Good Call Gone Bad.
(disclaimer:I normally DO NOT Post about work or the calls I get my lawyer strongly frowns on that but this is a different situation as you will see.)
Ok. Last night I went back to work after a few hours sleep. Feeling much more rested than I had been for a few days. I really was not prepared for what the night would bring.
In my line of work and in this town you always run the risk of getting sent on a call to help someone you know. So as I had just gotten comfy and was reading some blogs last night. I hear BEEEEP right in my ear. My eyes roll and I hang my head. The tones had dropped and I wait patiently for the lady in the box to start rattling off the details of the call. Sometimes you can tell how good a call will be by the tone and urgency of her voice and speech. This time We know we were going to br running hot.
I hear from the lady in the box "Medic unit #XX... Respond to 123 whatever lane for a 38 yo female unresponsive. No Other details at this time. Will update en route."
Well to us unresponsive in this town is a fairly common thing. Anything from a drunk to a deceased person. The lady in the box gives us the sense of urgency here..
Mike is driving which means I will be lead on this call tonight. The street name is known to me but I can't remember why as a passing thought. Moving on...
We pull on to the street and I get a nasty sick feeling in my gut when I realize where we are heading. I pray not but as Mike pulls up, I know. We pull up to my cousins house. My cousin R is kneeling just inside the door next to his wife. I went white as a ghost.
Not to go into too many details. But we C-spined and immobilized. Got as much info as we could scooped and ran. I think our on scene time was close to 6min total. I never let family members ride in back except for stable peds cases. This time I made the exception. R needed to be there. I have never intubated, started two lines and hooked someone up to a 12 lead so fast and accurately in my life. Adrenaline can be a wonderful drug. I am glad to have had Mike with me he is an amazing driver. We Blued her to our best trauma center in the city. Total time door to door 22 mins.
when we wheeled her in and transferred her over I was in the room. I don't think I stated that we were related. But normally we clear out and make room for them to work. I just kept bagging and a few mins later I was told I could go the the nurse would take over. That was when I looked up. And they saw the tears running down my face. The Doc said quietly " Do you know her?" I just nodded and kept focused on what I was doing. I was afraid to speak. I would lose it if I did.
I finally gave over control of her airway when they took her to radiology. I went to find my cousin R. I filled him in on the situation and told him to pray. As we waited I had called my family and My supervisor was now arriving at the hospital. The Doc called us to the side and told us.. D had an aneurysm that had ruptured in her brain. Now I knew this is not good and asked which neurosurgeon would be working on her. That is when I was told there were none. What??? None at this facility? Ok where to I ask? The Doc said "no. None in this state" my heart sank and I was truly afraid.
We had to wait a bit and work out the details but since I had been certified a a flight medic I was allowed to make the 4 hour chopper ride with MedStar as the medic. R was happy she wouldn't be alone. He started the long drive and we took to the skies.
I left her in the very capable hands of the ICU team at a neighboring state university. And flew back with the crew I was with. I would have wanted to stay but I had my run forms to do. They got rather neglected. So I am now home and getting regular updates from the University Docs and relaying messeges to all of my family. D will be having surgery to repair her carotid artery in about 20 mins.
I am asking you all to send Good vibes and prayers her way.
posted by Medic Girl @ 10:14 AM
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