time in prison. Really nice, really smart guy (poor choices, obviously). Anyway, looking at lab trends from last few years, it's noted that his CD4 is always normal, and he's never had a viral count. 2 HIV tests later--he's negative. A life-altering false positive.

I think you've mentioned him in other threads.

It's DEFINITELY a miracle that he doesn't have AIDS now, after doing all that.

ShayRN · Jul 5, 2009

Patient who hated her husband lived for three days while he traveled to see her. Died when he pulled into the parking lot.

Patient who ate fruit and applesauce, died less than six hours later.

Patient who is mottled from the armpits down, lives another 4 days.

Patient who had rectal cancer and used her grandchild's diapers to absorb the drainage (and smell) from her daughter. Came to me with a cavity so big in her periarea that I could put my fist in.

Patient from a very large and prestigious hospital with a profo-boot on that hadn't been removed since it was placed. He had bedsores to the bone at every snap site.

Patient from a rehab hospital that had on a helmet (Head injury) that hadn't been removed since it was put on, had mushrooms growing on incision line. (NO LIE!)

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 5, 2009

i think the abbreviation pt was for patient, not physical therapist.

oh, they meant pt.

rachelgeorgina · Jul 5, 2009

My aunt was alone on her farm in the middle of no where. She was kicked by an angry bull that broke her left wrist and leg (at the knee). She crawled on her belly to the ute, pull herself in and drove the manual truck to the nearest hospital two hours away. The tiny country hospital didn't even have an x-ray machine!

Cindy_A · Jul 5, 2009

I had a man who came to our facility after his wife died after a long bout with cancer. The wife's brother came in later and asked the husband to look at his truck because it was making a funny noise!

kanzi monkey · Jul 5, 2009

I think you've mentioned him in other threads.
It's DEFINITELY a miracle that he doesn't have AIDS now, after doing all that.

Yeah...umm...

there are no miracles in this situation.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2009

Great stories! Amazing what we see, isn't it?