What a way to ring in the new year

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As I did Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I have to work New Years Eve and New Years Day. Thankfully tonight has been quite nice. When I first stepped on the unit I got a little meal voucher in my mailbox for working Christmas Eve. Then I found out that we received our paychecks. Well to my suprise I received 2...1 was my retention bonus and the other was my regular check. Then to add to that I noticed on my check that I received a $2.13/hr raise. I had no idea it was coming. When I was hired I was told I wouldn't get my first raise until 1.5 yrs because of where I fit in with experience on the pay scale. Quelle suprise!!! :D

I hope everyone is having as good of a day (or night) as I am. And I wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

because I still can't.

Simply not able to process it ... I didn't even want to sit down at the computer tonight.. knowing that if I actually wrote it out, it would make it more "real".. yet I don't know if I'm ready for it to be......

But I've got to let it out... been crying all afternoon.

Remember me sharing with you about our young fella who just got married last week? Who had come so far, and had made such a major change over the years from ornery to kindhearted , funny, giving, and sweet?

He's gone. Dead. GONE !!!

He was in for tx. this morning, wished him a good weekend... and now he's freaking GONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He arreseted at home... the ER called us saying they had one of our patients who arrived DOA.. respiratory arrest.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!! cry01.gif

Nearly all our patients came down with a wicked respiratory infection last week... EVERYONE was coughing and hacking.. several developed pneumonia... we had them all wear masks, and us included.. it was awful last week. Chills, fever, several pts., including beloved ------- asked to be taken off the machine early to go home.. they could stand no more.

We made sure they all went to their family doctors and got checked out. All were put on antibiotics, one little woman hospitalized with pneumonia for a day... several are STILL sick... lung sounds are horrible on many of them.

Well, ------ had gone to TWO docs.. he was started first on keflex.. no good... couldn't keep anything down for a week, chills, fever, wicked cough and lung sounds... went back to another doc, gave him phenergan and another abx... today he said he was feeling just a little better for the first time in over a week.. had managed to keep down a few crackers and seven up... but his color was still ashen, and he was still having difficulty breathing. We urged him to get back to urgent care if he did not improve or got worse over the weekend. Said he would and wished us a happy new year and good weekend.

And that was it. The last time we would ever see him. Little did we know...

And now he's gone.

Forever.

From what we heard later.. shortly after he got home, he called his mom saying he was having difficulty breathing, and that perhaps she better come over to check on him or get him to the doc. But mother has no car, nor does she drive... guess she had to wait for another family member to come by or leave work.. we don't know... but it was 2 hours after he called that she got there... and found him dead in his little house.

This is just TOO heartbreaking.

The man didn't even GET a honeymoon... he got sick the day after his wedding for Pete's sake !!! And has been sick since ! All through the Holidays...

And his poor wife... she was in Tenn. the past two days, getting her things to move up here... she wasn't even able to be WITH him... the family has to call her now, and tell her the horrible news....my God, they haven't even been married two stinkin' weeks !!! :(

We were all in total shock... we had to take turns leaving the floor so we could process this... tears were flowing like a river.

This will be one HARD memorial service to attend... and we wouldn't think of NOT going ! All his sisters, his lovely wife.. his Momma... and at the same place we said goodbye to his "ol man".. the "rooster man" just 3 years ago...

Man. This sux. Really hurts. Really really hurts.

Thanx for letting me get it out.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Oh, jnette..........I am so sorry:crying2:

I wish I had some words of wisdom, something that would make you feel better, but I don't think there ARE words enough to console one at a time like this. So I'll just tell you that you, and your friend and his loved ones, will be in my thoughts and prayers.

May God be with you and your co-workers, as well as with this gentleman's family, at this difficult time.:kiss

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Specializes in ER.

jnette, so sorry to hear about your friend. as i read your thread, i could feel your hurt. may the Lord comfort all of you in your time of sorrow, God bless!!!

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I don't believe I know who you were talking about, but that's irrelevant. All I can offer are my sincerest condolensces to you and to his loved ones.

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Oh, jnette, how sad. It's the worst part of the job, grieving the ones the Lord calls home early.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and his family, and your co-workers.

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Wow! I think that's great!

(I got NOTHING from my company for Christmas!)

CONGRATS!!!!!

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