19yo traumatic arrest...

Published

It was a bad evening. I was doing chest compressions when I looked into this young mans face and thought, "this could be my little brother". All the commotion in the trauma room faded and all I could see were my hands and arms pushing down on his chest.

I remember begging to God, "PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE HIS HEART BEAT ON ITS OWN"

Trauma team did everything, bilat chest tubes, central line, dpl, pericard centesis........NOTHING.........his aorta was dissected........

I thought to myself, "this could be my brother, my baby brother"

(sigh) Well, I called my lil'bro on the way home tonite........he promised me that he would drive carefully.......the funny thing is that I thought he would laugh it off saying that I was being over protective.....he didn't. He told me that he was glad that I called and that I was concerned for his safety.

I love that kid! I dont know what I would do if ANYTHING EVER happened to him.

thanks for reading this....I KNOW you understand........so tell your kid brother or sister you love them, okay?

What an increadibly sad experience, especially so close to the holidays, his poor family.

:o

However I think the message you wrote was nice, because you just never know when things like this will happen.

I gave my kids a extra big hug after reading this...

{{{HUGS}}}

That just made me think about how we can usually stay somewhat detached, but every now and then a patient comes along who can break right through it.

Originally posted by cyberkat

{{{HUGS}}}

That just made me think about how we can usually stay somewhat detached, but every now and then a patient comes along who can break right through it.

exactly my point! Ive worked quite a few traumas........this one broke through.........:o

What a sad story. I think we all take some things for granted at times. Maybe God sends us a wake up call. I know the family will never forget their son, neither should we! :o :nono:

it is odd how different situations touch us each in a different way - we had a 13 y/o trauma arrest about 2 mos ago - and alot of the staff had a really hard time.....it is all in what we relate to - i am sorry you had a bad nite, your pain makes you human and shows your heart - so you can be very proud of that.

Originally posted by happystudent

It was a bad evening. I was doing chest compressions when I looked into this young mans face and thought, "this could be my little brother". All the commotion in the trauma room faded and all I could see were my hands and arms pushing down on his chest.

I remember begging to God, "PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE HIS HEART BEAT ON ITS OWN"

Trauma team did everything, bilat chest tubes, central line, dpl, pericard centesis........NOTHING.........his aorta was dissected........

I thought to myself, "this could be my brother, my baby brother"

(sigh) Well, I called my lil'bro on the way home tonite........he promised me that he would drive carefully.......the funny thing is that I thought he would laugh it off saying that I was being over protective.....he didn't. He told me that he was glad that I called and that I was concerned for his safety.

I love that kid! I dont know what I would do if ANYTHING EVER happened to him.

thanks for reading this....I KNOW you understand........so tell your kid brother or sister you love them, okay?

:kiss :kiss

thank you for sharing your story. i think that it touches all who read it in different special ways. if the world had more of you in it, we might not have the issues we have today. stay human! have a great holiday season.

mg;)

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Nice post, Happy!

Thanks.

Wish I had an older sis like you Happy Student......... Don't lose sense of your feelings while at work, otherwise it is time to get a job at Wal Mart

HK

Oh my God.........Athomas and Magik girl posted here too!!! wow we can be supportive and mature......!!!

Specializes in ICU.

This sort of reaction to a young person injured is common among health professionals. I saw it a LOT in a regional hospital where we would get both adults and occasional children. A common reaction among nurses who were parents was to go home and hug/cuddle their own children - so common that the parents complained that the kids would return a comment of "bad day" to "get lost" depending on age and temperament. Don't fight it accept it as a normal reaction.

Hug your brother next time you see him:kiss

.... and your mother and your father and your sisters and your grandmother and your best friend. Because you never know when it could be your loved one.

Stay strong Happy Student - you are going to be an excellent ER nurse. We need ya;)

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

One of my older Boy Scouts told me of a rumor going around in the school, that in an accident scene with more than one victim we would save the adult and think "organ doner" for a teen. I told him no, we always did everything we could think of for kids, that losing a kid tears us up worse than anything. Told him about the debriefing/stress management that gets offered in those situations, etc., and about how long I cried after a SIDS death.

Hug that little brother, and here's a {{{{{{{HUG}}}} for you too.

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