8/20/08

Emergency Room, Death, New life..and much more!! ~CAUTION..VERY GRAPHIC~

Hello darlings, sit down and let me tell you about the very interesting week I have had...many tears have fallen...
some lives have passed, and a new life was born..if you have read my post below, you would know that my mom had shattered nerves in her shoulder from an accident 2 years ago, well they finally decided to give her an epidural steroid shot in her back to help with the pain (the shot was given Thursday august 14th) and she felt better later thursday..but thursday night she was feeling a little funky, she said her left side of the body was a little numb and she felt pressure on her lungs, but she didn't think it was bad enough to go check it out (my mom is a very hard headed,and pain tolerant woman.) so she dealt with it, but each day that passed she felt worse and the breathing became harder for her..well her doctors office was closed on the weekend so she just "dealt" with the discomfort..(ohh the doctors office did call her Friday night to ask how she was feeling, just to check on her after the surgery, and she told them that she didnt feel to well, and they told her to wait till Monday and then come back to talk to the doctor) but Sunday night was getting really bad for her and she was in ALOT of pain, by this time, she had a horrible pain in her back and her lungs hurt...well Monday was my first day of classes again, and I got out of school at 10am, and I called my mom to see how she was feeling...well my dad picked up and told me to get home as soon as possible, because I need to bring her to the emergency room...
(my dad was in an accident about 15 years ago that almost completely blinded him, he sees "partially" out of one eye..and blind in the other eye..and from a drunk driver hitting him, but that's a story for another time)
so he couldn't bring her to the hospital..so I rushed home and picked up my mom and dad..she couldn't even talk, because she had no oxygen and could barely breath..so we went to the hospital (usually you would wait 2 hours to get into the emergency beds..) and they checked her blood pressure, then oxygen level..then ran to the back grabbed an oxygen tank and hooked her up..immediately brought her to an emergency bed..well were freaking out, wondering whats wrong with her...the nurses started all kind of test on her..well after one hour on the oxygen machine, she was looking MUCH better, the swelling in her face was gone, and she had color back in her skin..and she could breath again..but still had horrible pains in her lungs and back..well after 3 hours passed and some test done, they still had no clue what was going on with her..and then a nurse ran down the hall screaming "CODE BLUE" "CODE BLUE"...and every nurse and doctor ran to the room 2 doors from us..we heard alot of commotion going on in there..well later we found out that the man 2 doors down from us died while trying to be revived..but our head nurse wouldnt be back for at least 3 hours because while trying to revive him, blood went EVERYWHERE, and she was covered in it..so she had to pull her self together, and get cleaned up..and then another code blue was being yelled down the hallway..apparently a man came in, heart attack, and he died too...so that was kinda traumatic...but the doctors ended up doing around 6 test on my mom, and still had no clue whats wrong..and then around 11pm (yes, we arrived at the hospital at 10am, and she actually didnt get out of emergency room until 3am..17 hours in the emergency room) the doctors ordered an emergency MRI test, well they found out that she has a hematoma pressing on her spinal cord, and lungs..(hints the pain in the back, and the loss of oxygen) well this is EXTREMELY rare..that she would get a hematoma from and epidural shot..so they had to call many doctors (about 15 doctors called, and found ONE doctor who knew how to handle it)..well she was finally transferred from emergency room to neuromedical room..and stayed there for 2 days..they released her today because she's breathing better..they have her on steroids and hoping that the hematoma will be dissolved into the body, but we have to watch her carefully and make sure that she is breathing good, and not running fever or anything like that..so she's doing better, but please keep her in your prayers..please, she still needs alot of prayers to get through this...But we found out that our good friend Jackie had her baby while we were in the emergency room..The little boy came out very healthy and Jackie is doing good too..(what is really odd though, we found out that around the same time the man down the hallway lost his life, Jackies little boy was born.) But experience also made me realize that I want to become an E.R. Nurse, and save lives..I was thinking of becoming a nurse (awhile back) but all the nurse's I have ever seen worked in a quite environment, and handed out medications, and cleaned up the patient..but honestly that is not what I want to do..I want to help people, but not that type of nursing..you know what I mean?? the atmosphere of the E.R. is more of my type of atmosphere..well after I seen the nurses in the E.R. I knew that I would like this nursing field..so if any one is an E.R. nurse, or knows someone, please give me information about that field..(online research can only give you so much info)!! but on a brighter note, I started classes again, and Im taking a pottery class, and Im sooooo excited about it..I bought all my materials already and I can not wait to start!!! my other classes are good too..Im actually enjoying this semester, and praying that it stays that way..but I have to wake up at 5am and get ready for my pottery class, so Im going to sleep..please keep my mom in your prayers, she needs as many prayers as possible..thank you so much and have a good night..au revoir

3 comments:

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Kristen, what a traumatic event! I'll be praying for your mom.
ER nurses are angels!
Becky

Chickenbells said...

Oh my heavens!! I am so thankful that your mother is not the one they were yelling Code Blue! for...I will certainly be sending fond thoughts of healing her way.

I have a good friend who just registered with the university to become a nurse himself...I wish luck to you in your new focus!

KathyJ said...

Oh Kristin...the title of your post had me so scared.

What a scary thing you went through. I am so glad they figured out what is going on with your Mom. I will keep you all in my thoughts, and am wishing her the very best!

Take care.

XO
Kathy