Seeing a grown man cry

[tommymac]

never seems to get easier.

Had a bad case last night and had th emisfortune of telling them their mom/wife prolly wont be around much longer. Sadly its par for the course since they seem like very nice people she will prolly die a horrible death.

The both stuck by the bedside while we were working her up and more family came after I dropped the bomb on them. They seemed very nice, asked a lot of questions and sadly couldnt give them much good news. Kinda sux gearing up for a nice bbq here and these poor guys had their lives turned upside down.

So if anyones out and about today just hoist a pint for them, since I already did.

[Particle Man]

Will do. :(

[VatorMan]

I don't know how you ER personnel do it. I don't know if I could turn it "on" or "off".

['73 H1 Triple]

never seems to get easier.




As someone who has heard "it's time", hearing it from someone who says it from the heart makes it much easier to take.

We may not say it at the time, but we do appreciate the candor. I truly hope it does not take out a piece of you every time you must tell someone about their loved ones.

:beers: In that person's memory :beers:

Jeff

[itgirl]

i just read in my local paper today that a mother was told her 13 year old daughter is going to die within 6 months from a brain tumor. she had said she sometimes just sits by the window watching cars go by and gets so angry. she feels like screaming "how can you just go to the library, my daughter is dying?! how can you just drive to work when i am going to hafta bury my child soon?"

that really hit home for me. made me tear up reading it. i can't imagine cradling my daughter and telling her what heaven is going to be like and how to prepare her to say goodbye. that is a conversation this mother had to have.

wow. life is just so unfair sometimes. :( my thoughts go out to all suffering families, today and every day.

[101lifts2]

So what's the story?

[Gas Man]

Dealth blows...

[caveman]

I wouldn't be able to tell some family that they are about to lose some one so important to them. I would prolly bust up in tears before I even got to the room. I haven't lost any immediates, yet....knock on wood....none around....knock on head for good measure. I don't know what I would do if I lost my mom or dad. And if I it was my kids I lost........sorry, no words......

[Smittie61984]

I'm starting EMT school tommorow and will start working in a hospital tommorow too. I've been a patient dying in a hospital before but it'll be interesting if I get to see it from the other side, providing I'm around that stuff.

I did watch some Trauma: Life in the ER along with the show "Hopkins" the other day. They show doctors telling patients they are dying and relatives their relative has died (along with people actually dying). It doesn't bother me too bad but that's on TV of course. I'm interested how I'll handle it when somoene does die under me for the first time.

Sucks you had to do that Tommymac, but you know that they appreciate it.

[ontwo]

Tough job you got Tommy. This time last year I was with my grandmother who was fighting for her life. When the time came, I truly appreciated the one doc who made us face facts.

I raise my glass to you and the other docs who heal, comfort, and care each and every day.

[Mr Lefty]

I can't imagine being on that end... I've done 5 Active Duty Funeral's for Honor Guard in my time in the military. Unfortunately we didn't have any officers and so I as a SrA (E-4) presented the flag to the Spouse or Parent. kneeling before them, looking them in the eye, trying to keep my military bearing, and say "On Behalf of the President of the United States, The Department of Defense, and the United States Air Force, we thank you for your loved ones faithful and dedicated service." it took everything in me to keep my emotions inside.

it takes it's toll on ya... even on my side of it... can't imagine your end.

Thanks for what you do Tommy.

[Gas Man]

WOW Ebbs... that's decent man. Go you for giving back like that. Too cool in a not cool thing. You know what I mean.

[tommymac]

We are more or less taught that you dont want the family to remember you/us when going through all this. But thats usualy more so when someone dies, kinda get in get out and let them deal with what they have to and esp dont break down yourself.

This case was different in that she wa sstill alive so we were still doing what we could and getting all the consults in order. They thanked us a bunch of times and the nurse taking care of her realy stepped up too. EMS brought in someone drug seeking who was screaming like there was no tomorrow they were going to put her next door but made them move her.

I think doing what ebbs does is just as tough being you have to kinda stay in that mindset for a longer time, where I was able to just head back out after a few minutes and have some time to get it together. I also had 2 students with me so yo ucant let them see ya crack and was an excellent learning expierence for them being they may have to be in that spot one day.

[azoomm]

:(

Thank you for what you do. It's a thankless job... but, we love you for it.

[lauralynne]

You're the kind of doctor I hope to have if I'm ever on any side of that situation. Thank you.

[z06boy]

That has to be tough. I have an appreciation for what you do.