Off topic - A good news and very true life story
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:52 pmI thought I'd share with you a good news story, in the wake of the terrible bombings in London and what other horrible stuff is going on in the world. Many of you know I am a nurse, and many of you that didn't know, now do.
I recently looked after a young female patient (my age - 27)who was born with cystic fibrosis which is a crippling and eventually a life threatening illness affecting the lungs, so much so that they are unable to clear secretions due to scaring. If unable to get a lung transplant, the end result is certain death. This poor girl was admitted to where I work a few weeks ago where she battled this horrible disease, unable to breathe adequately enough to get barely enough oxygen to her damaged lungs. We tried so hard not to put the breathing tube down her throat and support her breathing, as when we do this, the option of ever getting off the breathing machine are miniscule. She battled on for a few days, and eventually turned the corner for the better, and was well enough to be discharged out of intensive care. During this time she was hoping probably minute by minute that her name came up so that she would be able to receive a new set of lungs as she had been on the transplant waiting list for most of her young life.
A few days later and after a few days off, I returned to work to find out, to my joy that since being discharged out of ICU, she had received a lung transplant and was doing brilliantly!! I went to see her and the hugest smile came across her face, she was sitting out of bed, still with many tubes attached, with NO oxygen supporting her..she beamed and said 'hey Geoff, watch this' and with that huge smile she took a huge breath in without an ounce of difficulty, it was effortless. What we all take for granted, she had worked so hard at acheiving for all of her life...breathing!
She had received a gift from someone through organ donation, someone that had ticked that box on their license application or discussed this with their loved ones. It was one of the most satisfying days in my career as a nurse, which I have been in for over six years!
I thought that I'd share with this you as I find myself thinking and smiling about this quite often, and it's such a great REAL story. Perhaps if you haven't considered or even discussed organ donation then now might be a good time to do so? Something to ponder anyway!
I hope this thread has not in any way offended or upset anyone, that was not the intention.
I recently looked after a young female patient (my age - 27)who was born with cystic fibrosis which is a crippling and eventually a life threatening illness affecting the lungs, so much so that they are unable to clear secretions due to scaring. If unable to get a lung transplant, the end result is certain death. This poor girl was admitted to where I work a few weeks ago where she battled this horrible disease, unable to breathe adequately enough to get barely enough oxygen to her damaged lungs. We tried so hard not to put the breathing tube down her throat and support her breathing, as when we do this, the option of ever getting off the breathing machine are miniscule. She battled on for a few days, and eventually turned the corner for the better, and was well enough to be discharged out of intensive care. During this time she was hoping probably minute by minute that her name came up so that she would be able to receive a new set of lungs as she had been on the transplant waiting list for most of her young life.
A few days later and after a few days off, I returned to work to find out, to my joy that since being discharged out of ICU, she had received a lung transplant and was doing brilliantly!! I went to see her and the hugest smile came across her face, she was sitting out of bed, still with many tubes attached, with NO oxygen supporting her..she beamed and said 'hey Geoff, watch this' and with that huge smile she took a huge breath in without an ounce of difficulty, it was effortless. What we all take for granted, she had worked so hard at acheiving for all of her life...breathing!
She had received a gift from someone through organ donation, someone that had ticked that box on their license application or discussed this with their loved ones. It was one of the most satisfying days in my career as a nurse, which I have been in for over six years!
I thought that I'd share with this you as I find myself thinking and smiling about this quite often, and it's such a great REAL story. Perhaps if you haven't considered or even discussed organ donation then now might be a good time to do so? Something to ponder anyway!
I hope this thread has not in any way offended or upset anyone, that was not the intention.
