My angel at the cancer support meeting

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I went to our local cancer support group meeting tonight and we always try to have an agenda. This time it was talking about 'green sleeves'. I don't know if this is a Canadian thing, an Alberta thing, a general medical thing, or what. It involves a plastic envelope with green borders that holds a bunch of our medical information. You fill it all out and keep it up to date including drugs you're on and all kinds of relevant information and keep it on top of your fridge. It also includes your desired level of care, which is how extremely you'd want to be resusitated or even not at all. If an ambulance is dispateched to your home for you they will look on top of the fridge for it.

The EMT that brought them in and talked to us about it turned out to be the one that saved my life when I had the pulmonary embolism! She sat down acroos from me and we looked at each other and I said "you saved my life". And she smied and said "yes!" and I started crying a little bit. Later I asked her if it was true that I'd had a total of 7 cardiac arrests that day because that number sounds so high it doesn't seem real. She confirmed that that was correct. So I was in full cardiac arrest when they got to the house, arrested 5 times in the ambulance, and then one last time in emerg. I told her that one of the other EMTs I'd spoek to said that they couldn't stabilize me for over ten minutes and they would usually give up by then. Tonight she said "I was the main EMT that day and I was not about to let you die. I was determined that you were going to live." I am so glad I ran into her. She saved my life. It's very sobering and uplifting to meet the person who took you back from the edge. I'd stopped breathing just before they arrived. My husband watched me take a quick breath and then just stop. They literally saved my life.

I just had to share that, I was so excited to see her again. I was blessed that day with my life and the angels who gave it back to me.

Jan 

Comments

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    #2
    What a beautiful story Jan. I

    What a beautiful story Jan. I’m so glad they could do that for you. That’s what I mean by saying “keep the faith!”. 

  • Kazenmax
    Kazenmax Member Posts: 463 Member
    #3
    Wow! How wonderful to meet

    Wow! How wonderful to meet the person who saved your life! your story gave me goosebumps. You are a lucky woman and it was not your time, thanks to your angel!

    k

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #4
    Wow

    Wow, amazing. What a great opportunity to say thank you.  What a life affirming event.

  • zx10guy
    zx10guy Member Posts: 273 Member
    edited May 2019 #5
    Thank you for sharing.

    Thank you for sharing.

    I used to do Fire/EMS many many years ago.  It's ironic I never set foot into a hospital for anything involving myself until I got cancer.  I was so used to taking other people in.  I also have a story where I crossed paths with someone where we reponded to his father's cardiac arrest.  Unfortunately, there was no happy ending.  I remember he was hard on himself at the scene.  He was wondering had he not stopped CPR for a few minutes would his father be alive.  We told him it wouldn't have made any difference.  He said he got over it and thanked us for being so kind and professional.  As I type this, I still have glimpses of visions of that night even though it's been what....about 20 years.

    On a side note about medical alerting.  At least in my area in the US, we push for people with special medical conditions to wear what's called a Medic Alert bracelet.  We're trained to look for this bracelet when conducting an initial survey of a patient.  And on any extraordinary resuscitation efforts, this is called DNR (Do Not Rescuscitate) Order.  This is a legal/official document which memorializes your wishes to not have any resuscitative efforts done on you.  If you wish to go down this route, not only should you file the paper work, you need to inform people close to you about this wish, and finally the Medic Alert Bracelet should contain this information.

  • Steelkiwi686
    Steelkiwi686 Member Posts: 76 Member
    #6
    My angel nurse

    Jan

    That is an incredible story and I’m glad you were able to have the experience of meeting face to face with the person who saved your life!!!  

    On a humorous note I will share that when I had the allergic reaction to oxi and absolutiy could not breath a nurse came to my aid and calmly but quickly pushed meds through my iv line that stopped it.  I was so thankful. 

    The funny part is when I see this nurse now she always takes time to talk to me and see how I am and I find that I just love this nurse. My sister teases be about it because she says I act like I have a girl crush whenever she stops to see me. 

    It just makes me know that sometimes transference and adoration of medical staff can be real lol 

    I’m not actually in love with her, it’s just every time I see her I remember she saved me and I’m immediately all happy when I see her and am reminded that during my crisis she made the difference.  It might be a daily occurrence for her but for me it was a pretty big deal and she’s my hero. 

    I imagine EMTs have a crowd of worshippers even if they have no idea. 

    Kinda embarrassed to share this but I doubt I’m the only one who has experienced this phenomenon 

    :) SK

  • k8
    k8 Member Posts: 33 Member
    #7
    Very Touching Jan

    Loved your story and so cool to be able to meet the person who saved your life.

    Kate

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #8
    Such a great moment, and

    Such a great moment, and story to tell............................................Dave

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #9
    Steelkiwi686 said:

    My angel nurse

    Jan

    That is an incredible story and I’m glad you were able to have the experience of meeting face to face with the person who saved your life!!!  

    On a humorous note I will share that when I had the allergic reaction to oxi and absolutiy could not breath a nurse came to my aid and calmly but quickly pushed meds through my iv line that stopped it.  I was so thankful. 

    The funny part is when I see this nurse now she always takes time to talk to me and see how I am and I find that I just love this nurse. My sister teases be about it because she says I act like I have a girl crush whenever she stops to see me. 

    It just makes me know that sometimes transference and adoration of medical staff can be real lol 

    I’m not actually in love with her, it’s just every time I see her I remember she saved me and I’m immediately all happy when I see her and am reminded that during my crisis she made the difference.  It might be a daily occurrence for her but for me it was a pretty big deal and she’s my hero. 

    I imagine EMTs have a crowd of worshippers even if they have no idea. 

    Kinda embarrassed to share this but I doubt I’m the only one who has experienced this phenomenon 

    :) SK

    We live in a small town so

    We live in a small town so often the EMTs are part of the community amd get to see people they've saved. It must be an amazing feeling to look at someone you last saw fighting for their life and not knowing if they'de live walking around later.

    Jan

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #10
    Wow

    What an amazing story.  You have been through so much.  I'm so glad you had some time to chat with her and it had to be a very emotional meeting.  So glad that she kept you going because it sounds like you were going through an extremely difficult situation.  Sounds like you have a guardian angle right here on earth.

    Kim

Discussion Boards