For the last month, the story has remain the same for NYC ED docs. What do you have? Female complaining of shortness of breath for 1 day. Her Sat 45% .
Like my colleagues around the city, we spring into action. Find an available stretcher, place her on oxygen, IV and get meds ready. She needs to be intubated... (a breathing tube in her throat. ) Get a vent check, pharmacy at the bedside check. IV in place check, But yesterday instinctively, it was different last check maam is there a family member you want me to call now?
Experience is one hell of a teacher and if i havent learned anything this month. I learned how important speaking to a family member is in this dire time. Most of them have succumbed to COVID. It would have been great if they could have facetimed or use whatsapp calling but I didnt have the luxury of an ipad/ tablet. My personal phone cant be used, so i settle for the next best thing. I use our inhouse ascom to call her husband. She needs to hear his voice. She needs to hear i love you.
As team leader I make sure all hands are on deck. I write his number on the sheet and I make the gut wrenching phone call. First call no ans second call...
Hello sir, I am the doctor taking care of your wife she is having trouble breathing. He replies Can I speak with her? Of course she can hear you she is on speaker phone. They speak he tells her let them do what they need. He says I love you she says I love you back.
Not many after contracting COVID have been able to get off of a vent. She looked tired. She has been using all her energy to breath.
I say a prayer in my head we wish her blessings...
Meds in, breathing tube confirmed, she is now on a vent.
Everyday these are the sad realities of fighting an invisible enemy. You dont know who is next you pray that its not your friend, family, loved one or even you but know it doesnt discriminate.
Part of me hurts like hell inside another part knows that we bust our behind to save her and the last part is grateful she was able to tell her husband I love you one last time.
Visiting is restricted for families and having an ipad, or tablet is probably the last time families will see their loved ones alive. How is this 2020?
The days are getting harder.. the death toll is climbing, vents are scarce, PPE is low and the enemy is still at large.
We would like help with obtaining Tablets to reach loved ones , reusable masks, reusable gowns, pulse oximeters, reusable thermometers, All donations help. We are grateful for anything you can do.
Like my colleagues around the city, we spring into action. Find an available stretcher, place her on oxygen, IV and get meds ready. She needs to be intubated... (a breathing tube in her throat. ) Get a vent check, pharmacy at the bedside check. IV in place check, But yesterday instinctively, it was different last check maam is there a family member you want me to call now?
Experience is one hell of a teacher and if i havent learned anything this month. I learned how important speaking to a family member is in this dire time. Most of them have succumbed to COVID. It would have been great if they could have facetimed or use whatsapp calling but I didnt have the luxury of an ipad/ tablet. My personal phone cant be used, so i settle for the next best thing. I use our inhouse ascom to call her husband. She needs to hear his voice. She needs to hear i love you.
As team leader I make sure all hands are on deck. I write his number on the sheet and I make the gut wrenching phone call. First call no ans second call...
Hello sir, I am the doctor taking care of your wife she is having trouble breathing. He replies Can I speak with her? Of course she can hear you she is on speaker phone. They speak he tells her let them do what they need. He says I love you she says I love you back.
Not many after contracting COVID have been able to get off of a vent. She looked tired. She has been using all her energy to breath.
I say a prayer in my head we wish her blessings...
Meds in, breathing tube confirmed, she is now on a vent.
Everyday these are the sad realities of fighting an invisible enemy. You dont know who is next you pray that its not your friend, family, loved one or even you but know it doesnt discriminate.
Part of me hurts like hell inside another part knows that we bust our behind to save her and the last part is grateful she was able to tell her husband I love you one last time.
Visiting is restricted for families and having an ipad, or tablet is probably the last time families will see their loved ones alive. How is this 2020?
The days are getting harder.. the death toll is climbing, vents are scarce, PPE is low and the enemy is still at large.
We would like help with obtaining Tablets to reach loved ones , reusable masks, reusable gowns, pulse oximeters, reusable thermometers, All donations help. We are grateful for anything you can do.