Clinical Moment

In clinical on Wednesday....

When a story starts out like that you know it's gonna be good!

The morning started out like any other Wednesday I woke up at 5:4o and hurried my little hiney to the hospital for a 12 hour day, wearing the "Carribean Blue" school required scrubs. Oh so flattering. I recieved report from the previous shift. I had done my prep work and was all psyched up to take care of my patients. I went in did my morning assessment. I then explained the plan of care to my patient for the day.

9:30 comes around, I had told my one patient PT would be in to take her for a walk, and then I'd help her with a shower. PT helped her up and she suddenly decided she'd rather have a shower. PT finds me and I help her get into the shower. I proceed to change the bed linens...when suddenly I hear....dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn

"I think I'm going to pass out!" I run in put my arms under hers. She falls back on me, and I ease her to the ground. NO SHE DID NOT FALL! Mind you the shower is still going. Let me paint the picture a little better here.

I'm all alone with a patient who hadn't showered in several days, has 10 broken ribs, and is in the shower that means she's naked. I hepled her to the ground. Uh that's still in the shower. Therefore I'm getting a shower too.

I pull the call light and sit there holding her up as the water runs all down my head. At this point I'm crying and shaking. NO ONE'S COMING!!

The patient comes to. I lean her up against the side of the shower and run into the hall. I proclaim, "I NEED HELP IN HERE PLEASE!" I was quite the site at this point, crying, shakey, and WET!

The nurse comes in helps me get her up into a chair. I dry her off and finish making her bed.
Sadly, I didn't have any extra clean scrubs. I swear I smelled like BO all day from sticking my arms under hers, and let's not get started on how great my hair looked after the good washin.
Tramatic at the time, but it now provides some great laughs. I showered with my patient.

The Day I Got My Sister Back

From 8 years old my older sister, who I always looked up to and admired, battled pancreatitis. This left her hospitalized time after time with severe pain, nausea and vomiting. She went through stages were things were better, but eventually it progressed. She went away to college and a little problem which was a previous nusiance became a constant companion. At this time she began a steady decline. She was on feeding tubes to maintain nutrition. Whispers of nursing home or hospice care were passed through the air. Fears of an impending funeral caused plans to be made.

"Tell your sister goodbye. It might be your last chance," my parents urged each one of us. I remember whispering in her ear how much I loved and admired her. Then through a miracle time after time the next day came and I still had a sister. I had a sister. She may have been confined to a bed or had multiple tubes protruding from her body in an attempt to sustain life. Many prayers, fasting, and priesthood blessings brought a great miracle into our life.

Dr. David Sutherland.
This man is a pioneer in medicine. He developed a surgery to remove the pancreas and transplant the islet cells which produce insulin to the liver. Radical at the time, it was our last ditch effort. Plans were made for her to travel to University of Minnesota to have a total panreatectomy with auto islet cell transplant. 2 weeks before her preop appointment she was struck by a car going 40 mph while crossing the street. Miracle of miracles she made it with a concussion and some bruising.

She went to Minnesota and was approved for the operation which took place 6 years ago today. March 10, 2003 will always been known to me as the day I got my sister back.


Many people question why? The lesson's learned from her life and the lives touched because of her diligence during such difficult times is why.


She went on to run in NCAA Conference just a few months following surgery.

She now is a mother and expecting her second child.

I would never trade all the years of worry, loneliness, and longing for a "normal" sister. How else would I be able to do so well on all my med/surg tests ;) I possess so much gratitude for the lessons learned from these experiences in my life. They've helped create the person I am today!

Nursing

ISU College Of Nursing Nursing school can be incredibly overwheming at times! Tests, care plans, clinicals, case studies, the Neighborhood, and studying, studying, studying...At the sam time it's all essential.

Some Cool Things I've done/seen the last 3 weeks.

Placed an NG tube

Watched Open Heart Surgery

Calmed an anxious patient

Gave a blood transfusion

Started IVs

Learned about Takotsubo syndrome

Made my longest care plan (38 pages)

Did a rotation on the Pediatric floor and some in Pediatric ICU

Watched a patient die knowing nothing more could be done

Comforted a family members

Listened

Most of all NURSES DARE TO CARE!!

Welcome to the terrible 2s!

2 Years (well just about)

India just celebrated her 2nd Birthday this week and it caused for much reflection in me!

India on her 1st Birthday.

India on her blessing day.
I think of everything we went through to get this little girl here. I think of all the times we thought she wouldn't make it or would make it too soon. With all the challenges she's definately lightened our lives! I'm so grateful for the joy she brings into my life even if she does insist on calling me Cassidy!

Hangin with the Bro

Cassidy, my little brother the star of the bike wreck video came home from his mission just about two weeks ago because he needed surgery on his feet. We say feet because it sounds so much more manly then saying his pinky toes. ha ha He flew into Pocatello where our family had all gathered to welcome him home afterall, we hadn't seen the kid in what 6 months. After we all went to his favorite place Bamboo Gardens, an Chinese buffet. He came up on Tuesday and went teaching with the Elders on the ISU campus. He really enjoyed that despite having to end earlier then he had planned because of sore feet. He had surgery the next morning which went well and turned out he'd need to be home for 6 weeks rather than the planned 3. They released him as a missionary, but will reset him apart and call him to the same mission Louisiana Baton Rouge.

I was able to go spend Monday with him. When I first got there he was in the middle of scripture study so I joined right on in and he taught me so much! It was great to see how much he's grown. Then we played some battleship and other games. PS I WON!! Then I took him to the dentist where he had one cavity. Sadly, I have two. Which was a first that I had more than him. He loved that. We rented some movies, went home and just kinda chilled together. The best is when I was getting ready to leave and I walk into the room where he's sitting in the recliner with his feet up. In his hands he has an alligator head and he's just staring at it. STRANGE!! I went in and asked him what was up. He explained he just wanted to be back in Louisiana and not at home sitting! Poor guy. Then it led into a photo shoot. Ha ha we're dorks...

Oh the Alligator head...

Yikes it's gonna eat me.

Those teeth are pretty freaky!

The boots he was supposed to be wearing

My Missionary Brother

Here's a video my little brother sent me.

And my parent's wonder why his bike is always in the shop needing fixed ha ha

Christmas!

This year our family had a different Christmas. My older sister, Crystal, went into the hospital on Saturday the 20th. Sunday, India and I went to spend a few days with my parents because Matt had to work. Then on Christmas Eve when it became apparent Crystal wouldn't be out of the hospital our family made the decision to spend Christmas in Pocatello. In all the years she's been sick this was her first Christmas in the hospital. Since, our family was coming from out of town the hospital gave us dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then a hotel stay at Best Western. We dropped off all the presents at CeJay's house. Then we went to the hospital for a visit. After we ate and checked into the hotel. Brooke and Brecklyn came over at 11pm to go swimming in the hotel pool and hot tub. It was so fun watching Brecklyn!

Christmas morning we got up and had some hotel breakfast. Then ventured to the hospital in a ton of snow!! Not really sure how we didn't get stuck!

After the hospital we went over to CeJay's and opened the gifts Santa had brought. Brecklyn got a doll and doll stroller which was one of the favorite toys of Christmas by far!

Then my mom, dad, and I went back over to the hospital to watch Matt, Crystal, and India open their gifts from Jolly Old Saint Grandpa. When we got to there we walked in and found India with a whole host of doll accessories.

She also got a doll and stroller. She kept walking the stroller up and down the hall. Along the hall they have little night light type vent thingy's which India always thinks is hot. When she was walking her doll, she stopped and said to the doll, "Wanna touch? HOT!" Then she took the doll out and put it's hand on the light and said, "See! HOT!" I was laughing soooooooooooo stinkin hard. As I thought "is this how Crystal taught her hot?"
When we were getting ready to leave the hospital to go back to CeJay and Brooke's for Christmas lunch we got a phone call from CeJay saying Cassidy had called early. We rushed over to CeJay's house. I don't think I've ever seen my mom jump out of a car so incredibly fast ever before in my entire life. She ran to the phone and talked to her little baby boy ha ha. She laughed and cried and then repeated over and over ALL day long. I was slightly annoyed when I was talking to him and mom felt the need to steal the phone after two seconds of conversation. Then lunch was ready; we let Cassidy go to talk to Crystal while we ate. He then called back and I finally got some uninterrupted time to talk to my little brother.

We all went back to the hospital and opened family gifts. India got incredibly excited when she opened the gift I gave her of boots and hair bows. India had drawn my name and gave her "Aunt Cassidy" a sweater.
Then we decided to venture home in the blizzard. An hour drive took over 2 1/2 hours!! I'm pretty sure my dad was white knuckling the steering wheel the whole way!

That my friends is how our family spent Christmas. We were so grateful for the generosity of others who made it possible for our family to spend Christmas together through such a difficult time. We'd been praying for a Christmas miracle it wasn't exactly how we'd imagined the miracle working out, but in the end it made for a Christmas which will never be forgotten!

Some Extra Pictures

Brecklyn and her cheesy smile

Help in the kitchen

Not really sure what the deal was here.

Showing off their mommy skills